interrupts their conversation, singing loudly upstairs, prompting the shrewd Miss Pinkerton to add that the police are going to search every house to find the thief. Miss Todd shoos Miss Pinkerton out the door, and then she and Laetitia confront Bob about his true identity. They each try to convince him to run off with them, in order to evade the police, but Bob refuses to run away because he has done nothing wrong. Miss Todd incredulously asks, "Is your love for me so small that you would see me in prison?" to which Bob replies, "Small? I don't love you at all!" Miss Todd flies into a rage, and storms out, saying she will call the police and blame all the theft on him. Glumly, Bob and Laetitia duet on whether to stay and face the charges or leave, and the persuasive Laetitia eventually wins the argument. Vindictively, they steal all of Miss Todd's valuables, including her car, and ride off together. Miss Todd returns to find her house empty and, realizing her life is now in ruins, collapses in grief after a final frantic aria. Recordings References Sources Archibald, Bruce (1992), 'Old Maid and the Thief, The' in The New Grove Dictionary of Opera, ed. Stanley Sadie (London) Operas by Gian Carlo Menotti English-language operas Opera buffa 1939 operas Radio operas One-act operas Operas