"Lotta Luxa, I suppose."
"Never mind. They say indeed that it is you who have the deed."
"And you believe them?"
"No, I do not believe them. But why do they say so?"
"Must I explain that? How can I tell? Anton, do you not believe that the woman who loves you will be true to you?"
Then he paused again — "Nina, sometimes I think that I have been mad to love a Christian."
"What have I been then? But I do love you, Anton — I love you better than all the world. I care nothing for Jew or Christian. When I think of you, I care nothing for heaven or earth. You are everything to me, because I love you. How could I deceive you?"
"Nina, Nina, my own one!" he said.
"And as I love you, so do you love me? Say that you love me also."
"I do," said he — "I love you as I love my own soul."