Three weeks later, scents of anise and roasted chestnuts filtered from under doorways and out windows, women busily baking pão-por-Deus, small cake-like breads for the morrow’s festivities. Tomorrow, children would go door-to-door to receive their special fare of bread, chestnuts, and pomegranates, in celebration of All Saints Day.
pão-por-Deus But despite the festivities, Pêro hurried by coach to the Fabrica and distanced himself from The Church of Santos-o-Velho and that morning’s disturbing encounter with Padre Matos. The Padre had received word of Paulinha and her sketchbook in the empty stairway of the hospital ward. Despite her claims that she was merely taking notes for him, keeping track of the floors they’d served, the young monk had eyed them suspiciously and reported back
