The dark cloud passed on to the south, and a piercing cold wind swept after it.
"_Vamos a bajar, senores_!" (Let us descend, gentlemen), said Don Cosme with a shiver, and he conducted us back to the stairway.
Clayley and the major looked towards me with an expression that said, "Shall we go in ?" There were several reasons why our return to the drawing-room was unpleasant to myself and my companions.

A scene of domestic affliction is ever painful to a stranger.

How much more painful to us, knowing, as we did, that our countrymen--that _we_--had been the partial agents of this calamity! We hesitated a moment on the threshold.
"Gentlemen, we must return for a moment: we have been the bearers of evil tidings--let us offer such consolation as we may think of.

Come!".