When she spoke of tenacity she intended to charge him with obstinacy.

Though she had dwelt but lightly on her own services she had made her thoughts on the matter clear enough.

"I, Mrs.Finn, who am nobody, have done much to succour and assist you, the Duke of Omnium; and this is the return which I have received!" And then she told him to his face that unless he did something which it would be impossible that he should do, she would revoke her opinion of his honesty! He tried to persuade himself that her opinion about his honesty was nothing to him;--but he failed.

Her opinion was very much to him.

Though in his anger he had determined to throw her off from him, he knew her to be one whose good opinion was worth having.
Not a word of overt accusation had been made against his wife.