What will the world think of your sacred quest, eh ?" continued the Padre Pedro, forgetting himself in his excitement, but still averting his face from his companion.
"The world will look after the proofs, and I reckon not bother if the proofs are all right," replied Cranch, carelessly; "and the girl won't think the worse of me for helping her to a fortune.

Hallo! you've dropped something." He leaped to his feet, picked up the breviary which had fallen from the Padre's fingers, and returned it to him with a slight touch of gentleness that was unsuspected in the man.
The priest's dry, tremulous hand grasped the volume without acknowledgment.
"But these proofs ?" he said hastily; "these proofs, Senor ?" "Oh, well, you'll testify to the baptism, you know." "But if I refuse; if I will have nothing to do with this thing! If I will not give my word that there is not some mistake," said the priest, working himself into a feverish indignation.

"That there are not slips of memory, eh?
Of so many children baptized, is it possible for me to know which, eh?
And if this Juanita is not your girl, eh ?" "Then you'll help me to find who is," said Cranch, coolly.
Father Pedro turned furiously on his tormentor.

Overcome by his vigil and anxiety.

He was oblivious of everything but the presence of the man who seemed to usurp the functions of his own conscience.