it was he. He went straight to his room--he knew the way to it perfectly
well."

"It is strange," said the canon. "Living in the house there was no
need for him to use such mystery. He might have pretended illness and
remained in the house. Does it not seem so to you, senora?"

"Librada," exclaimed the latter, in a paroxysm of anger, "I vow that you
shall go to prison."

And clasping her hands, she dug the nails of the one into the other with
such force as almost to draw blood.

"Senor Don Inocencio," she exclaimed, "let us die--there is no remedy
but to die."

Then she burst into a fit of inconsolable weeping.

"Courage, senora," said the priest, in a moved voice. "Courage--now it
is necessary to be very brave. This requires calmness and a great deal
of courage.

"Mine is immense," said Senora de Polentinos, in the midst of her sobs.

"Mine is very small," said the canon; "but we shall see, we shall see."



CHAPTER XXIV