The house in the Piazza dell' Independenza, which was known in the city as "Villino Trollope," and of which I have spoken at the close of the last chapter, was my property, and I had lived in it nearly the whole of my married life.

During that time four deaths had occurred among its inmates.
The first to happen was that of the old and highly valued servant of whom I had occasion to speak when upon the subject of Mr.Hume's spiritualistic experiences at my house.

She had been for many years a much trusted and beloved servant in the family of Mr.Garrow at Torquay, and had accompanied them abroad.

Her name was Elizabeth Shinner.

Her death was felt by all of us as that of a member of our family, and she lies in the Protestant cemetery at Florence by the side of her former master, and of the young mistress whom she had loved as a child of her own.
The next to go was Mr.Garrow.His death was a very sudden and unexpected one.