Latour responds that the priests in his diocese will be celibate. Martinez scoffs and declares that he'll establish his own church if Latour challenges him. He threatens Latour that he will die an early death if he persists in enforcing the celibacy rule. Trinidad leaves, and Latour reproaches Martinez for loose talk. He also negatively criticizes the caliber of the young man. Martinez responds that Trinidad will be curate to his uncle and can be very devout when he wishes.
Latour dislikes the atmosphere of the house, with giggling women and the hedonistic snores of Martinez. When he rises to close Martinez's door to shut out his snoring, Latour discovers the hair of a woman discarded from a brush in the corner of the room, which disgusts him even more.
Latour sees another side of Martinez the next day when the latter conducts High Mass. The church is well-kept, and Martinez sings Mass beautifully. After Mass, Martinez takes the Bishop to see his land holdings. He warns Latour that all trouble in New Mexico begins in Taos, including the revolt of 1680, when all Europeans were killed or driven from the area.
Martinez was born under Taos mountain, in Abiquiu, a somber, solitary settlement. He grew up without learning how to read or write. He married, but his wife and child died. After marrying, he learned to read and, when widowed, he entered the priesthood and studied in Mexico. He became well-educated in the Latin and Spanish classics and the Church Fathers. He returned to Abiquiu and later became a priest. He hates Americans, who threaten his power and his way of life.
