"Kiss me, little husband of mine." "But..." "Your mother will give her consent, right?" "Of course, big silly!" "Come, then!" "Good bye, Romilda." " Good bye." "Listen, eh..." "I almost forgot." "Mommy has always told me that a young couple needs at least 50000 lire, ...to settle." "Since I don't have a dowry," "I think she will insist on that." "Could you discuss it with you mom?" " Of course." " Really?" " Yes!" "Greetings, aunt." "Life is wonderful!" "Life is wonderful?" "Idiot!" "Hello, mom!" "What's wrong?" "You look worried." " Just a thought, darling." " Good!" "Because I am so happy today!" "Give me a hug." "I'm marrying Romilda." "Just like that?" "Right away?" "Right away." "You seem to be in a hurry, darling." "Such things shouldn't be handled easily." " I haven't been handling them easily, I'm fully engaged." " When will you marry?" " As soon as wedding invitations are sent." " You know that Romilda, that is to say her mother, is hard up." "Very much so." " I'll marry Romilda without dowry!" "Oh?" " I'll be supplying everything, which is much simpler." "I promised..." " How much?" "50000 lire." "That's not too much, is it?" "You won't be in need?" "Not at all, darling." "Not as long as you are happy!" "You are content?" "Romilda?" "Sure I am, mom." "You know I am." "You don't look like it." "Yes, I do." "You told him specifically 50000 lire?" "Huh?" " Yes." "It's not enough?" "It's very good." "Give me a kiss, my child." " As the director of "Little Echo of Miragno", ...I wish you all the happiness..." "I mean, all the happiness..." "All the happiness in the world!" "For you are united like the vine is to the elm tree." "Mathias, you are the young elm." "The climbing vine, that's you, Romilda!" "Ah, the alluring vine, ...which gives this wine that I offer in your honor, ...because..." "Because..." "I'm dying of thirst!" "Very good, my dear director, ...this picture of the young elm and the climbing vine!" " Thanks." "The young elm will soon be suffocated by the climbing vine!" " A vine which in fact is not a virgin vine!" "Well put, my good man!" "You got a real journalist's touch!" " You are having a good time here." "People are getting wed and dancing." "Meanwhile, here's a little bill for the newlyweds." "The tab for the champagne." " They will pay at the end of the month." " At the end of the month, you won't be here anymore." " What are you saying?" " Ain't me, but my boss who's saying so." "What did he say?" " That Mr Malagna will move in here at the end of the month." " May I?" " Yes." " Mme Mathias Pascal, will you grant me this mazurka?" "I'm tired." "No..." " Let's go!" "You know you want to." " Shut up." " When we have danced the "jig" on the countryside together, ...you can't refuse me a mazurka." " Shut up." " Mr Mathias?" " What is it?" "Pardon." "A bill, already?" "You're not losing your time!" "Come with me." "Romilda?" "Listen, please be good and pay for the sparkling wine, will you." " Pay with what?" " Pay with what?" "You haven't spent 50000 lire on hats already?" " Mommy has the money, silly." " Your mother?" "Yes, she keeps it for us." "Come with me, then." " Since you have taken on the role as banker for your children, ... here's a creditor already." " What's this?" " The wedding champagne, madam." "How would I pay this?" "Romilda told me..." " I won't spend a dime of the 50000 lire!" "That money is sacred." "But we're giving our permission." " Your permission?" " Yes." "Ha!" "He's a scream." " That very fine, but..." "the champagne?" "Who will pay for it?" "I'm begging you, Malagna, please pay." "This is getting embarrassing." " I can do nothing." "Had you only listen to me..." " How so?" " You know we had to mortgage your last belongings for this marriage." " Even the Spruce domain?" " Everything, madam." "So, we are ruined?" "What?" "Ruined?" "You are..." "We are ruined?" "That takes the cake!" "You surely knew it!" "You fooled us well!" " I didn't know that we owed that much money." " Who's profiting from the mortgage?" " I thought I was helping out." " He's to blame, scoundrel, jackal!" "You total jackass!" "Rotten vulture!" "He came back when I was away, and you signed, you idiot!" " I've had it!" "I don't even know you!" "Oh!" "Jack..." "Jack..." "Jackal!" "You..." "Rascal!" " Since you are the one with the dough..." " Very well, I'll pay for the champagne, that's being on the level." " It's clearly not the Spruce domain, this place." "You allowed it to be sold..." " I didn't want to owe money to anybody." "Anybody, dear madam?" "You shouldn't have loaned in the first place!" " Of course I'm touched." "I thank you for  your hospitality..." " Hospitality!" "We couldn't leave you out in the street!" "Romilda!" "Let Mathias serve himself." "You are his wife, not his maid." "You raised your son in a strange way." "A lazybones!" "You made him into a lazybones!" " Mathias is very young..." " Is he going to keep four mouths fed by chasing butterflies?" "You're not answering?" "Are you going to feed your family with grasshoppers?" " Ah, madam!" "I will get work." "Ha!" "Doing what?" "Excuse me." "Work, work..." "If he thinks that he'll find someone foolish enough to employ him!" "You look sad, Mathias." "Don't worry, everything will work out fine." "Mrs Pescatore is a tad sharp." "But maybe in the end, she has a big heart." "Mom..." " In any case, you didn't marry the mother!" "Huh?" "And since Romilda loves you..." "Go find her, darling." "Go." "Good evening, Romilda." "Good evening." "You don't want me to kiss you?" "Sure." "Here you go." "Now leave me alone, I'm all worn out." " Listen, Romilda..." " You're bothering me!" " I have no advice to give you, Mathias, ...but newly-weds can't live on insects." "Pay attention." "She's right!" "Hello, Mayor." " My dear Mathias, this is your lucky day." " You really have something for me?" "Yes, I do." "Please be seated." "Do you like books?" " Books?" " Yes, big ones, thick ones, books of every kind!" "We have more than 60000 in our town library." "You follow?" "60000, which have to be classified, arranged, catalogued." "Would you like to be in charge?" " But..." " The librarian had gotten too old, I'm forcing him to retire." "Does this soothe you?" "The old geezer will instruct you." "Soon you'll be the center of the cultural and scientific life of Miragno!" "Very well, I accept." "But could you tell me straight away..." " The salary?" " Yes." " Very well." "Are you demanding?" " Oh, no ..." "But..." "Listen, I'll give you... 60 lire!" " Euh..." " You're fine with that?" " I wouldn't know how to thank you." " Don't!" "." "See you soon." "I'm glad to be of help to you." " Good bye." " Good bye!" " And thanks again, Mayor." " Don't mention it, Mathias." "And I, meaning the town council, ...am earning 40 lire just like that!" " How so?" " Sure, I was giving 100 to the silly old duffer." "100 - 60 = 40!" " You know your math, dad!" " You must leave this house immediately!" "Come live with me!" " And Mathias?" "He'll come see you!" "You have been coughing for weeks!" "Look at you!" "You're crying, you're getting thinner..." "That's the work of the old Pescatore widow!" " Be still..." " She's an old hag!" " Old hag?" "I won't be insulted in my own home." " Your own home?" "Did you hear that?" " Leave or ...!" " You're not scaring me!" " Ah, I'm not scaring you?" "!" "Well, take this!" " Ah!" "This is getting personal!" " What should we do, Scholastica?" "We'll pack our things!" "And after that, we're on our way!" "Go on!" "Old hag vulture!" "Quick, where are the trunks?" "There." "And Mathias?" "Oh!" "He'll come see you." "Hurry up!" "Where are your drapes?" "There..." " Mom!" "Mathias found a job!" " You found a job?" " Yes." "Starting tomorrow, I'll be the librarian of Miragno." " You'll be paid?" " I sure will." "60 lire a month." " How much?" " 60 lire!" " 60 lire?" "Yes." "Imbecile!" "Gardano, "Natural Magic"!" "What?" "Gardano, "Natural Magic"!" "Gardano, "Natural Magic"!" " Adrien Meis, "Treatise on Astrology"!" "Adrien what?" "Adrien Meis!" "M, as in mug!" "E, as in etc.!" "I, as in illusion!" "And S, as in stupid!" " And S, as in stupid." "I hear you." "Why do you go on working when you have retired?" "Yes, I have retired." "I don't earn any money anymore." "So why are you staying on?" " Huh?" " Why do you stay?" "!" " Where would I go?" "For 40 years I have been here every day." "I would get bored if I were to do anything else." "Mr. Pascal!" "Your aunt Scholastica sent me." "My mother is well again?" " I don't know." "You must come with me." "Go to Mrs. Pescatore and tell my wife to meet me at my aunt's place." "Here's for you." "Now hurry." "You're not going!" "That old viper insulted me and almost killed me." "Mathias' mother could have lived with us and died here." "Scholastica..." "The envelope..." "Oh, it's not much." "Some hundred lire." "All that I could save." "It's for you" "For you only." "Do you understand?" "You could use it ..." "One day." "Mother..." "Mother..." "Mathias?" "The old woman is happy." "She no longer suffers." "While I..." "It is right to say that those who stay behind are the ones to pity." "And for the funeral?" "What are you planning?" "I don't know yet." "You'll need money." "Exactly, I..." " So ask the Mayor to help you." "He'll take good care of it." "He has credits for the needing." "Leave him alone, Romilda." "He needs to be alone, you should understand." "Come." "And when one dies, ...one comes back to earth!" "Surely..." "Pay attention." "We're..." "Oh, but are you drunk or what?" "Get up." "There." "Surely, I can't see why we're buried..." "Oh, Mr. Pascal!" "Where are you headed?" " Me?" "I don't know." "Nowhere special." "I'm taking a walk." " When you're in grief, ...walking helps." "Go, see you soon, friends." "Good bye, Mr. Pascal!" "For when one dies, ...one comes back to earth!" " If you'll permit me to express my opinion..." " Please do, Pomino." "We think of you as part of the family." " He's thrown himself into the water." " I wouldn't be surprised." "He's foolish enough to do so." " Something must be done!" "He must be sought after." "We must contact an agency." " An agency?" "Can you afford that?" "No." "The police will find the fool." "Yes, that's what they're there for." " Will you take care of it?" " I'd be glad to." "Since someone has to, I mean." "I'll ask my father to contact them." " Thank you." "So long, Romilda." "My good man, do you ...like voyages?" "No." " Me neither." "You're not going far, ...I hope?" "On the contrary, I'm going far away." "Aha!" "To America." "It's a beautiful place." "It's a place of riches." "It seems one can make a fortune there." "You are going to try your luck?" "Maybe." " I can tell wether you are of the lucky kind or not." "Answer me." "What's the time?" "Answer quickly." " Eh..." " Quick." "10.27 am." "Tremendous!" "You won." "You're not going to America anymore!" " Ah?" " Have you played roulette before?" " Never." " Never?" "Fantastic!" "You're the person I need." "I won't let you go." "If you have never payed, place your bets and you'll be rich in two days." "When is your boat leaving?" " In two days, from Marseilles." "You're a winner for sure!" "Prepare yourself." "We're there." " Where?" " In Monte Carlo." "Let me present myself, Sir Titus Lantz." "Les jeux sont faits!" "Rien ne va plus!" "8, black, pair and manque!" "There's a free seat, take it!" "Messieurs!" " Place your money." " But where?" " Faites vos jeux!" " Anywhere." "Les jeux sont faits?" "Rien ne va plus!" "22, black, pair, passe!" " I won!" " Play and be quiet." "Messieurs!" "Faites vos jeux." "Rien ne va plus!" " Well, what did I tell you?" "I deserve a little attention for my lesson, won't you say?" " How so?" " I normally take a 10% commission." "You decide the sum yourself." "Well, serve yourself." " Thank you." " Where are you going?" "Off to lose it all." "Les jeux sont faits?" "Rien ne va plus!" "5, black, pair, passe!" " You have the luck of the devil." "Yes, and I have no idea why." "Well.." "So?" "Did you win?" " No it's like I said." "I told you "I will lose", ...I lost it all." "That's what the game is like." "But..." "You're not going on?" " No." "I'm going back to Miragno." " What are you going to do with all this money?" " Me?" "I'm buying back the Spruce." " Excuse me?" " I'm taking away my wife and telling Pescatore to show me some respect." " Pescatore?" " My mother-in-law!" "Goodbye, sir." "Oh?" "Who has died?" "Her son." "Her son?" "Yeah, Mathias." "Mathias Pascal." "What are you saying?" "Mathias Pascal?" " Yes." " But that's me!" " What?" " But I am me." "Mathias Pascal, that's me." " It isn't right to make jokes about death." "It brings bad luck." "Yes, it was wrong of me to make jokes." "Look." "Here, this is for you." "Thanks, mister." "But, could you tell me, ...how did he die, this...?" "What was his name, again?" "Did you know him?" " Mathias Pascal?" "No." "If I had to know everybody I dug a grave for!" "He killed himself." "He drowned, some days ago." "Gone." "Disappeared." "Sorrow did it." "Such things happen..." "It's because of his mother, who lies over there." "Poor fella." "There he comes!" " Who?" " Mathias Pascal." "Requiem aeternum domine." "Requiescat in pace." " AMEN." "Mister Mathias..." "Mister Mathias Pascal..." "Quiet." "Stay there, don't move." "What days!" "What horrible days of consternation and... and unspeakable anguish for the family for whom we are weeping." "We loved you, Mathias, for the beauty of your soul, ...your jovial character, your natural modesty, ...that allowed you to support without debasement this adverse fate." "O you, friend of books and of insects, ...learned librarian, delicate entomologist, ...the butterflies you loved so much will choose this tomb  to close their wings." "Rest in peace, Mathias." "It is with a broken heart, dear friend ...that we say goodbye, ...for the last time." "Are you really crying, Romilda?" " I always cry in funerals." "Mr. Mathias?" " Swear that you will never say that you have seen me and that I'm alive." " You can trust me." "Even if you hadn't asked." "Yes, because..." "Mr. Pascal, ...that guy there, in the ground, ...well, I was the one who..." "What?" "You killed him?" "But who is it?" "He was a railroad man." "Nobody knew him around here." "We were drunk..." "You surely remember, you met us ...at the path." "Right?" "We had a fight." "He hit me." "I pushed him a bit, and he fell in the river." "It was you they were looking for, but it was him that they found ...8 days later." "Your women recognized you." "It's true that you look a lot like him." "Believe me, it ain't me who will be claiming that it's the other way." "Let them figure out things themselves!" "Mister Pascal..." "You won't denounce me, will you?" "Of course not, imbecile." "I also want them to think that I am dead." " You won't denounce me, for that would have solved the case." "Now, leave me alone." "So long, Mr. Pascal." "And good luck." "Maimaine!" "You'll get dirty from her shoes." "Oh, she's good kid." "You like children." "You have any yourself?" " No, I don't." "Really?" "Married, ...without children?" "Mr. Pascal?" "Mr. Pascal..." " You know my name?" " Your papers." "You forgot them." "Thank you." "Mister?" "I would like a room." " You are staying alone?" " Yes." " Well then, room 25 will be perfect for you." "Would you like to see it first?" " That's not necessary." " No luggage?" " No." "So, we were saying Mister...?" "Euh..." "You're saying?" "I say, euh..." "I say Meis." "M E I S." " I don't get it." "If you could write..." "A pure formality." "Regulations..." "From ..." "Lucien?" "Maurice?" "Arthur?" "Come nearer." "So, Mathias?" "Last one as usual?" "Pardon?" " Excuse me, I'm calling my pigeons." "Not the people walking in the park." "I have given them names." "Misunderstandings happen." "Your name is Mathias?" "Mine?" "No." "No, but I found this concept so surprising, or rather original, ...to call pigeons by name." " It's so convenient!" "Please have a seat..." "May I?" "Yes, it's very convenient." " I have been noticing you in the park for a while." "Always alone, always sad." "What's wrong?" "A broken heart?" "You lost someone?" " Yes." "A friend." "A nice boy." "A bit slow." "He was always chasing butterflies." "You're a dreamer, aren't you." "Yes, maybe I'm a dreamer." " And I'm sure that you like calm and tranquillity." " Yes." " Just like me." "I live at a charming and quiet boarding house." "A paradise of silence and comfort." "Sounds tempting, doesn't it?" " Oh..." " You should decide." "I'm sure you will decide." "I'm always here at 11 o'clock." " Miss..." " Hope to see you again soon." "Daniel?" "Andre?" "Come closer!" "Thanks." " Mr. Meis!" "A pleasant surprise." "You'll be seeing someone close to your heart." " Who?" "Your family." "Cousin Adrien!" "Greetings, cousin!" " Don't you recognize your cousin from Syracuse." "This is Octave Meis, your cousin." "Cousin Adrien from Milan." " I'm not from Milan." " In the register, ...you wrote you came from there?" " Yes, but..." " So, you're from Livorno." "He's from Livorno!" "No, I'm not." " Milan, Livorno, all Meis are family!" "Embrace your cousin, children." "Embrace him." "Listen cousin, if you're nor from Milan nor from Livorno, ...I'll figure out where you're from." "The tree is always with me." "Tree?" "What tree?" " The family tree of the great Meis family!" "We'll meet again, cousin!" "We'll meet again." "Excuse me, miss." "I'm waiting for someone." "Yes, someone like you." "I mean, someone feeding pigeons like that." "Miss Caporale, no doubt?" "You know her?" "I'm standing in for her." "She's a bit sick." "But never forgets about her pigeons." "So, to help her out..." "That's kind of you." "Kind?" "Sure." "But first and foremost it amuses me!" "Would you like to try?" " I don't think I have it in me to be a bird charmer." " Did you have a message for miss Caporale?" " Eh well, to put it briefly, I need a place to stay." " Oh..." " Let's not dramatize things." "I left my hotel and am searching for another place." "Miss Caporale spoke highly of a place where she stayed..." " So it's you?" " What do you mean?" " Since yesterday Miss Caporale has been speaking of nothing else than the young woman she met in the park." "You would like to stay at the Paleari boarding house?" " Why not?" "You live there too?" " Yes I do." "I'm the child of the house." "The owner is my guardian." "Come." "I'll take you there." "Would you wait a moment?" "I'll inform my guardian." " Most kind." " What's this?" " This is Count Papiano, the partner of my guardian." "This is the man that miss Caporale has been talking about." " Ah!" " He would like a room." " A room?" " Yes, a room and I'll be having my meals here." " Certainly." "Well, leave us alone, Louise." "Ah, I'm sorry sir, you are out of luck!" "Even though I would love to be able to receive you here, ...the house is unfortunately full as an egg at the moment." "Huh?" "But..." "Full as an egg?" "Are you joking, my dear count?" "Sir, I have a little room, in fact not that little at all." "It's at the 2nd floor." "You'll be very well there." "It's as clear as day, as clean as an eye." " But it's reserved for..." " For my costumers." "This gentleman has been recommended by miss Caporale." "If you like the room, you can have it." "Follow me, or rather..." "Do me the honor of leading the way." " Marie, you can add a place setting counting from today." " My dear little Louise, I'm a bit surprised and worried over you ...bringing over people like this." "Where did you find him?" "In the parc." "He was waiting for miss Caporale." "It was by chance..." " I don't care much for this sort of chance." "Especially when it comes in the form of a man." "Understood?" "You like the room?" "Very much." "Very much." "Well, then you are at home." "Ah, perfect!" "Will you be staying for long?" "Quite some time." "Several months?" " Maybe more." " In that case, we're asking a three months advance from our guests." "Would that be a problem?" " Not at all." "I'm very glad that you will be keeping me for at least three months!" "So, how much?" " Oh well, 120 times 3, 360." "360. 350." "And 60." "Thank you." " You're exaggerating, my dear count!" "3 months in advance!" "That's not the way we do it." "Quite a wonder that the young man had such a sum on him." "Have you gone nuts?" "You say that there is no room available, ...then you ask him for a guarantee!" "Madness!" " Go on complaining." "You got the money." " You're the one holding it now." " I'll keep it for Louise, for you, for the family." "Dear future step-father, I'm in charge of the cash register now!" "You spend with consummate skill!" "Here's 50 lire." "Go spend them like a youngster!" "Enter!" "Excuse me, my good man." "I have a small service to ask of you." "Would it be possible for you to wear this flower in your buttonhole?" "Excuse me?" " It's in the honor of Louise Paleari." "Miss Louise Paleari, the young woman who brought you here." " Indeed." " She's getting married soon." " Ah!" " Yes, we're getting married." "I'm espousing her." " How about that." " Tonight, we're having our engagement dinner." " Well, my compliments to you, Count Papiano." "Thank you." "Adele!" "Ah!" "Adele?" "Where's our cousin?" "Adrien?" " I haven't seen him all day." "Ah!" "Director." "Sir?" "Director?" " Yes, Mr. Meis?" " Where is my cousin, Adrien Meis?" " Don't speak to me of him." "He left this morning, without saying where he was heading." " Is it possible?" " I want to show his place in the tree." " He left without leaving an address where he can be reached!" " Huh?" " He has left!" "Look here." "Look closely." "The family tree of the big Meis family!" "The trunk, that's Adrien Meis." "The famous astrologer of the Middle Ages." "Yes, he was called Adrien." "Just like my cousin!" "My grandfather..." "Eh..." "Fredrick." "And my grandmother..." "Eh, Charlotte." "Na!" "Well, I too have a family tree." "Just like my cousin." "And..." "I have returned from America, ...where I spent... 5 years." "Go check yourself if you wish." " I'm telling you that exactly 2705 lire have disappeared since you got in charge!" "I'll have a certified public accountant come over tomorrow to examine the bookkeeping, and, if it turns out that I owe you an excuse ...you will have it." " No need for that between us!" "You want a certified accountant?" "I was thinking in the same lines." " All the better!" " This certified accountant will examine ...my coming wife's financial standing." " The girl I have been raising?" " Yes, dear father-in-law to be." " Please..." " How much is the dowry?" " Be still, I implore you!" " I'm asking for..." "Calm down." "You know that money means nothing to me." "I will marry her even without a dowry." "That's a agreement." "Get these misconceived ideas out of your head." "The books have been reliably kept." "Reliable books make reliable friends!" "Let's shake hands." "Dad?" "Everybody are waiting for dinner to start." "How wonderful!" "Are you happy, Louise?" "Yes, dad." "Very happy?" " Of course I am, dad." " Of course!" "How wonderful she is." "Ah, there is only Meis missing here today!" "He doesn't even have the courtesy to be on time for our gathering!" " Give him the time he needs to get prepared." " I'm not waiting to raise a toast for my fiancee's good fortune." "Louise, ...I drink for our engagement!" "Oh!" "That brings bad luck!" " Fool!" "It brings good luck." "Mr. Meis, please join us, ...so that I can introduce you." "Mr. Meis, Dr. Baldus." " Are you from Rome?" " No." " I bet you are from Naples!" "No, not from Naples either." "He has that Florentine look!" "Mr. Beraldes, a great artist!" " Am I correct?" " No, I am American." " Ah!" " Or rather, an Italian from America." " Miss Pepita." "Mrs and Mr Cantinelli." "Here is your seat." "Ah ah!" " Did you know that the Great Max announced your coming?" " The Great Max?" " You will make his acquaintance." "It's madame's ghost." "We take an interest in spiritualism in this house !" " Lobster?" " I'd love some, miss Pepita." "Have a taste of my salad." " Do you have a cook in the house?" " He's amusing!" "Isn't he?" "I'll explain." "Here in the Paleari pension, we take turns with the cooking." "An original arrangement, right?" " Yes." "You are best served by yourself!" " Do you like it?" "You'll take your turn soon!" "What's wrong, darling?" "I'm feeling down." " Oh!" "I don't want you to be sad." "My marriage won't hinder us from seeing each other." " You're going to go on...?" "You disgust me." "I disgust you?" "C'mon, babe..." "If I marry Louise..." " It's because you love her." " Silly girl, you know that I love only you." "Hum?" "But I want you to keep an eye on Louise." " What?" " It would be best if Meis doesn't get too close." " Have you already delivered any mail to Mr. Meis?" " What mail?" " Have you delivered any letters ...to Meis since his arrival?" " Letters...?" "There has been no mail to Meis!" "Odd business.." "No letters, no visitors, no friends..." "Odd, isn't it?" " Huh?" "Hum..." "Go, scram." " Yes?" "Mail delivery, Mr. Meis." "Is there any mail for me?" "No." "Still nothing." " So, what is this supposed to mean?" " Nothing special." "I simply came to tell you that there is still no mail for you, ...after a month has passed since your arrival." "Caporale?" "I think you're right." "Meis is hiding something." "We had an accident when we returned from the market." " Nothing serious?" " Our carriage hit a passer-by." "When a constable asked Meis to give a testimony, he fled the place." "It's so strange." " No." "Do you want my opinion?" "Meis is an aristocrat." "He is hiding because he has split with his family." "They wanted to impose a marriage with a young girl upon him." "He didn't love her, so he left!" " The police wouldn't care about that." "That's true." "Then there is no doubt." "He's a conspirator." "Do you think so?" " He's not a thief or a murderer?" " Oh no!" "Then he must be a conspirator." " Mr. Meis, are you really the one that we think that you are?" "Excuse me?" "Put briefly, are you a spiritualist?" "Spiritualist by persuasion?" "Do you believe in spirits, in ghosts, in the afterlife, ...in magicians, in astral bodies?" "I believe in them without believing." " Mr. Meis, thanks to miss Caporale, our medium, ...your eyes will see, you will understand." "Dare you suggest that the dead are not able to  appear for us in irrefutable ways?" "I can't deny it." "I even knew a dead man who peeled apples." " I hope that he peeled them better than you do!" "1, 2, 3, 4, 5." "Trouble." "1, 2, 3, 4, 5." "Big trouble." "Caporale, can I ask you." "What?" "Listen.." "I'm so unhappy." " I know." "How do you know?" " I know it from the cards." " Stop kidding." "You have always been a good friend to me." "Give me some advice." "I could never marry Papiano." " I can tell that from the cards too." "The marriage must be prevented." " Because you love a young, blond man." "There he is!" "Yes." "I love that young, blond man." "I can tell this to you." "You won't tell anyone?" " It's hard to keep a secret, isn't it?" "Yes." "So, tell it to me!" "I dare not." "He intimidates me." "He's so strange, if you only knew..." "Sometimes he jokes around, and suddenly he becomes mute." "He must be sick." "Do you think so?" " I'm sure of it." "You have the same sickness." " I think that I would have the courage to address him." "But how to get to it?" "Papiano spies on me." "He must suspect something." "Help me." "It's a simple case." "Tomorrow, I'll be sick." "My pigeons will starve." "You will go to feed them." "Maybe you'll meet Meis in the park as if by chance..." "Do you think that I will meet him?" "My cards say that you will." "Caporale, you are the best." "Louise?" "Where are you heading?" "Going out?" "Caporale is ill." "I'm doing her a favor." " Very well, darling." "Mr. Adrien Meis." "12, Via Sistine." "Rome." "There." "Come in!" " Do you mind if I enter?" " Not at all." "Excuse me, Meis." "I'm feeling a bit ill." " Really?" " Would you be so kind as to go feed my pigeons?" " I will only scare them." " No, they will understand that you come in my place." "You will be well received." "It will bring you good luck." " You think so?" "I know it." "Thank you." "Thank you." "I thought you were sick?" "I am." "I'm feeling dizzy." "My head is spinning, I have to lay down." "Hum hum..." "Have a drink and it will pass." "No thanks." " Tell me, how did you first meet Meis?" "In the park." "Where I meet my pigeons." " He made a hit on you?" " Don't be stupid!" "He was out for a walk." " Really?" "Just like that?" "Well yes, just like that." "He stayed in the hotel across the road." " Which hotel?" " The Luxor, I think." " He stayed at the Luxor?" "Do you need anything, darling?" "No, why?" "I thought that you were sick." " Mr. Meis?" " Mister...?" " Meis, I would like to speak to him." " Which one?" " How so?" "Are there several Meises in your hotel?" " No, both have left." " Both!" "How unfortunate." "I wanted to speak to Mr. Adrien Meis." " He left the 1st of the month." "The day that his cousin arrived." " His cousin?" " Octavio, who came with his family." " Octavio..." "How unfortunate that they left." "Did Mr. Meis get a lot of mail?" " Which one?" " Adrien Meis." " Adrien Meis?" "No, there was never anything for him." "That's right." "Even though he stayed a whole year." "That's..." " Strange!" " Yes." " You put it correctly." "Thank you." " Thank you, mister." " Caporale's pigeons won't starve!" "You were sent too?" "Yes." "I come on assignment" " And I thought that you had volunteered!" " Since you were already in place, I could have made an about-turn." "But you are staying?" "How kind." "For the pigeons." "Listen, Louise, ...I wanted to say..." "Say it." "Oh no, I can't." " Would you like me to help?" "No, don't say anything." "You're scaring me." "Don't be afraid, Louise." "What can one do..." "If everything was about being sincere, life would be quite simple." "What's wrong?" " Excuse me." "Let's not talk about it any more." "It's better that way." "Don't you think so?" "As you wish." " Two pigeons loved each other, ...one got bored." "And into the sky without a word, ...he flew away." "And during a whole year, ...lost in illusions, ...found nothing but trouble and misery, ...poor pigeon." "Nice tune, right?" " Ah!" " No explanation offered." " Excuse me, I'm a bit late." "Ah ah!" "You had a nice stroll?" "You like pigeons, Louise?" "You too, Meis?" "They can be quite delicious served for lunch." "With garden peas." "By the way Meis, I met a friend of yours this morning." "A relative." "Your cousin Octavio Meis." "Charming fellow." " Do you have a cousin in Rome, Meis?" "Tell him to join us here, ...there are rooms available." " Why yes, my cousin..." "My cousin Octavio?" "Yes, yes, yes." "He's still in Rome?" "Evidently, as I spoke with him!" "Yes, of course." "Did he show you the tree?" "Tree?" "What tree?" "The Meis family tree!" "He is convinced that we descend from an astrologer from the Middle Ages." "An obsession." "He's crazy!" "He harassed you?" "Yes." "And I can't stand lunatics." "As well as indiscreet people." "You are right about that, Meis." "Let's get seated." " With pleasure." " It will take place tonight, Meis." " What will?" " Our seance." "And we count on you to join us." " You know that I can't stand that, I don't believe in those things." " Come this once, as a favor to me." "You too, Louise." " Miss Pepita!" "We're not here for square dancing." "Show some restraint." "Paleari, sit over there." "Miss Pepita, over here." "And Beraldez, to my left." "And you, doctor..." " Next to you?" "Get seated there." "I came mostly for your sake." "Good evening." "A letter for Mr. Meis." "Keep quiet?" "Imbecile." "Listen." "Take this and keep your ears open." " And what happens from now?" " Be patient, Meis." "We'll start as soon as Papiano is here." " What's he up to this evening?" "Would you be good enough to ...?" " Certainly." "Papiano?" "Here I am, my friends!" " It is most important that you follow this most reverently, Meis." "Excuse me." "There." "The lamp." "Like that." " Silence." "Let's form a circle." "Our hands should touch the table slightly." "The tip of your little finger should touch that of your neighbor." " How do you feel, Meis?" "Oh, stirred, Papiano." "Stirred." " Hum hum." "And you?" "Me?" "Oh!" "Very calm." "Be silent!" "Are you in a trance, miss Caporale?" "Yes." "Quick!" "What do you see?" "The Great Max is approaching." "He greets me." "He is going to speak!" "Meis?" "!" " What a jerk!" " The circle has been broken up." "What is it?" "There's a letter for you, Meis!" "Let me have it!" "Thank you." "Now, leave us!" "Go on and read if you like, ...we don't mind." " No." "No, let's continue." "What a coincidence, the letter arriving just now!" "As you are skeptical, Meis, ...the Great Max must be trying to convince you." "We could ask him the name of the sender." "That wouldn't be indiscreet?" " He will tell." "I'd stake my life on it." "Max can tell everything!" "Speak, miss Caporale." "Do you see this letter, Max?" "Do you see it?" "Could you tell me who sent it?" "Speak, Max." "We listen." "Do you hear something?" "He remains silent." " It's like he doesn't want to speak." "He's angry." "There are skeptical people present." " Maybe this letter doesn't interest him." "Maybe it isn't signed." "Maybe it's anonymous." "Ah!" "The Great Max gave three knocks." "What does that mean?" "It's a sign of interrogation." "Maybe he wants you to open the letter?" "Turn on the light!" "This is scandalous" "Scandalous!" "Good night." " He's right." "It's scandalous, disgusting!" "You don't have the right to dig into his private affairs!" "One can't do anything here without everybody getting informed!" "You make me sick." " But, my child, this is a seance.." "A seance?" "Looks more like espionage to me!" "And rudeness!" "You're leaving?" "You leave me without a word?" "Without saying goodbye?" "Louise..." "You have guessed." "Something is between us." "You have a secret?" "Tell it to me if you love me." " No, don't ask me to do so, I must leave." "Yes." "Be still, ...if you can' speak, if you are prohibited from doing so." "But don't leave me." " No, Louise, ... I beg you!" "No." "You don't love me." "Louise..." "If you go, I will follow." "We'll travel, we will leave Italy if we have to." "We'll leave everything behind." "You'll forget your secret." "I'll help you do so." "Papiano..." "Papiano..." "Yes, darling." "We'll go together." "Right away, if you wish." "Tomorrow morning, at 7 o'clock..." "Get prepared." "I'll be ready to go in a moment." "I have been robbed." "Someone broke into my desk." "What?" "How?" "Louise..." "We cannot leave." "Oh!" "Papiano is behind this!" "I'm positively sure!" "I'll alert the police." "You'll register a complaint." " Please..." "Let's wait." "Maybe Papiano is innocent." "We don't have any evidence." "Wait for me." "Louise?" "Thief!" "You took the money!" "Thief!" "Louise!" "Up already?" "But why are you dressed in a traveling costume?" "You did it!" "You!" "Give the money back to Meis!" " What are you saying, darling?" "What money are you talking about?" "Count Papiano is a thief!" "A thief!" "A thief!" " A thief?" "Get the police." " Yes, call for them!" " Indeed." "Let's get the police here." "Louise, don't lose your head." "You can't accuse people just like that." "Count Papiano can't have done it." "No." "He's innocent." "And who knows?" "Maybe I didn't look well enough." "Excuse me." " What's going on, for the love of God?" " I don't know." "Meis lost some money." "Are there thieves here?" " Yes, there is one." "You." "I found my money!" "I had put it another place." "It was under a stack of linen, in the commode." "I'm sorry." "Sorry for you, Louise." "And for you, Papiano." "Excuse me." " It's not true." "It's not true!" "Nobody is telling the truth." "Meis didn't uncover anything." "Papiano took the money." " You need to calm down." "He' crazy." "This Meis is a lunatic." "I fear the worst." " The worst?" " Yes." "Let's face it." "His conscience isn't clean." "He doesn't want the police to stick their nose into his business." "I hope you're wrong!" "Thief." "Give me back my money immediately!" "Well, I never!" "It was true." "Papiano..." " Hum?" " Scram." "You hear?" "Get lost!" "Or I'll have you arrested." " I'll state my reasons." "You intended to steal my fiancee?" " Yes." " I did this to hold you back." " You wanted to leave with Louise?" " She is consenting to it." "We love each other." "There was no other way." " Oh really?" "Two of us is one too many." " Agreed." " Exactly." "It's up to Louise to decide this." "As her guardian I have always placed her happiness above all." "She will choose between you." "I will talk to her right away." "You have won, Meis." "Louise loves you, and she will marry you." "But you just announced that you found the money, ...and made your excuses to me." "Are you that afraid of the police?" " Shut up!" " Careful!" "You almost strangled me." "Then you would get in trouble, and the police would get involved." "Would be rather indiscreet, wouldn't it?" "I don't care who you are!" "That only concerns Louise!" " This wedding celebration gives me a mad desire to..." " But doctor!" " To get seated." " We haven't gotten engaged yet." " He doesn't want to marry me any more." "In eight days time, darling." "When I have sold my paintings." " Oh, well..." "Very well, everyone's here!" "Are you waiting for someone?" "What a question!" "The groom." "Ah..." "Ah, Meis!" "His door is open and the room is empty." "I think the bird has flown." " What are you saying?" " That's madness!" " I'm telling you the truth." "You're lying!" "That's impossible." " You're wonderful." "You arrange everything, ...without asking for Meis' opinion." "Is it certain that he has consented to marrying Louise?" " Please stop." "Go away, I don't want to see you again." "Calm down, Louise." "Let's take a calm look at the situation." "Meis had no reason to leave like that without telling a soul." "He should have let us know, your father and me." "We have no alternative but to go to the police." "I will go find some constables!" "Will you please keep quiet?" "!" "Please listen to me." "You want to tell me something?" "Yes." "Come." "I'm listening." "You know it all, don't you?" "Yes." "No, I know nothing." "But I implore you, please let Adrien be." " Since you are protecting him, he must be guilty?" "Leave him be." "Since he's gone.." "...and I feel certain that he will never come back again." "There is no reason that you should want to get to him." " If I leave it like that, what will you do?" "Whatever suits you, Papiano." " You want to kill yourself, Mathias?" "Don't do something so foolish." "It's not Mathias Pascal that should be put away." "But the other one, Adrien Meis." "Go back to Miragno." "Get back your real life and your real name." "You will knock on the door of your home:" ""Here I am, I am Mathias Pascal."" ""And I'm alive." Let's go..." "Say goodbye to Adrien Meis once and for all." "And destroy him." "Goodbye Louise Forgive me" " Who's there?" " Me!" "Who, me?" "Me!" "Mathias Pascal!" "Come and let me in straight away, old hag!" "What?" "What are you saying?" "Oooh!" "Well I never!" "Pomino." "Mathias!" " What are you doing here?" " Me?" "Euh..." "And you?" "You're not dead?" "Sure I am." "I am dead." "I am dead." "You haven't answered my question." "What are you doing here, ...at this hour of the night?" " I am married." "Ah?" "And you're spending the night away from your wife?" "No." "Listen.." "Oh, my head..." "Listen.." "I married..." "It's aweful!" "Who?" "Who did you marry?" "Romilda." " Romilda?" " Hum..." "You?" "You married my wife?" "!" "Ah!" "That's the last straw." "Since when?" "Since..." "I know very well." "She remarried.." "...after that event, that thing." "You must understand." "Anyway..." "But..." "I..." "You..." "You..." " Shut up, old witch." "Go tell my wife to come here." "Scram, or ...!" "And when did you get married?" "Go on, tell me." "10 months after you d..." "When the law permitted it, anyway." "They say that the dead go fast, ...but that the living are in a greater hurry!" " But where have you been?" "What have you been doing all this time?" "I have been dead, you know." "Difficult stuff." " Don't you have a jacket?" "No, I lost it." "What a nightmare!" "What are we going to do?" "Why has he been gone for so long?" "And why has he come back?" " Has he changed?" " Changed?" "Unrecognizable." "He's well dressed, taking good care of his appearance." "He speaks with the authority of a thunderbolt!" "Unrecognizable." " What has he told you?" " He scolded me!" "That's right, scolded me!" "So?" "Is my wife coming?" "Yes." "I'm hungry." "I'm hungry!" "Is there nothing else?" " No." "Eh well." "There is also..." "Bring me whatever else there is!" "This is my aunt Scholastica's set of tableware!" "Huh?" "!" "How is that?" "Oh right." "You don't know." "She's..." "Say it." "Are you afraid of the word?" "She's dead, no?" " Yes." "She was a very good woman." "Poor Scholastica." "But in my absence, ...Romilda inherited everything?" " Obviously." " You expected us to give it all away to the nuns?" "By Jove." "Don't you find our while story a bit mixed up?" "You know what the law says?" "When the first husband, who was thought to be dead, reappears, ...the second marriage is annulled." "Automatically annulled." "So, I, me...?" "Romilda?" "Mathias!" "A child?" "Yes." "It's Pomino's child." "You're beautiful, Romilda." "Still beautiful." "Why do you look at me like that?" "Do I scare you?" "Ah!" "My beard and mustache!" "I shaved it all." "Makes me look different, doesn't it!" "Doesn't look good on me, right?" "On the contrary." "It makes you look younger." "But tell me, what have you been up to all this time?" "Why haven't you given us any sign of life?" "You know that we... burr..." " Yes, I know." " You knew?" "What's wrong with you?" " I find that funny!" "Extremely funny!" " Aren't you ashamed of yourself, crying before that nutcase?" " Calm down, Pomino." "For our marriage to be annulled, ... Mathias would have to make the demand." "Which he won't." "He'll take pity on us." "What a touching family portrait!" " Say, you must be rich by now!" "Don't be afraid, Romilda." "Mathias doesn't want you back." "He would have to share his dough." " Mathias doesn't want us to be unhappy." "He'll understand." " I'm leaving, Romilda." "I'll go away." "Excuse me for intruding into your happy existence." "What did you come for?" " I came to give you a hug, dear stepmother." "But that's too difficult." "Run after him, imbecile!" "He's poking fun at us." "Make him stay away!" " How?" " I don't know." "But make sure he never comes back." "Mathias!" "Mathias..." "What do you want?" " She doesn't believe you." "She thinks that you will be back." " That I will be back?" " If you came back..." " You would be ruined!" " It's not about that." "But what would people say?" "I would never dare to go back to the mayor's office." " The mayor's office?" "You still work there?" " Yes." " What do you do there?" " I work in the Public Records Office." " The Public Records Office?" "Perfect!" "What is it?" " You really want me to leave?" " Yes." " And never come back?" " Yes." "Do what I tell you to do, ...and I assure you that nobody will hear of Mathias Pascal ever again." " What should I do?" " Let's go to the mayor's office." "Get paper from the office, a seal and let's get to work." "I can't do this, it's too risky." " You promised to do me a favor." "You won't keep your word?" "Mathias, I..." " I swear on my own tomb that you will do as I tell you!" "If you refuse, I will reclaim my place with Romilda." "And all Miragno will laugh at you." " I could never make a forgery." "Me, the mayor's son..." " You only think about yourself!" "What about me?" "I want a name." "A certified, legalized name." "Authenticated with all your stamps." "I'm nothing without that paper." " But..." " If I meet a woman, fall in love with her, ...I must escape her, like a thief, an outcast!" " Yes, but..." " Enough said!" "Give me back a way in which I can exist or I'll take back the place that you have taken from me!" "So... which name?" "Adrien Meis." "Why Adrien Meis?" "Why not Adrien Meis?" "How do you write that?" "Well..." "Adrien and Meis." "M E I S" "Born in Miragno, on the same date as myself, ...of course." " What about your parents?" "No Meis ever lived here." "Write "father unknown"." "His mother, a farm girl, left the area 3 months later." "What are you making me do..." "A good deed, Pomino." "You will get your reward, ...in heaven." "When you join us up there." " Papiano!" "Papiano!" "The constables!" " The constables?" "What's happening?" "I saw him." "He's in Rome." "What's that supposed to mean?" "Why are you involving yourself in this, idiot?" " You ordered a search for a certain Mr. Meis?" "No, it's a misunderstanding." "Don't listen to that poor fool." " There he is!" "Who?" " Him, there." " So, you are the missing person?" "Missing, me?" "As you can see yourself:" "No." "Oh, Mr. Meis!" "You're back!" "This is in fact Mr. Meis?" " Yes!" " That concludes the case, then." " On the contrary, let's look closer." "Mr. Meis, that's easy said, or what?" "How do you know that he is Meis?" "I never saw any papers proving he is." "Hm?" "What?" "I know, my dear Papiano, ...that you have always proved an interest for me bordering on the unhealthy." "But here are my papers, anyway." "Take a good look." "Maybe they are fake." "Evidently Yes." "Ha Ha!" "But ask him where he got the money that he's hiding too." "Ask him where he got them." " Ah!" "Oh, Mr. Meis..." " And now, if Mr. Papiano wants to register a complaint, ...he knows who I am." "Excuse us, gentlemen." "It's all a misunderstanding" " But..." " A simple misunderstanding!" "Go on, gentlemen." "Exactly, ...I am late Mathias Pascal." "What are you saying?" "The truth." " You scare me." " Yes." "Late Mathias Pascal." "Buried." "Erased from the living." "I don't understand, darling" "Explain to me." " I have my whole life to do so." " No, tell me right away." " You want to hear?" "It's a strange story." "Once upon a time in Miragno there was a young man, ...very kind," "...a bit slow." "He was always chasing butterflies."