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That same day, Domingos gave the family an order. His wife and daughters would leave Viseu the next day. They would take everything that fitted on the pack animals. The narrator presents a sorrowful letter from a woman in the family. Written fifty-seven years later, the letter begins with events from later months.
Rita told her daughters to prepare the trunks, and they all cried. The older sisters fell silent in fear; the writer asked to visit Simão. Domingos punished her harshly for the second time. The servant returned from the prison with the family's dinner. He said that Simão had furniture and ate calmly while the bells tolled for Baltasar. Mariana was beside him, sad and covered in tears. Simão pointed to her: ‘This is my family.’
The next morning, they left for Vila Real. Rita wept in the litter; Domingos became angry and got out. His daughter took his place, and Domingos travelled on her animal. In Vila Real, arguments about Simão made Domingos leave the family. He went alone to Montezelos. Rita wanted to ask the Lisbon relatives to secure her son's release. Domingos threatened to force her legally to remain at home. Rita wrote to Simão, but Domingos had her letters removed at the post office. Years later, they found them among his papers.
A lady from Viseu sent Rita a letter by muleteer. She praised Rita's help, but Rita was surprised. She said that Simão had refused the little help offered. The lady explained that Mariana lived near the prison and cared for Simão. Mariana used Rita's name without proving that Rita paid for the care. Mariana refused finer food because Simão would accept nothing. Sad news arrived: important people in Viseu were acting against Simão. Rita asked her Lisbon relatives to seek a royal pardon, but Domingos intercepted the letters.
Domingos farmed the lands of Montezelos alone. Rita lamented their son's fate in letters. Domingos replied that justice was no game and ancient fathers condemned criminal sons. When Rita asked permission to go to Viseu, Domingos harshly refused. Seven months later, they learnt that Simão was sentenced to hang where the crime occurred. They closed the windows for eight days; all wore mourning, and Rita fell ill. Important people and relatives pressed Domingos to intervene for the family's honour. Domingos said that the gallows was not only for people of humble birth. Bad actions dishonoured families; justice dishonoured only the person punished.
António da Veiga was an eighty-three-year-old great-uncle. He had lived honourably and wished to die without disgrace. António demanded that Domingos save Simão and threatened to kill himself in front of Domingos. António pointed a razor at his own throat, but Domingos caught his arm. Domingos then promised that Simão would not be hanged. The next day, Domingos went to Porto to seek friends in the appeal court. He then went on to Lisbon. At the beginning of March 1805, Simão was transferred to the appeal court prison in Porto. Tadeu and Baltasar's sisters had tried to prevent the transfer. The letter ends here because these reports belong to later months. The story now returns to the trial that preceded those outcomes.
Simão came calmly to trial and sat among those accused of murder. Without a lawyer or defence witnesses, he answered coolly and honestly explained the cause. He did not name Teresa, but the prosecuting lawyer spoke her name. Simão stood up at once. ‘Why bring that lady's name into this place?’ His confession already allowed the law to be applied. There was no need to stain Teresa's reputation. Simão told the prosecutor to be silent and let the law speak. The judge ordered silence. Simão sat down and muttered, ‘They are all contemptible.’
The court sentenced him to hang at the scene of the crime. A painful cry came from the crowd: it was Mariana. ‘The gallows is the people's only festival,’ Simão said. He asked them to take Mariana away, for only she did not find it entertaining. João carried his daughter in his arms to the house near the prison.
Simão returned to prison strong and with his head held high. Many people were talking about the coming execution. Some asked when he would be executed. Others said that he deserved the gallows. They accused him of trying to win Teresa with bullets. They said that a nobleman would remain at home if he killed a poor man. Someone claimed without proof that the executioner had already arrived. Some parents wished to take their children to the hanging. They called a man's death a useful lesson. One of those men had almost killed Amaro Lampreia. He defended himself by saying that Amaro would have killed him first. Thus, nobody really knew what purpose the lesson served. Simão even smiled at that false wisdom.
In his room, Simão was given the deadline for an appeal. He replied that he did not wish to appeal. He said that he accepted his fate and the decision of justice. He then asked for Mariana. The gaoler sent for her. However, it was João da Cruz who arrived. João was crying and feared losing his daughter. Mariana spoke about the gallows and could not calm herself. She asked to be killed before Simão. Simão then understood that Mariana loved him until death. That love was not reciprocated. Teresa remained the woman Simão loved. The narrator offers only a brief possibility. Perhaps Teresa's image receded for a few moments. Simão might imagine her serene, loved and close to God. Mariana suffered without receiving a word of love from him. One was dying, loved; the other suffered because her love was unrequited. On understanding this pain, Simão wept.
‘Take care of your daughter, Senhor Cruz,’ Simão pleaded. João should leave him, for he still felt strong. He should comfort Mariana and take her home. Simão asked him to take her away from Viseu. Thus, two sisters would remain to mourn him. The two sisters were Teresa and Mariana. Simão believed that he had only a few days left to live. He would soon be taken to the condemned prisoners' chapel. He did not want Mariana to know this. João found Mariana lying on the floor with an injured face. She laughed and cried, unable to control herself. João had to restrain her so that he could take her home safely. Another person took over bringing support to Simão.
Before this, Mariana had cared for him for seven months. The gaoler and a friend of Rita protected her. For that reason, she entered the prison freely. She rarely left Simão alone. She sewed while he wrote. She also cleaned and tidied the room. When Simão was ill, Mariana sat at the table. She wrote his name a hundred times. Often, her tears blurred the words. For seven months, neither of them uttered the word ‘love’. Mariana spent nights praying, working and travelling. She also went to visit her father at late hours.
After the sentence, Mariana never entered the prison again. Simão was left alone behind the heavy iron door. When he thought of Teresa, he imagined Mariana beside her. He saw both women weeping. Then he would leap from the bed and seize the bars. He thought of striking his head against the iron bars. He thought of it but did not carry it out. No hope on earth or in heaven held him back. Even so, Simão did not kill himself. Pride told him that dying without hope was cowardice. For him, the gallows would be a triumph on the path of honour.