Part I, Chapter 3 Summary

Mrs. Milagros continues to talk to the inspector. She tells him that everything was fine until one morning about six months ago. On this morning, a letter arrives for Camilo Canegato. A retired schoolteacher who lives in the boardinghouse, Miss Eufrasia Morales, always meets the postman at the door and takes the mail from him. Eufrasia examines the mail and uses her inferences to gossip about the other members of the boardinghouse. When the mail arrives this particular morning, Eufrasia is intensely interested in the letter for Camilo Canegato because the envelope is pink and reeks of violet perfume.

Every Wednesday hereafter, a similar letter arrives for Camilo. Eufrasia and Mrs. Milagros can hardly stand their curiosity. They mention the letters to Camilo at meals, but Camilo just blushes and doesn't say anything about them. The women in the...