AMALIA, _Agazzi's wife, is Laudisi's sister. She is a woman of forty-five more or less. Her hair is already quite grey. Signora Agazzi is always showing a certain sense of her own importance from the position occupied by her husband in the community; but she gives you to understand that if she had a free rein she would be quite capable of playing her own part in the world and, perhaps, do it somewhat better than Commendatore Agazzi._ DINA _is the daughter of Amalia and Agazzi. She is nineteen. Her general manner is that of a young person conscious of understanding everything better than papa and mamma; but this defect must not be exaggerated to the extent of concealing her attractiveness and charm as a good-looking winsome girl_. _As the curtain rises Laudisi is walking briskly up and down the parlor to give vent to his irritation._ LAUDISI. I see, I see! So he did take the matter up with the prefect! AMALIA. But Lamberto _dear_, please remember that the man is a subordinate of his. LAUDISI. A subordinate of his ... very well! But a subordinate in the office, not at home nor in society! DINA. And he hired an apartment for that woman, his mother-in-law, right here in this very building, and on our floor. LAUDISI. And why not, pray? He was looking for an apartment; the apartment was for rent, so he leased it--for his mother-in-law. You mean to say that a mother-in-law is in duty bound to make advances to the wife and daughter of the man who happens to be her son-in-law's superior on his job? AMALIA. That is not the way it is, Lamberto. We didn't ask her to call on us. Dina and I took the first step by calling on her and--she _refused_ to _receive_ us! LAUDISI. Well, is that any reason why your husband should go and lodge a complaint with the man's boss? Do you expect the government to order him to invite you to tea? AMALIA. I think he deserves all he gets! That is not the way to treat two ladies. I hope he gets fired! The idea! LAUDISI. Oh, you women! I say, making that complaint is a dirty trick. By Jove! If people see fit to keep to themselves in their own houses, haven't they a right to? AMALIA. Yes, but you don't understand! We were trying to do her a favor. She is new in the town. We wanted to make her feel at home. DINA. Now, now, Nunky dear, don't be so cross! Perhaps we did go there out of curiosity more than anything else; but it's all so funny, isn't it! Don't you think it was natural to feel just a little bit curious? LAUDISI. Natural be damned! It was none of your business!