The spirit died within them, for they had hoped that the Master would redeem Israel, and it was now the third day since his death; hence they did not understand why the Father had deserted the Son, and they preferred not to look at the daylight, but to die, so grievous was the burden.
The remembrance of those terrible moments pressed even then from the eyes of the old man two tears, which were visible by the light of the fire, coursing down his gray beard.

His hairless and aged head was shaking, and the voice died in his breast.
"That man is speaking the truth and is weeping over it," said Vinicius in his soul.

Sorrow seized by the throat the simple-hearted listeners also.

They had heard more than once of Christ's sufferings, and it was known to them that joy succeeded sorrow; but since an apostle who had seen it told this, they wrung their hands under the impression, and sobbed or beat their breasts.
But they calmed themselves gradually, for the wish to hear more gained the mastery.

The old man closed his eyes, as if to see distant things more distinctly in his soul, and continued,--"When the disciples had lamented in this way, Mary of Magdala rushed in a second time, crying that she had seen the Lord.