Are you worse ?" "Sit down, Esteban.

I am well, calm yourself." The "Wooden Staff" looked with surprise at Gabriel; his strange seriousness alarmed him and the prolonged silence in which he appeared to be arranging his thoughts without knowing where to begin.
"Speak, man! Do make a beginning; you alarm me." "Brother," said Gabriel gravely, "you know very well that I have respected the mystery in your life that I found on my return here.

You said to me, 'My daughter is dead,' and you never showed any wish to speak of her, and you can say if I have ever touched your old wound by the slightest allusion." "Well, and what then?
When are you going to stop ?" said Esteban, becoming very gloomy; "why do you speak to me on a day so holy of things that cause me so much pain ?" "Esteban, we shall never understand each other if you hold on to your prejudices.

Do not make that gesture, but listen to me calmly; do not act like an automaton, pulled by the same wires that moved our grandfathers and our ancestors.

Be a man, and act according to your own thoughts.