The young priest rode into Canillas de Daimonos, looking about him as he went, for fear that the Se?ora would be lying in wait for him, but there was nobody around. It was still siesta and most sensible people would be sleeping in the shade.
He stopped at the priest's house and dismounted quietly, hoping to stable his mule and get safely to his room without attracting the Se?ora's attention. He would have to face her sooner or later, but he was tired from the events of the day and the long ride and he felt he needed to rest first.
He had got almost to the stable when the door of the house flew open and the housekeeper came screaming out, her long, grey hair in disarray and her eyes red-rimmed with fury.
"Where is he?" she demanded. "What have you done with the father?"
Then, without gi
