ether he would walk
up the hill to the left or turn into the town on the right, when he
was accosted by an English gentleman, who, raising his hat, said that
he believed that he spoke to Mr Palliser.

"I am Mr Palliser," said our friend, very courteously, returning the
salute, and smiling as he spoke. But though he smiled, and though
he was courteous, and though he raised his hat, there was something
in his look and voice which would not have encouraged any ordinary
stranger to persevere. Mr Palliser was not a man with whom it was
easy to open an acquaintance.

"My name is John Grey," said the stranger.

Then the smile was dropped, the look of extreme courtesy disappeared,
the tone of Mr Palliser's voice was altered, and he put out his
hand. He knew enough of Mr John Grey's history to be aware that Mr
John Grey was a man with whom he might permit himself to become
acquainted. After the interchange of a very few words, the two men
started off for a walk together.

"Perhaps you don't wish to meet the carriage?" said Mr Palliser. "If
so, we had better go through the town and up the river."

They went through the town, and up the river, and when Mr Palliser,
on his return, was seen by Alice and Lady Glencora, he was alone.
They dined together, and nothing was said. Together they sauntered
out in the evening, and together came in and drank their tea; but
still nothing was said. At last, Alice and her cousin took their
candles from Mr Palliser's hands and left the sitting-room for the
night.

"Alice," said Lady Glencora, as soon as they were in the passage
together, "I have been dying for this time to come. I could not speak
before, or I should have made blunders, and so would you. Let us go
into your room at once. Who do you think is here, at Lucerne, in this
house, at this very moment?"

Alice knew at once who it was. She knew, immediately, that Mr Grey
had followed her, though no word had been written to her or spoken to
her on the subject since that day on which he himself had told her
that they would meet abroad. But though she was quite sure, she did
not mention his name. "Who is it, Glencora?" she asked, very calmly.

"Whom in all the world would you best like to see?" said Glencora.

"My cousin Kate, certainly," said Alice.

"Then it is not your cousin Kate. And I don't believe you;--or else
you're a fool."

Alice was accustomed to Lady Glencora's mode of talking, and
therefore did not think much of thi