The voice trembled and became plaintive, expressing more than a salutation--rather a prayer and a protest.
Terror and melancholy settled down upon Ibarra's heart as he listened to the voice from the window where he stood.

He comprehended what that suffering soul was expressing in a song and yet feared to ask himself the cause of such sorrow.

Gloomy and thoughtful, he turned to the Captain-General.
"You will join me at the table," the latter said to him.

"There we'll talk about those boys who disappeared." "Could I be the cause ?" murmured the young man, staring without seeing the Captain-General, whom he was following mechanically..