The men lapsed into profound meditation. Then:
“Rosendo, the little Carmen makes great progress.”
“Por supuesto! I knew she would. She has a mind!”
“Have you no idea, Rosendo, who her parents might have been?”
“None whatever, Padre.”
“Has it ever occurred to you, Rosendo, that, because of her deeply religious nature, possibly her father was a priest?”
“Caramba, no!” ejaculated Rosendo, turning upon Josè. “What puts that into your head, amigo?”
“As I have said, Rosendo,” Josè answered, “her religious instinct.”
“Bien, Señor Padre, you forget that priests are not religious.”
“But some are, Rosendo,” persisted Josè in a tone of protest.