She couldn't say where she was stopping, but it was not at Madame Mantalini's.

She was sure of that.
With his heart beating violently, and apprehending he knew not what disaster, Nicholas returned to where he had left Smike.

Newman had not been home.

He wouldn't be, till twelve o'clock; there was no chance of it.

Was there no possibility of sending to fetch him if it were only for an instant, or forwarding to him one line of writing to which he might return a verbal reply?
That was quite impracticable.