"But why should I send the cape to Tony in America?" asked Pilar.
"Because," answered Juan, "I am sure that he will remember your mother and help you in your trouble."
Pilar's eyes shone. "Oh, do you think so?" she cried.
Juan nodded his head knowingly. "I shall send it for you, Pilar," he said. "And I shall write a letter, too, and tell Tony about your sick grandfather. Now take this money, child, and buy what you need."
He pressed some coins into Pilar's hand, but she shrank back.
"Oh, no, no!" she exclaimed. "I cannot take money from you, señor, when I have given you nothing for it!"
Juan laughed. "Very well, little proud one," he said. "You may bring me something else tomorrow."
Pilar thought of the old pair of castanets.
She asked Juan whether he would take them, and he replied, "Of course. It is not difficult to sell castanets in Seville."
So Pilar left the shop of Juan Sanchez, and her heart sang as she skipped along. She bought bread and fish and eggs and she took them home.
She cooked the fish and the eggs in oil, as Spanish people do. Then she poured some milk out of a pitcher and tried to make her grandfather eat and drink.
After that, she went into her tiny room and once again opened the wooden chest. This time she took out the magic castanets, whose mysterious history she did not know.
But her grandfather knew all those terrible legends which had been handed down through the family. He was too intelligent really to believe them but when Pilar came into his room holding the clappers in her hand, his eyes suddenly filled with fear.
"What are you doing with the castanets, Pilly?" he asked in his weak voice.
"I am going to sell them to Juan Sanchez," answered Pilar, smoothing his pillow. "Then I shall buy a little chicken and cook it for your dinner."
"No, no!" The old man tried to sit up in bed. "Do not sell the cast--"
But Pilar interrupted him. "Please, Grandfather," she said. "You must not talk. You must rest while I am gone."
She made him lie down again and he sank back wearily, closing his eyes. He was too weak to say any more, but his lips began to move.
"Castanets, with--magic--spell--" he muttered to himself.
The words were muffled. Pilar could not understand them.