PREFECT. Why, I understand so. You see he's trying all the time to make her believe he's crazy. He warned me of that. And how else could he keep the poor woman in her illusion? Do you see any way? All this talk of yours is simply torture to the poor fellow! Believe me, pure torture! SIRELLI. Very well, governor! But supposing _she_ is the one who is trying to keep _him_ in the idea that her daughter is dead; so as to reassure him that his wife will not be taken from him again. In that case, you see, governor, it's the old lady who is being tortured, and not Ponza! AGAZZI. The moment you see the possibility of that, governor.... Well, you ought to hear her talk; but all by herself, when he's not around. Then you'd see the possibility all right.... SIRELLI. Just as we all see it! PREFECT. Oh, I wonder! You don't seem to me so awfully sure; and for my part, I'm quite willing to confess that I'm not so sure myself. How about you, Laudisi? LAUDISI. Sorry, governor, I promised Agazzi here to keep my mouth shut. AGAZZI (_protesting angrily_). Nothing of the kind! How dare you say that? When the governor asks you a plain question.... It's true I told him not to talk, but do you know why? He's been doing his best for the past two days to keep us all rattled so that we can't find out anything. LAUDISI. Don't you believe him, governor. On the contrary. I've been doing my best to bring these people to common sense. SIRELLI. Common sense! And do you know what he calls common sense? According to him it is not possible to discover the truth; and now he's been suggesting that Ponza is living not with a woman, but with a ghost! PREFECT (_enjoying the situation_). That's a new one! Quite an idea! How do you make that out, Laudisi? AGAZZI. Oh, I say!... You know how he is. There's no getting anywhere with him! LAUDISI. I leave it to you, governor. I was the one who first suggested bringing the woman here. PREFECT. And do you think, Laudisi, I ought to see the old lady next door? LAUDISI. No, I advise no such thing, governor. In my judgment you are doing very well in depending on what Ponza tells you. PREFECT. Ah, I see! Because you, too, think that Ponza.... LAUDISI. No, not at all ... because I'm also satisfied to have all these people stand on what Signora Frola says, if that does them any good. AGAZZI. So you see, eh, governor? That's what you call arguing, eh? PREFECT. Just a moment! Let me understand! (_Turning to Laudisi_): So you say we can also trust what the old lady says? LAUDISI. Of course you can! Implicitly! And so you can depend upon what Ponza says. Implicitly! PREFECT. Excuse me, I don't follow you!