"Ah!"
And there was silence. Sadness ruled them all, choking conversation, which usually was very animated, even though it touched upon the details of domestic affairs. Don Mariano renewed it in a sad and distracted tone.
"Have you ever been in Valencia?"
"Yes, sir; I spent a month there a few years ago."
"It is very pretty, isn't it?"
"Yes; very pretty."
"Many oranges, eh?"
"A great many."
"I think it is a very gay city."
"No, not gay; it seemed to me very melancholy."