Chapter 23

What did you do, Margareth, why did you do it? You are going to bring all the curses and ruin to this house.

--No, father. Don't believe it. I didn't mean to.

-Now what are we going to do? .What are we going to do? I'll have to hide you. I will have to take the consequences before Jesus Christ,--said the distraught man.

Then he knelt down on the ground and cried out to God.

--My Lord Jesus Christ, forgive my daughter, take the punishment away from her. See her devotion, see her surrender. Punish me. Take my body. Do not force my daughter to take that chalice. She is pure and innocent and loves you with fervent devotion.

Having said this, the man began to weep. He was crying sincerely. It was not possible that Margareth. His Margareth... No, it was not possible.

27

III

--Leonel Sullivan-- the young man extended his hand in greeting.

--Zacharias Sanchez -- extended his hand in return and shook it firmly.