“The truth is suspected, nevertheless, and bitterly resented.”
“Resented by whom?”
“By a woman with whom Mr. Maybrick was on terms of friendly intimacy before falling in love with me,” said Miss Farley, coloring again. “He assures me that their friendship was entirely proper, which I fully believe, but the woman evidently intends to take advantage of it, and make trouble for him. She has threatened him with a lawsuit, to say nothing of other vengeful proceedings, unless he ends his relations with me and consents to marry her.”
“Who informed you of her feelings and intentions?” Nick inquired.
“Mr. Maybrick.”
“How does he regard her threats?”
“He has ignored them, Mr. Carter, and very properly,[Pg 9] too,” said Miss Farley. “He knows that she has been stealthily watching him, nevertheless, spying by night near the rectory, though with what design he cannot conjecture.”
“How long has this been going on?”
“For more than a week, evidently, culminating in what occurred last night.”
“What was that?”