He followed the pilgrims even to San Jose, and saw the child deliver the missive which gave the secret of her sex and condition to the Father Superior.

That the authority at San Jose might dissent with the Padre of San Carmel, or decline to carry out his designs, did not occur to the one-idea'd priest.

Like all solitary people, isolated from passing events, he made no allowance for occurrences outside of his routine.

Yet at this moment a sudden thought whitened his yellow cheek.

What if the Father Superior deemed it necessary to impart the secret to Francisco?
Would the child recoil at the deception, and, perhaps, cease to love him?
It was the first time, in his supreme selfishness, he had taken the acolyte's feelings into account.