Chapter 3 Summary

The family crushes the gold ore into fine dust to make it seem like it has come from the river, then Don Bonito and Victoriano sell it. Some money is given to Lupe's mother and sisters, and some is given to her brother, Victoriano. Victoriano has trouble keeping the secret that they may have found a great deal of gold, and, while they are in the village together, Don Bonito sees the mayor's older daughter, Olivia, and immediately falls in love. He grabs her and tells her that he wants to marry her, and that he has just become rich. Lydia is at first offended, but, as she realizes that Don Bonito might be telling her the truth, she asks him to request her hand formally from her father, Don Manuel.

When Victoriano tells his mother of this, Dona Guadalupe becomes worried, and...