At the gateway to the Promenade, a beggar held his hand out to us. José Dias went on ahead, but I thought about Capitu and the seminary, took a couple of small coins out of my pocket and gave them to the beggar. He kissed them; I asked him to pray to God for me, that I might satisfy all my desires.
“Yes, my angel.”
“My name is Bento,” I added, so that he knew.