CHAPTERIV
ThatnightFatherPedrodreamedastrangedream。Howmuchofitwasreality，howlongitlasted，orwhenheawokefromit，hecouldnottell。Themorbidexcitementofthepreviousdayculminatedinafebrileexaltationinwhichhelivedandmovedasinaseparateexistence。
Thisiswhatheremembered。Hethoughthehadrisenatnightinasuddenhorrorofremorse，andmakinghiswaytothedarkenedchurchhadfallenuponhiskneesbeforethehighaltar，whenallatoncetheacolyte’svoicebrokefromthechoir，butinaccentssodissonantandunnaturalthatitseemedasacrilege，andhetrembled。Hethoughthehadconfessedthesecretofthechild’ssextoCranch，butwhetherthenextmorningoraweeklaterhedidnotknow。Hefancied，too，thatCranchhadalsoconfessedsometriflingdeceptiontohim，butwhat，orwhy，hecouldnotremember;
somuchgreaterseemedtheenormityofhisowntransgression。HethoughtCranchhadputinhishandstheletterhehadwrittentotheFatherSuperior，sayingthathissecretwasstillsafe，andthathehadbeensparedtheavowalandthescandalthatmighthaveensued。Butthroughall，andaboveall，hewasconsciousofonefixedidea：toseektheseashorewithSanchicha，anduponthespotwhereshehadfoundFrancisco，meettheyounggirlwhohadtakenhisplace，andsopartfromherforever。Hehadadimrecollectionthatthiswasnecessarytosomelegalidentificationofher，asarrangedbyCranch，buthoworwhyhedidnotunderstand;enoughthatitwasapartofhispenance。
ItwasearlymorningwhenthefaithfulAntonio，accompaniedbySanchichaandJose，rodeforthwithhimfromtheMissionofSanCarmel。Exceptontheexpressionlessfeaturesoftheoldwoman，therewasanxietyandgloomuponthefacesofthelittlecavalcade。