Three Plays Part 50

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 rea.s.sure 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!

SIRELLI. But man alive, if they both say the exact opposite of each other!...

AGAZZI (_angrily and with heat_). Listen to me, governor, please. I am prejudiced neither in favor of the old lady nor in favor of Ponza. I recognize that he may be right and that she may be right. But we ought to settle the matter, and there is only one way to do it.

SIRELLI. The way that Laudisi here suggested.

PREFECT. He suggested it? That's interesting? What is it?

AGAZZI. Since we haven't been able to get any positive proof, there is only one thing left. You, as Ponza's final superior, as the man who can fire him if need be, can obtain a statement from his wife.

PREFECT. Make his wife talk, you mean?

SIRELLI. But not in the presence of her husband, you understand.

AGAZZI. Yes, making sure she tells the truth!

SIRELLI. ... tell whether she's the daughter of Signora Frola, that is, as we think she must be....

AGAZZI. ... or a second wife who is consenting to impersonate the daughter of Signora Frola, as Ponza claims.

PREFECT. ... and as I believe myself, without a shadow of doubt! (_Thinking a moment_) Why, I don't see any objection to having her talk. Who could object? Ponza? But Ponza, as I know very well, is more eager than anybody else to have this talk quieted down. He's all upset over this whole business, and said he was willing to do anything I proposed. I'm sure he will raise no objection. So if it will ease the minds of you people here.... Say, Centuri (_the police commissioner rises_), won't you just ask Ponza to step in here a moment?

He's next door with his mother-in-law.

COMMISSIONER. At once, Your Excellency! (_He bows and withdraws through the door at the rear_).

AGAZZI. Oh well, if he consents....

PREFECT. He'll consent, all right. And we'll be through with it in a jiffy. We'll bring her right in here so that you people....

AGAZZI. Here, in my house?

SIRELLI. You think he'll let his wife come in here?

PREFECT. Just leave it to me, just leave it to me! I prefer to have her right here because, otherwise you see, you people would always suppose that I and Ponza had....

AGAZZI. Oh, please, governor, no! That's not fair!

SIRELLI. Oh, no, governor, we trust you implicitly!

PREFECT. Oh, I'm not offended, not at all! But you know very well that I'm on his side in this matter; and you'd always be thinking that to hush up any possible scandal in connection with a man in my office.... No, you see. I must insist on having the interview here.... Where's your wife, Agazzi?

AGAZZI. In the other room, governor, with some other ladies.

PREFECT. Other ladies? Aha, I see! (_Laughing_). You have a regular detective bureau here, eh? (_The police commissioner enters with Ponza_).

COMMISSIONER. May I come in? Signor Ponza is here.

PREFECT. Thanks, Centuri. This way, Ponza, come right in!

(_Ponza bows_).

AGAZZI. Have a chair, Ponza. (_Ponza bows and sits down_).

PREFECT. I believe you know these gentlemen? (_Ponza rises and bows_).

AGAZZI. Yes, I introduced them yesterday. And this is Laudisi, my wife's brother. (_Ponza bows_).

PREFECT. I venture to disturb you, my dear Ponza, just to tell you that here with these friends of mine.... (_At the first words of the prefect, Ponza evinces the greatest nervousness and agitation_).