At the book-shop in the Piazza they found the Rome and Florence papers. Hillard went through them thoroughly, but nowhere did he see anything relative to the doings of the American Comic Opera Company.
"Not a line, Dan."
"But there must be something in the Florence paper. They should be playing there yet."
"Nothing; these papers are two weeks old."
Merrihew stared blankly at the sheet. "I should like to know what it means."
"We will write to the consulate in Rome. If there has been any trouble he will certainly notify us. I'll write to-night. Now, here's Cook's next door. We'll ask if there is any mail for Kitty Killigrew."
But there wasn't, nor had there been; and the name was not on the forwarding books.
"Looks as if your Kitty were the needle in the haystack."
"Hang the luck!" Merrihew jammed his hands into his pockets and sulked with the world.
"It is evident that Kitty will not have you."