He could hardly conceal his contempt for Leon, who, for his part, was not free from embarrassment.

They had nothing in common but the subject which had brought the Sarrions hither, and upon this point they could not progress satisfactorily, seeing that Sarrion himself had evidently sustained a greater loss than the dead man's own son.
They rose and took leave, promising to attend the mass next day.

Leon became interested again at once in this side of the question, which was not without a thrill of novelty for him.

He had organised and taken part in many interesting and gorgeous ceremonies.

But a requiem mass for one's own father must necessarily be unique in the most varied career of religious emotion.