_ 223 _ decoy in holy secrecy, and with the youth as guide he went into the palace through the Guazil’s gate and up the stairs as far as the entrance to a chamber. They stayed there in the darkness while the youth gave a message to Bifatima, who as soon as she received it, came alone, looking for the place where they were waiting and asking for the Captain. Appearing startled, as the occasion demanded, she went up to him and touched his right hand to find if one of his fingers was missing, which signified his true identity. She found what she was looking for and was encouraged by Divine Grace, with which the Holy Spirit was beginning to influence her. Like another Simao, she perceived the approach of the end of her desires. She said, Let God do as He will with me. She repeated these declarations to the Vicar and they descended the same stairway. When the noisy crowd returning from the pilgrimage came up the stairway, she ran in front of them and lit a lamp. Matias de Albuquerque in his manner took counsel as to what needed to be done in the present situation and told the Vicar to go on ahead and strike the lamp from the eunuch’s hand with a sword. The Vicar did so, and as this was so unexpected at that moment and place, it caused a great disturbance and fear to everyone present, the majority of them women and eunuchs. They turned back
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