"And were you ever sober? No; you poor, weak fool. Because you had a good voice and musical talents you were led away by pleasure, and for months before Gilbert was born you behaved towards me in a way no woman could forgive. I was high-spirited, and I resented your conduct--your dissipation and your unfaithfulness." "You were always on your high horse, if that is what you mean." "I had every reason to be on my high horse, you brute. Remember the birth of Gilbert--how I suffered--how you were drunk the whole time. And when I got better I found that Mr. Cass had dismissed you for appropriating money." Jenner sneered. "Cass made a great fuss about nothing." "You know as well as I do what Mr. Cass is. His mother was Spanish, and he had a fiery temper. He had treated you well, and you repaid him by taking what belonged to him. He dismissed you, but for my sake, because I had been his child's governess, he did not prosecute you." "Ah! I always thought you and Mr. Cass were great friends." "That was your own foul mind," cried the woman, contemptuously. "Mr. Cass was an honourable man. If it had been his partner, Marshall, now, then perhaps--yes." "I know all about Marshall, thank you, Lizzie," he said, chuckling, and his eyes wandered to the brown horse on the table. "Thinking of your association with him, I suppose?" she sneered. "He took you up simply on account of your voice, and then dropped you when he found out what a drunkard you were." "Yes, he did," said Jenner, between his teeth. "And I swore to be revenged on him; and some day I will. If you care to listen, I'll tell----" "I wish to hear nothing," she interrupted. "Mr. Marshall is not a man I admire--a dissipated rake, that's what he is. Still, he is Mr. Cass's partner, and for the sake of Mr. Cass I wish to hear nothing against him. Besides, he is going to marry Miss Cass." "What--Inez Cass-the sister of my old master?" cried Jenner, looking up. "Yes. Do you know of any reason why he should not?" "No," said the man, slowly; "but I wish I had known that two hours ago." "Why two hours?" "Oh, you don't want to hear anything against Marshall, so I won't tell." His wife glanced contemptuously at him. "I suppose you mean blackmail," she said. "Blackmail Miss Cass and Mr. Marshall, if you like, and go back to gaol if it pleases you. I have done with you and your wickedness." "We'll see about that," he cried. "Don't interrupt me, please," his wife said, with an imperative wave of her hand. "I want to go on with my story." "I don't want to hear any more."