face and in her voice that words could not express, at the sight of
which even Leon, with all his insolence, was cowed--"_your_ wife!
Do you think you can affect me by lies like these?"

"Lies!" repeated Leon--"it's the truth. You are my wife, and you must
sign these papers."

"I don't think so," said Edith, resuming her former coolness.

"Do you dare to refuse me this?"

"I don't see any daring about it. Of course I refuse."

"Sign them!" roared Leon, with an oath.

Edith smiled lightly and turned away.

Leon rushed toward her with a menacing gesture. But Edith was aware of
this. In an instant she turned, snatched a dagger from her breast which
had been concealed there, and confronted him with a cold, stony glare.

"I well know," said she, "what an utter coward you are. While I have
this you will not dare to touch me. It is better for you, on the whole,
just now, that you are a coward, for this dagger--which, by-the-way, I
always carry--is poisoned. It is an old family affair--and that shows
you one of the advantages of having a family--and so deadly is the
poison that a scratch would kill you. Yes, there is some advantage in
being a coward, for if you dared to touch me, I should strike you with
this as I would strike a mad dog!"