The husband became silent in view of this argument.
“Yes,” continued the old woman, “after striking Father Dámaso, there was nothing left for him to do but to kill Father Salví.”
“But you can’t deny that he was a good boy when he was a child.”
“Yes, he was a good child,” replied the old woman, “but he went to Spain. All those who go to Spain return heretics, so the curates say.”
“Oh!” exclaimed the husband, seeing his revenge. “And the curate, and all the curates, and the Archbishops, and the Pope, and the Virgin—are they not Spaniards? Bah! Are they heretics, too? Bah!”
Happily for Sister Puté, the arrival of a servant, who rushed in confused and pale, cut off the discussion.
“A man hanged in a neighboring orchard!” she exclaimed breathless.
“A man hanged!” exclaimed all, full of amazement.
The women crossed themselves. No one could stir.
“Yes, Señor,” continued the servant, trembling. “I was going to gather some peas in.... I looked into the orchard next door ... to see if there ... I saw a man swinging.... I thought it was Teo ... I went nearer to gather peas, and I saw that it was not he but it was another, and was dead ... I ran, ran and....”