LAUDISI. Ah, that's nice. Congratulations! For example.... COMMISSIONER. For example? Why, for instance, here ... well, here are all the communications I have received. Read 'em yourself! (_From an inner pocket he draws a yellow envelope, opened at one end, from which he takes a document and hands it to Laudisi_). LAUDISI. Interesting, I am sure. Very interesting!... (_He stands, reading the document carefully, commenting from time to time with exclamations in different tones. First an "ah" of satisfaction, then another "ah" which attenuates this enthusiasm very much. Finally an "eh" of disappointment, which leads to another "eh" of complete disgust_). Why, no, what's all this amount to, Commissioner? COMMISSIONER. Well, it's what we were able to find out. LAUDISI. But this doesn't prove anything, you understand! It leaves everything just where it was. There's nothing of any significance whatever here. (_He looks at the commissioner for a moment and then, as though suddenly making up his mind, he says_): I wonder, Commissioner, would you like to do something really great--render a really distinguished service to this town; and meanwhile lay up a treasure in heaven? COMMISSIONER (_looking at him in perplexity_). What are you thinking of sir? LAUDISI. I'll explain. Here, please, take this chair! (_He sets the chair in front of Agazzi's desk_). I advise you, Mr. Commissioner, to tear up this sheet of paper that you've brought and which has absolutely no significance at all. But here on this other piece of paper, why don't you write down something that will be precise and clear? COMMISSIONER. Why ... why ... myself? What do you mean? What should I write? LAUDISI. Anything, anything at all! Anything that comes into your head, provided, however, it be _precise_ and _clear_! Say, for instance, that Signora Frola is a lunatic, or, if you will, if you prefer, that the second marriage of Ponza's was a frame-up! COMMISSIONER. I don't get you, Signor Laudisi. What are you driving at? I forge the document? LAUDISI (_insisting_). Forge? Just say something--anything--that these two old acquaintances of Ponza's whom you managed to get hold of might have said. Come, Commissioner, rise to the occasion! Do something for the commonwealth! Bring this town back to normal again! Don't you see what they are after? They all want the truth--_a_ truth, that is: Something specific; something concrete! They don't care what it is. All they want is something categorical, something that speaks plainly! Then they'll quiet down.