OLIVIA: I never expected to come across it in real life.
DAN (lightly): You didn't ought to read so much. I never got through a book yet…. But I'll read you all right…. (Crossing to her, leaning over the table, and smiling at her intently) You haven't had a drop to drink, and yet you feel as if you had. You never knew there was such a secret part inside of you. All that book-learnin' and moral-me-eye here and social-me-eye there—you took that off on the edge of the wood same as if it was an overcoat … and you left it there!
OLIVIA: I hate you. I … hate you!
DAN (urgently): And same as anybody out for the first time without their overcoats, you feel as light as air! Same as I feel, sometimes—only I never had no overcoat—(Excited) Why—this is my big chance! You're the one I can tell about meself! Oh, I'm sick o' hearin' how clever everybody else is—I want to tell 'em how clever I am for a change!… Money I'm goin' to have, and people doin' what they're told, and me tellin' them to do it! There was a 'oman at the Tallboys, wasn't there? She wouldn't be told, would she? She thought she was up 'gainst a soft fellow in a uniform, didn't she? She never knew it was me she was dealin' with—(striking his chest in a paroxysm of elation)—me! And this old girl treatin' me like a son 'cause I made her think she was a chronic invalid—ha! She's been more use to me to-night (tapping the notes in his jacket pocket, smartly) than she has to any other body all her life. Stupid, that's what people are … stupid. If those two hadna' been stupid they might be breathin' now; you're not stupid; that's why I'm talkin' to you. (With exaggerated self-possession) You said just now murder's ordinary…. Well, it isn't ordinary at all, see? And I'm not an ordinary chap. There's one big difference 'tween me and other fellows that try this game. I'll never be found out. 'Cause I don't care a——(Snapping his fingers grandly) The world's goin' to hear from me. That's me. (Chuckling) You wait…. (After a pause) But you can't wait, can you?
OLIVIA: What do you mean?
DAN: Well, when I say I'll never be found out, what I mean is, no living soul will be able to tell any other living soul about me. (Beginning to roll up a sleeve, nonchalantly) Can you think of anybody … who can go to-morrow … and tell the police the fire at Forest Corner … wasn't an accident at all?
OLIVIA: I—I can.
DAN: Oh, no, you can't.
OLIVIA: Why can't I?
DAN: Well, I'm up against a very serious problem, I am. But the answer to it is as simple as pie, to a feller like me, simple as pie … (Rolling up the other sleeve a little way) She isn't going to be the only one … found to-morrow … in the fire at Forest Corner…. (After a pause) Aren't you frightened? You ought to be! (Smiling) Don't you think I'll do it?