“They will end their lives in the same way,” replied Elias in a low voice. “When adversity has marked itself once on a family, all the members have to perish. When the lightning strikes a tree, it reduces it all to ashes.”
And Elias, seeing that Ibarra was silent, took his leave.
The latter on finding himself alone, lost the serenity of countenance which he had preserved in the presence of the pilot, and grief manifested itself in his face.
“I—I have made her suffer,” he muttered.
He quickly dressed himself and descended the stairs.
A little man, dressed in mourning, with a large scar on his left cheek, meekly saluted him, stopping him on his way.
“What do you wish?” Ibarra asked him.
“Señor, my name is Lucas. I am the brother of the man who was killed yesterday during the ceremony when the stone was being laid.”
“Ah! You have my sympathy—and, well?”
“Señor, I wish to know how much you are going to pay my brother’s family.”