Then the priest went his way.

Grandfather Fortuny waited, looking out of the window, for the boy to
come back. The boy did not come.

He waited.

Lights began to flicker in the windows across the way.

A big red star came up in the West. The wind blew fresh and cool.

The old man shut down the sash, and looked at the untasted supper of
brown bread and goat's milk and fresh fruit.

He took his hat from the peg and his cane from the corner and hobbled
down the stairs. He went to the Diligence Office. No one there remembered
seeing the boy--how can busy officials be expected to remember
everything?

Grandfather Fortuny made his way to the house of Father Gonzales. The
priest had been called away to attend a man sick unto death--he would not
be back for an hour.

The old man waited--waited one hour--two.

Father Gonzales came, and listened calmly to the troubled tale of the old
man. Then together they made their way over to the tall tenement and up
the creaky stairway.

There was the flicker of a candle to be seen under the door.