 Diego looked forward to the arrival of the new mission padre Benitez, whom he knows from correspondence on ornithology. The priest who greets don Alejandro proves a brute who claims to take orders only from the cardinal; he makes all caballeros triple their contributions, for unnecessary renovations, and has his servant Carlos falsely arrested for stealing the church silver. Diego notices the handwriting is different- Zorro rides at night and hears him haggle the alcalde s share. In the morning Carlos is to be whipped, but Zorro brings the silver, denounces the false priest and chases him in vain. Then a 500 pesos ransom note is posted, with a clue about starlings from the real Benitez, which helps Zorro find them in time to prevent Saragossa kill his hostage. Two caballeros feel they must capture the noble proscript, but fail.