SIGNORA SIRELLI. And the old lady herself consents to being locked up all the time? PONZA. You, Commendatore, will understand that I couldn't permit her calling here except under absolute constraint. AGAZZI. I understand perfectly, my dear Ponza, and you have my deepest sympathy. PONZA. When a man has a misfortune like this fall upon him he must not go about in society; but of course when, by complaining to the prefect, you practically compelled me to have Signora Frola call, it was my duty to volunteer this further information; because, as a public official, and with due regard for the post of responsibility I occupy, I could not allow any discredible suspicions to remain attached to my reputation. I could not have you good people suppose for a moment that, out of jealousy or for any other reason, I could ever prevent a poor suffering mother from seeing her own daughter. (_He rises_). Again my apologies for having intruded my personal troubles upon your party. (_He bows_). My compliments, Commendatore. Good afternoon, good afternoon! Thank you! (_Bowing to Laudisi, Sirelli, and the others in turn, he goes out through the door, rear_). AMALIA (_with a sigh of sympathy and astonishment_). Uhh! Crazy! What do you think of that? SIGNORA SIRELLI. The poor old thing! But you wouldn't have believed it, would you? DINA. I always knew there was something under it all. SIGNORA CINI. But who could ever have guessed.... AGAZZI. Oh, I don't know, I don't know! You could tell from the way she talked.... LAUDISI. You mean to say that you thought...? AGAZZI. No, I can't say that. But at the same time, if you remember, she could never quite find her words. SIGNORA SIRELLI. How could she, poor thing, out of her head like that? SIRELLI. And yet, if I may raise the question, it seems strange to me that an insane person ... oh, I admit that she couldn't really talk rationally ... but what surprises me is her trying to find a reason to explain why her son-in-law should be keeping her away from her daughter. This effort of hers to justify it and then to adapt herself to excuses of her own invention.... AGAZZI. Yes, but that is only another proof that she's insane. You see, she kept offering excuses for Ponza that really were not excuses at all. AMALIA. Yes, that's so. She would say a thing without really saying it, taking it back almost in the next words. AGAZZI. But there is one more thing. If she weren't a downright lunatic, how could she or my other woman ever accept such a situation from a man? How could she ever consent to talk with her own daughter only by shouting up from the bottom of a well five stories deep?