The smell of the alcohol spread through that atmosphere impregnated with incense and the smoke of wax tapers.
More than an hour passed in this way.

Mariano had stopped the conversation several times as if he had something serious to say and was vacillating, wanting courage.
"Gabriel, time is passing and we have much to do and to talk about.
It is a little past eleven, but we have still several hours to do the thing well." "What do you mean to say ?" asked Luna, surprised.
"Few words--in a nut-shell.

It concerns your becoming rich and us also; we intend to get out of this poverty.

You have noticed for some time that we have avoided you, that we preferred talking among ourselves to the pleasure of listening to you.

We all know that you are very learned, but as far as things of this life go you are not worth a farthing.