THE DISAGREEABLE YOUNG MAN [_frightened_]. Grandma, you gave me your word that you would not be angry.
GRANDMOTHER [_she stumbles forward a few steps. She is disturbed, shivering, beside herself, complaining, almost sobbing_]. You are an evil child! You are a bad, bad and evil child! For fifty years I have told the same story ... always the same, same way ... and that it happened differently never, never even came into my mind.
BY GIUSEPPE GIACOSA TRANSLATED BY THEODORA MARCONE.
Copyright, 1920, by Stewart & Kidd Company. All rights reserved.
PLACE: _A villa at Brianza_. TIME: _The Present_.
Applications for the right of performing THE RIGHTS OF THE SOUL must be made to Frank Shay, who may be addressed in care of Stewart & Kidd Company.
[SCENE: _A living-room well furnished in an old fashioned style but not shabbily. An open fire-place which is practical. A sofa. A writing desk. A closet at the back. Door leading into Anna's room at the left. Window at the right._
_Paolo discovered seated at the writing desk upon which there is a confusion of papers._]
MADDALENA. I have been to look for him at the post-office café.
PAOLO. I told you to look in his room or in the garden. Was it necessary to run all over the country?
MADDALENA. Well, he wasn't there. I thought--he wasn't at the café either, but they told me where he was. He'll be back shortly. He went to the station at Poggio to meet the engineer of the water-works. The tax collector saw him walking in that direction. He always walks. But he will return by the stage for the engineer's sake. The stage should be here at any moment. It is sure though--but are you listening?
MADDALENA. Yes, sir. But it is sure that if the engineer of the water-works really has arrived, your brother will not go away to-morrow. You and the Madame intend leaving to-morrow, don't you?
PAOLO. Yes, no. I don't know--yes, we will go to-morrow. Leave me alone.
MADDALENA. All right, but see if I'm wrong; I say that your brother will not go to-morrow, nor the day after to-morrow. Here he is.
PAOLO. I did not ask you anything. Go away. [_He takes her by the arm and pushes her out._]
PAOLO. She is insufferable. She isn't listening at the door, is she?
MARIO. No, be calm. I hear her in the garden. What has happened. You look worried.