"He didn't go into the confessional this morning," added Sister Sipa, a toothless old woman. "I wanted to confess myself so as to receive communion and get the indulgences."
"Well, I'm sorry for you," commented a young woman with a frank face. "This week I earned three plenary indulgences and dedicated them to the soul of my husband."
"Badly done, Sister Juana," said the offended Rufa. "One plenary indulgence was enough to get him out of purgatory. You ought not to squander the holy indulgences. Do as I do."
"I thought, so many more the better," answered the simple Sister Juana, smiling. "But tell me what you do."
Sister Rufa did not answer at once. First, she asked for a buyo and chewed at it, gazed at her audience, which was listening attentively, then spat to one side and commenced, chewing at the buyo meanwhile: "I don't misspend one holy day! Since I've belonged to the Sisterhood I've earned four hundred and fifty-seven plenary indulgences, seven hundred sixty thousand five hundred and ninety-eight years of indulgence. I set down all that I earn, for I like to have clean accounts. I don't want to cheat or be cheated."
Here Sister Rufa paused to give more attention to her chewing. The women gazed at her in admiration, but the man who was pacing back and forth remarked with some disdain, "Well, this year I've gained four plenary indulgences more than you have, Sister Rufa, and a hundred years more, and that without praying much either."
"More than I? More than six hundred and eighty-nine plenary indulgences or nine hundred ninety-four thousand eight hundred and fifty-six years?" queried Rufa, somewhat disgruntled.
"That's it, eight indulgences and a hundred fifteen years more and a few months over," answered the man, from whose neck hung soiled scapularies and rosaries.
"That's not strange!" admitted Rufa, at last admitting defeat. "You're an expert, the best in the province."
The flattered man smiled and continued, "It isn't so wonderful that I earn more than you do. Why, I can almost say that even when sleeping I earn indulgences."
"And what do you do with them, sir?" asked four or five voices at the same time.
"Pish!" answered the man with a gesture of proud disdain. "I have them to throw away!"