"'In Italy, in a picture-gallery at Florence. She is incomparably beautiful. But how on earth you managed to induce her to sit for her portrait, I cannot imagine. They say she is the most exclusive lady in Florence.' "'Indeed,' I said, gravely. "'It is true. I saw her twice, once in the gallery, and once in the carriage with her husband.' "Then I laughed aloud. "'My dear Ross,' I said, 'I have let you wander on because you have told me such a strange story; it really seemed quite sad to interrupt you. You are perfectly wrong. To begin with, the young lady whose face I copied is young and unmarried; in the second place, I can answer for it, she has never been near Italy. She is, I know for certain, preparing to marry a gentleman with whom I am well acquainted.' "He looked sullen and unconvinced. "'You may say what you will,' he retorted, 'I swear it was the same face.' "'And I swear that it was not,' I replied. "So the matter ended. But, Earle, could it be that Ross Glynlyn spoke the truth--that she is in Florence?" "But he said that lady was married," said Earle. "That might be a mistake. It seems to me a clew worth following up." And Earle thought the same. CHAPTER XLI. "I CLAIM YOU AS MY OWN; I WILL NEVER RELEASE YOU!" "I call this a coincidence," said Gregory Leslie, as the studio door opened and a gentleman entered--"a strange coincidence. If I had read it in a novel I should not have believed it." Earle looked up inquiringly as a handsome young man, with a clever, artistic face, entered the room. "Am I a coincidence?" inquired the new-comer. "I did not say that; but, decidedly, your coming is one, Mr. Glynlyn. Allow me to introduce you--Mr. Moray." The two gentlemen saluted each other with a smile, each feeling attracted by the other's face. Then Mr. Leslie turned to his brother artist. "It is strange that you should come in just at this minute, Ross, I was telling Mr. Moray how certain you were that you had seen the original of 'Innocence' in Florence." "So I did," replied Ross. "You may contradict me as much as you like. It is not probable that I should make any mistake. The lady I saw had precisely the same face as the picture. It was the original herself or her twin sister." "She has no twin sister," said Earle, incautiously. "Ah! you know her, then," continued Mr. Glynlyn. "I assure you that I made no mistake. Our friend here may make as much mystery as he will. I am amazed that he should give me such little credit. Why should I say it if it were not true? And how could I possibly mistake that face for any other? If you know the young lady, you can in all probability corroborate what I say--namely, that she is in Florence." "I cannot do so," said Earle, "for I am perfectly ignorant of her whereabouts."