SIGNORA SIRELLI (_catching sight of Laudisi and shaking a finger at him_). But how is it a man like you, in the presence of such an extraordinary situation, can escape the curiosity we all feel to get at the bottom of this mystery? Why, I lie awake nights thinking of it! AGAZZI. As your husband says, that man's impossible! Don't bother about him, Signora Sirelli. LAUDISI. No, don't bother with me; you just listen to Agazzi! He'll keep you from lying awake tonight. AGAZZI. Look here, ladies. This is what I want--I have an idea: won't you just step across the hall to Signora Frola's? AMALIA. But will she come to the door? AGAZZI. Oh, I imagine she will! DINA. We're just returning the call, you see.... AMALIA. But didn't he ask us not to call on his mother-in-law? Hasn't he forbidden her to receive visits? SIRELLI. No, not exactly! That's how he explained what had happened; but at that time nothing was known. Now that the old lady, through force of circumstance, has spoken, giving her version at least of her strange conduct, I should think that.... SIGNORA SIRELLI. I have a feeling that she'll be awfully glad to see us, if for nothing else, for the chance of talking about her daughter. DINA. And she really is a jolly old lady. There is no doubt in my mind, not the slightest: Ponza is the lunatic! AGAZZI. Now, let's not go too fast. You just listen to me (_he looks at his wife_): don't stay too long--five or ten minutes at the outside! SIRELLI (_to his wife_). And for heaven's sake, keep your mouth shut! SIGNORA SIRELLI. And why such considerate advice to me? SIRELLI. Once _you_ get going.... DINA (_with the idea of preventing a scene_). Oh, we are not going to stay very long, ten minutes--fifteen, at the outside. I'll see that no breaks are made. AGAZZI. And I'll just drop around to the office, and be back at eleven o'clock--ten or twenty minutes at the most. SIRELLI. And what can I do? AGAZZI. Wait! (_Turning to the ladies_). Now, here's the plan! You people invent some excuse or other so as to get Signora Frola in here. AMALIA. What? How can we possibly do that?