He was impelled to speak in order not to remain silent, but did not know what to say, especially as his brother made no reply but only gazed fixedly at him, evidently trying to fathom the meaning of every word.
Bisognava parlare per non tacere, ma egli non sapeva che cosa dire, tanto più che il fratello non rispondeva e guardava soltanto, senza abbassare lo sguardo, penetrando, evidentemente, il senso di ogni parola.