Incantation

Andres and Estrella meet every night under the olive tree where the hawk first landed. When Catalina catches them, Andres tries to explain the different love he feels for her. Catalina is furious and rejects him. When confronting Estrella, she wonders what else Estrella has lied about.

Catalina approaches the Inquisition officials and turns in Estrella’s grandfather for witchcraft and “Judaizing.” Though she exaggerates many things, Catalina correctly recalls seeing Estrella’s grandfather place blood on the door frame during Passover. Even though it was only chicken’s blood and not a stolen child (a frequent charge in instances of blood libel), this is dangerous evidence. She also describes how the deMadrigals don’t eat chorizo and how they keep pigs as pets, claiming the pigs sleep in bed with the women. The last piece of evidence she gives is the secret name “Sarah,” which she heard Estrella’s grandfather call her grandmother.

Friar deLeon, who reports all of this to the deMadrigals, urges them to leave after seeing Catalina wearing fine clothes made of silk and satin in court. However, the soldiers come to arrest Estrella’s grandfather too quickly. The soldiers confiscate and destroy many of the family’s possessions.