“I drove him away from me angrily, telling him that I loved the memory of my husband too well to insult it by taking Masson as his successor.
“Since then he has been my vindictive enemy, making trouble for me when and where he could, starting scandals as to myself.
“He tried to take my kennel of dogs from me, declaring that Albert had sold them to him on the day of his death.
“He began a suit at law to obtain the dogs, going so far as to intrigue to get me to hire some creatures of his about the kennel, so that they might steal the dogs for him.
“In short, I have been persecuted by him ever since my husband’s death. He is the only enemy in life that I have, and I know he is at the bottom of the poisoning of my dogs.”
“I suppose,” said Nick, “that this Eric Masson is the broker of that name—the yachtsman?”
“The same person,” replied Mrs. Constant.
“Are you prepared to tell me the nature of his persecutions of you?”
“Yes; at any time.”
“I do not want them now,” said Nick, as Mrs. Constant showed signs of attempting to recite them. “Now, as to the injuries he attempted to do your husband. Can you prove those charges?”