Daniel and Fermín follow the lucid inmate’s directions and reach a hidden attic wing of the Hospice of Santa Lucía, where they find Jacinta Coronado. Fermín gently gains Jacinta’s trust by invoking Father Fernando Ramos and steering her toward memories of Penélope Aldaya and Julián Carax.

Jacinta’s account unfolds as a long history: unable to have children, she left Toledo after a prophetic “vision” and found work in Barcelona, eventually becoming nurse and surrogate mother to Penélope in the Aldaya mansion on Avenida del Tibidabo. She describes Penélope and Julián’s secret courtship, Jacinta’s role as go-between for their notes and stories, and Francisco Javier Fumero’s early fixation, including his theft of a photograph and his later attempt to shoot Julián at school after witnessing Julián kissing Penélope.

Jacinta explains that Julián and Penélope planned to elope to Paris with Miquel Moliner’s help, but Mrs. Aldaya caught the lovers in Jacinta’s bedroom. Mrs. Aldaya told Don Ricardo Aldaya; Don Ricardo slapped his wife, assaulted Penélope, had a doctor examine her, and confined her, then expelled Jacinta and threatened her into silence. Jacinta begged at the gates until Don Ricardo used influence to have her committed to an asylum; when released, she found the Tibidabo house sold and learned the Aldayas had left for Argentina. Jacinta never saw Penélope again.

Overcome, Jacinta breaks down, and Fermín ends the interview with tenderness. As Daniel and Fermín leave the hospice, Inspector Fumero and two policemen ambush them on Calle Moncada; Fumero taunts Fermín about the past and, after Fermín needles him about his mother, savagely beats Fermín and humiliates him by urinating on him. Fumero calls Daniel a coward, warns him he will blame Daniel for what happens next, and leaves.

Daniel rushes to Fermín, horrified at the injuries and his own paralysis during the attack. Fermín refuses a hospital and insists Daniel take him to Bernarda, saying that if he is going to die, he wants to die in her arms.