"Where is the danger?" asked Laura, rising.
"Don't be afraid, don't be afraid," said Anna, carrying her pocket-handkerchief to her lips and biting it. "I ask you if it doesn't strike you as dangerous that two women such as I, Anna Dias, and you, Laura Acquaviva, should live together in the same house and love the same man with the same passion?"
"It is certainly very dangerous," said Laura slowly, standing up, and looking into her sister's eyes.
"Leave me my husband, Laura," cried Anna, impetuously.
"Take him back—if you can. But you can't, you know. You never could."
"You're a monster. Go away," cried Anna, clenching her teeth, clenching her fists, driving her nails into her flesh.
"It's at your bidding that I'm here. I came to show that I wasn't afraid of you, that's all."
"Go away, monster, monster, monster!"
"Kill me, if you like; but don't call me by that name," cried Laura, at last exasperated.