“I am most delighted to find that you have listened to my advice, and hope and trust that you may be successful,” exclaimed the vicar. “In a few days’ time I hope to hear good news. Farewell, my friend, and that your efforts may be crowned with success will be the earnest prayer of your old friend.” The two shook hands, and Canon Lenthal left Broxbridge in much better spirits than when he entered. Mr. Chicknell, the earl’s lawyer, who had been telegraphed for, arrived about noon on the following day. He was at once shown into the library. Lord Ethalwood had by this time become excited and restless. He explained the whole business to his legal adviser. “Oh,” observed the latter, when his client had concluded. “You now desire to find her out?” “If it be possible. It seems to me to be most hopeless.” “Nothing is hopeless in the hands of efficient persons,” returned the man of parchment. “Leave the matter in my hands. I know a clever fellow belonging to the detective department at Scotland-yard.” “Detective department!” exclaimed the earl, in evident disgust. “Is my daughter to be traced by a man whose business it is to hunt down common thieves?” “My lord, I pray of you not to be so hasty. Detectives are employed by all sorts of people for all sorts of purposes, and for this reason they are especially qualified to deal with cases of this sort. They’ll find out in a week probably more than I could in months.” “Well, as you please. You know best.” “I will do my best for you, rest assured of that,” said Mr. Chicknell. “The very moment I obtain the least scrap of information I will either write or wire to you without delay.” The active little lawyer returned to London that very afternoon. Weeks passed over after this. Mr. Chicknell wrote several letters, but they contained but little intelligence. At last one came which was more cheering. The Italian professor and his wife had been traced first to London, where they had lived some months, and in all probability had spent what little ready money they had. From the metropolis the Italian had gone to Leeds, where he earnt a living by teaching. He and his wife had taken lodgings in that city, and there a child was born. From what could be gathered it would appear that Montini found it a hard task to maintain a lady brought up in the lap of luxury, and the young couple had to submit to a number of privations. There were persons residing in Leeds who remembered both the professor and his young English wife. Indeed, some of the Italian’s pupils, now grown up to middle-aged people, attested to the fact that Montini’s wife presented her husband with a little girl, and the register of her birth and baptism was obtained in the town. Matters, therefore, looked a little more promising, and the old earl watched for the post each day with the greatest anxiety.