Gabriel knew through Silver Stick that the chaplain's mother had died, and a week afterwards he saw him one evening in the Claverias.

His eyes were bloodshot, his cheeks thin, and his skin drawn as though he had wept much.
"I come to take farewell, Gabriel.

I have spent a month of sorrow and sleeplessness nursing my mother.

The poor thing is dead; she was far from young, and I expected this ending, but however strong and resigned one may be, these blows must be felt.

Now the poor old woman is gone I am free; she was the only tie that bound me to this Church, in which I no longer believe.