Certain difficulties had been discovered in connection with those instructions, which had produced the necessity of once more writing to Zurich.

And there "the negotiations" rested again for the present.
A second paragraph in Mr.Pendril's letter contained another piece of intelligence entirely new.

Mr.Michael Vanstone's son (and only child), Mr.Noel Vanstone, had recently arrived in London, and was then staying in lodgings occupied by his cousin, Mr.George Bartram.

Professional considerations had induced Mr.Pendril to pay a visit to the lodgings.
He had been very kindly received by Mr.Bartram; but had been informed by that gentleman that his cousin was not then in a condition to receive visitors.

Mr.Noel Vanstone had been suffering, for some years past, from a wearing and obstinate malady; he had come to England expressly to obtain the best medical advice, and he still felt the fatigue of the journey so severely as to be confined to his bed.