DINA. Oh, he's perfectly insufferable, even with mamma and me. Will you excuse me for just a moment? No, everything is all right. I'll just run back and tell mamma that you people are here and I think that will be enough. Oh, Nunky, if you had only heard her talk! Why, she is a perfect _dear_; and what a good, kind soul!... She showed us all those letters her daughter wrote.... SIGNORA CINI. Yes, but as Signor Laudisi was just saying.... DINA. He hasn't even seen them! SIGNORA NENNI. You mean they are not really fictitious? DINA. Fictitious nothing! They talk as plain as day. And such things! You can't fool a mother when her own daughter talks to her. And you know--the letter she got yesterday!... (_She stops at the sound of voices coming into the study from the drawing room_). Oh, here they are, here they are, already! (_She goes to the door and peeps into the room_). SIGNORA CINI (_following her to the door_). Is _she_ there, too? DINA. Yes, but you had better come into the other room. All of us women must be in the drawing room. And it is just eleven o'clock, Nunky! AMALIA (_entering with decision from the door on the left_). I think this whole business is quite unnecessary! We have absolutely no further need of proofs.... DINA. Quite so! I thought of that myself. Why bring Ponza here? AMALIA (_taken somewhat aback by Signora Cinis presence_). Oh, my dear Signora Cini!... SIGNORA CINI (_introducing Signora Nenni_). A friend of mine, Signora Nenni! I ventured to bring her with me.... AMALIA (_bowing, but somewhat coolly, to the visitor_). A great pleasure, Signora! (_After a pause_). There is not the slightest doubt in the world ... it's he! SIGNORA CINI. It's he? Are you sure it's he? DINA. And such a trick on the poor old lady! AMALIA. Trick is not the name for, it! It is downright dishonest! LAUDISI. Oh, I agree with you: it's outrageous! Quite! So much so, I'm quite convinced it must be _she_! AMALIA. She? What do you mean? How can you say that? LAUDISI. I say, it is _she_, it is _she_, it's _she_! AMALIA. Oh, I say! If you had heard her talk...! DINA. It is absolutely clear to us now. SIGNORA CINI and SIGNORA NENNI (_swallowing_). Really? You are sure? LAUDISI. Exactly! Now that you are sure it's he, why, obviously--it must be she. DINA. Oh dear me, why talk to that man? He is just impossible! AMALIA. Well, we must go into the other room.... This way, if you please! (_Signora Cini, Signora Nenni and Amalia withdraw through the door on the left. Dina starts to follow, when Laudisi calls her back_). LAUDISI. Dina! DINA. I refuse to listen to you! I refuse!