It was Marcos who spoke at length.
"Do you intend," he asked in his matter-of-fact way, "to make any effort to discover and punish your father's assassins ?" "I have been advised not to." "By whom ?" Leon looked distressed.

He was pained, it would seem, that the friend of his childhood should step so bluntly on to delicate ground.
"It is a secret of the confession." Marcos exchanged a grave glance with his father, who sat back in his chair as one may see a leader sit back while his junior counsel conducts an able cross-examination.
"Have you advised Juanita of the terms of her father's will ?" "I understand," answered Leon, "that it will make but little difference to Juanita.

She has her allowance as I have mine.

My father, I understand, had but little to bequeath to her." Marcos glanced at his father again, and then at the clock.

He had, it appeared, finished his cross-examination, and was now characteristically anxious to get to action.
Sarrion now took the lead in conversation, and proffered the usual condolences and desire to help, in the formal Spanish way.