LAURA. She cut her own throat.

HEGAN. Oh, my dear! [Starts toward her.] I am so sorry . . .

LAURA. [Quickly.] No, father! Listen! You must talk to me . . . you
must talk to me this time!

HEGAN. My child . . .

LAURA. You cannot put me off. You cannot, I tell you!

HEGAN. Laura, dear, you are upset . . .

LAURA. No! That is not so! I have perfect control of myself. There is
no use crying . . . the girl is dead. That can't be helped. But I mean
to understand about it. I mean to know who is responsible for her
death.

HEGAN. My dear, these evils are hard to know of . . .

LAURA. That house to which that girl was taken . . . there is a law
against such places, is there not?

HEGAN. Yes, my dear.

LAURA. And why is not the law enforced?

HEGAN. It has not been found possible to enforce such laws.