PONZA. No, that was not what I came for, Commendatore. It was not to apologize for her. Indeed I may say that Signora Frola, my wife's mother, would certainly have left her cards with Signora Agazzi, your wife, and Signorina Agazzi, your daughter, long before they were so kind as to honor her with their call, had I not exerted myself to the utmost to prevent her coming, since I am absolutely unable to consent to her passing or receiving visits! AGAZZI (_drawing up into an authoritative attitude and speaking with some severity_). Why? if you will be so kind as to explain, Ponza? PONZA (_with evidences of increasing excitement in spite of his efforts to preserve his self-control_). I suppose my mother-in-law has been talking to you people about her daughter, my wife. Am I mistaken? And I imagine she told you further that I have forbidden her entering my house and seeing her daughter intimately. AMALIA. Oh not at all, not at all, Signor Ponza! Signora Frola had only the nicest things to say about you. She could not have spoken of you with greater respect and kindness. DINA. She seems to be very fond of you indeed. AGAZZI. She says that she refrains from visiting your house of her own accord, out of regard for feelings of yours which we frankly confess we are unable to understand. SIGNORA SIRELLI. Indeed, if we were to express our honest opinion.... AGAZZI. Well, yes, why not be honest? We think you are extremely harsh with the woman, extremely harsh, perhaps cruel would be an exacter word. PONZA. Yes, that is what I thought; and I came here for the express purpose of clearing the matter up. The condition this poor woman is in is a pitiable one indeed--not less pitiable than my own perhaps; because, as you see, I am compelled to come here and make apologies--a public declaration--which only such violence as has just been used upon me could ever bring me to make in the world.... (_He stops and looks about the room. Then he says slowly with emphatic emphasis on the important syllables_): My mother-in-law, Signora Frola, is not in her right mind! She is insane. THE COMPANY. Insane! A lunatic! Oh my! Really! No! Impossible! PONZA. And she has been insane for four years. SIGNORA SIRELLI. Dear me, who would ever have suspected it! She doesn't show it in the least. AGAZZI. Insane? Are you sure? PONZA. She doesn't show it, does she? But she is insane, nevertheless; and her delusion consists precisely in believing that I am forbidding her to see her daughter. (_His face takes on an expression of cruel suffering mingled with a sort of ferocious excitement_). What daughter, for God's sake? Why her daughter died four years ago! (_A general sensation_).