Summary:
Despite the storm, the two sacristan brothers Basilio and Crispin had to go up the bell tower of the cathedral to ring the bells at eight in the evening. Both boys talk about the parish priest's lost silver. Crispin, the younger one, was blamed for having allegedly stolen the money. The boy was tortured by the priest and the sacristan mayor. Basilio luckily escaped.
Points of Note:
It is obvious in the way the two boys conversed in this chapter that they were thinking quite maturely for their age.
Frequently Asked Questions:
Question: Did the priest really lose his money?
Answer: Yes, he did. But whether it was Crispin who took the money is not clear. This can be deduced from the discussion between the two boys. It also could not have been Basilio; if it were him he would have confessed it to his brother.
Question: If it wasn't the brothers, then who took the friar's money?
Answer: It could have been the sacristan mayor, who has been described as a man who had a heart of stone with no conscience whatsoever.
Question: There was a loud scream followed by two gunshots. What was it?
Answer: It was the civil guards screaming for Basilio to halt. When the boy kept on running, they fired two shots at him.
Question: Why wasn't anybody alarmed at the sound of gunfire?
Answer: It was common during those days.