ANNA. But his consent to accompany us greatly relieved me. PAOLO. Which is to say that my company would have weighed upon you. ANNA. Not weighed. It would have annoyed me. PAOLO. May one ask why? ANNA. You may as well. Because I was shadowed by an unhappiness which you ignored at the time, whereas now you know the reasons. Knowing them, you will understand that I must be very worried, but for the sake of your peace I must hide my unhappiness, seeing that I had nothing to reproach myself with in relation to you. You understand that for two to be together, always together, it would be more difficult to pretend all the time--all the time! While the presence of a third person-- MARIO. But listen--listen-- ANNA. Mario had the good idea to accompany us. PAOLO. Mario, who knew him! ANNA. I ignore that. PAOLO. Did he ever speak of it? MARIO. Do not reply, Anna, do not answer, come away--he is ill, he does not reason--poor devil--it will pass and he will understand then-- ANNA. No, it is useless. PAOLO. A useless tragedy, isn't it, Anna? ANNA. Do you require anything more of me? PAOLO [_imperiously_]. Yes. I want the letters which you wrote to Luciano. ANNA. That is just. I will go and get them. [_Exits._] PAOLO. All! [_Anna returns and hands Paolo a key._] ANNA. They're in my desk, in the first drawer at the right. They are tied with a black ribbon. PAOLO. Very well. [_Exits._] MARIO. Pardon him, Anna, he does not know what he is doing. He loves you so much? He is rather weak. ANNA. Oh, without pity! MARIO. As are the weak. He loves you--he loves you. ANNA. Worse for him that he loves me. He will lose. MARIO. No, it is for you to help him. ANNA. As long as I can. [_Paolo returns with the letters in his hand, goes to the desk and takes out the others, throws them all into the fire-place and lights them._] MARIO. What are you doing? Look, Anna! [_Anna stands rigid, erect and watches the letters burn, and murmurs as though to herself._] ANNA. Gone! Gone! Gone! [_Paolo comes to Anna with hands clinched as though in prayer, bursts into tears and kneels before her. Mario goes off half in contempt and half in despair._] PAOLO [_on his knees_]. And now--can you pardon me? [_Anna reluctantly rests a hand upon his head, then indulgently and discouragingly._] ANNA. Rise--rise. PAOLO. Tell me that you pardon me. I swear that I want to die here and now. ANNA. Yes, yes. Arise; do not remain so. It hurts me. PAOLO [_getting up_]. I do not know what got into my head--but I have suffered a great deal. ANNA. Yes, I see. Yes ... calm yourself.