Paolo [on his knees]. And now—can you pardon me?
[Anna reluctantly rests a hand upon his head, then indulgently and discouragingly.]
Anna. Rise—rise.
Paolo. Tell me that you pardon me. I swear that I want to die here and now.
Anna. Yes, yes. Arise; do not remain so. It hurts me.
Paolo [getting up]. I do not know what got into my head—but I have suffered a great deal.
Anna. Yes, I see. Yes ... calm yourself.
Paolo. Mario has no tact ... it was he who irritated me from the first. [Anna starts to go.] Do not go. Stay here a moment. [Anna sits upon the sofa.] You see the stroke of madness has passed. It was only because Mario was here. Mario is good, judicious, but his presence irritated me. Yes, yes, you were right. But you should also understand the state of my mind. [He walks up and down.] After all, what does all this disturbance mean? It means that I love you—and it seems to me that is the essential thing! One must consider the source of things. It is five years that we are husband and wife and you cannot say I have ever given you the slightest reason for regret. I do not believe so. Five years are five years. I have worked up to a good position, you have always figured in society; a pastime which I would never have enjoyed alone. I had friends, the club, the other husbands after the first year of marriage, in the evenings, I renounced everything. I do not wish to praise myself, but—
Anna. Please don't walk up and down so much!
Paolo. Excuse me. Will you allow me to sit here next to you? [Long silence.] When shall I see you smile, Anna? No, do not get up. Then it is not true that you have pardoned me!