"Before that, surely," I answered, "I shall be back here at the ruin by
four o'clock, though I had no idea that the time had gone so fast, it is
almost noon; I must hurry or I shall have Catalina very hot waiting with
a cold supper. By the way Madre, she sent her best respects to you and
hopes that you will not bewitch any more of her poultry, for if you do,
they will be a headless lot in a short time."

Madre Moreno nodded knowingly, and closed one eye slyly as she answered,
"Thou art the cleverest señorito in these parts, but little as thou
believest in my influence with el bueno Diablo, as the old women call
him, I could disclose to thee many strange events which shall come after
this day, and from this meeting thou shall date thy future." She started
but turned and said, "My son, I have learned to love thee, yet I have a
duty beyond love; say that thou believest that my sainted father was
unjustly treated, and thy life shall be blessed."

"I cannot, Madre Moreno, I am sorry for the sad result of the case at
court, but as you know, it was only justice."

She said no more, but with a laugh, half broken by a sigh, the little
woman walked briskly under the olives and down over the brow of the
hill.

The grass and trees were all wet, the great laurels by the path shown as
if varnished, the huge madroño leaves each held a jewel on its tip; all
evidences of a heavy rain were about me, yet I had not been aware of it
falling. In a short time I was deep in the redwood forest, away from the
world in companionship with God.