SIRELLI (_with a laugh_). You mean to say you think there is no such woman? LAUDISI. How can you be sure there is? You can't guarantee it! DINA. But the old lady sees her and talks with her every day. SIGNORA SIRELLI. And Ponza says that, too. They both agree on that point! LAUDISI. Yes, yes, I don't deny that. But just a moment! If you think of it, isn't Signora Frola right? Well, in that case who is the woman in Ponza's eyes? The phantom of a second wife, of course! Or else Ponza himself is right, and in that case you have the phantom of a daughter in the old lady's eyes! Two phantoms, in other words! Now we've got to find out, ladies and gentlemen, whether this woman, who must be a mere phantom for the one or for the other, is a person, after all for herself. In the situation we are in, I should say there was very good ground for doubting. AGAZZI. Oh, you make me tired! If we listen to you.... LAUDISI. No, ladies and gentlemen, notice! It may be that she is nothing but a phantom in her own eyes. SIGNORA NENNI. Why, this is getting to be almost spooky! SIGNORA CINI. You mean to say it's a ghost, a real ghost? How can you frighten us so? EVERYBODY. Nonsense! He's only joking! He's only joking! LAUDISI. Not a bit of it! I'm not joking at all! Who ever saw the woman? No one ever set eyes on her. He talks of her, to be sure; and she, the old woman that is, says that she often sees her. SIRELLI. Nonsense! Any number of people have seen her; she comes to the balcony of the courtyard. LAUDISI. Who comes to the balcony? SIRELLI. A woman in flesh and bones--in skirts, for that matter. People have seen her and people have heard her talk. For heaven's sake, man! LAUDISI. Are you sure of that? AGAZZI. And why not, pray? You said so yourself a moment ago! LAUDISI. Why yes, I did say so! I did say that the prefect ought to have a talk with whatever woman is there. But notice one thing, it is certain that no ordinary woman is there. No _ordinary_ woman! Of that much we can be sure! And I, for my part, have come to doubt whether she is in any sense of the term, a woman. SIGNORA SIRELLI Dear me, dear me! That man simply drives me crazy. LAUDISI. Well, supposing we wait and see! EVERYBODY. Well, who is she then? But people have seen her! His wife! On the balcony! She writes letters! POLICE COMMISSIONER (_in the heat of the confusion comes into the room, excitedly announcing_). The prefect is coming! The prefect! AGAZZI. What do you mean? Coming here? But you went to.... COMMISSIONER. Why yes, but I met him hardly a block away. He was coming here; and Ponza is with him. SIRELLI. Ah, Ponza!