SIRELLI (_with a glance of pitying disgust at his wife_). What do you know about his eyes? You never saw his eyes! And you never saw the woman. How do you know she dresses in black? _Probably_ she dresses in black.... By the way, they come from a little town in the next county. Had you heard that? A village called Marsica! AMALIA. Yes, the village that was destroyed a short time ago. SIRELLI. Exactly! By an earthquake! Not a house left standing in the place. DINA. And all their relatives were lost, I have heard. Not one of them left in the world! SIGNORA CINI (_impatient to get on with the story_). Very well, very well, so then ... he came to the door.... AMALIA. Yes.... And the moment I saw him in front of me with that weird face of his I had hardly enough gumption left to tell him that we had just come to call on his mother-in-law, and he ... well ... not a word, not a word ... not even a "thank you," if you please! DINA. That is not quite fair, mama: ... he did bow! AMALIA. Well, yes, a bow ... if you want to call it that. Something like this!... DINA. And his eyes! You ought to see his eyes--the eyes of a devil, and then some! You never saw a man with eyes like that! SIGNORA CINI. Very well, what did he say, finally? DINA. He seemed quite taken aback. AMALIA. He was all confused like; He hitched about for a time; and at last he said that Signora Frola was not feeling well, but that she would appreciate our kindness in having come; and then he just stood there, and stood there, apparently waiting for us to go away. DINA. I never was more mortified in my life! SIRELLI. A boor, a plain boor, I say! Oh, it's his fault, I am telling you. And ... who knows? Perhaps he has got the old lady also under lock and key. SIGNORA SIRELLI. Well, I think something should be done about it!... After all, you are the wife of a superior of his. You can _refuse_ to be treated like that. AMALIA. As far as that goes, my husband did take it rather badly--as a lack of courtesy on the man's part; and he went straight to the prefect with the matter, insisting on an apology. _Signor Agazzi, commendatore and provincial councillor, appears in the doorway rear._ DINA. Oh goody, here's papa now! AGAZZI _is well on toward fifty. He has the harsh, authoritarian manner of the provincial of importance. Red hair and beard, rather unkempt; gold-rimmed eyeglasses_. AGAZZI. Oh Sirelli, glad to see you! (_He steps forward and bows to the company_). AGAZZI. Signora!... (_He shakes hands with Signora Sirelli_). AMALIA (_introducing Signora Cini_). My husband, Signora Cini!