The narrative returns to Mustafa’s time in Seville. Ramatullai is desperate to contact her daughter. She dictates a letter to Mustafa in hopes that it will find its way to her.

One night, Mustafa discovers Ramatullai being raped by their master Rodriguez. It brings them closer together: “Our friendship grew, strengthened not only by our common ordeal, but also by a sense that we had no one else with whom to share it” (142).

Rodriguez’s business thrives due to his persuasive abilities. He starts drinking and gambling, which leads to arguments with his wife. Ramatullai overhears his wife telling him that he must sell one of the people he has enslaved to settle his debts.

Rodriguez sells Mustafa to Dorantes and seals the deal with a golden earring from the Yucatan. Mustafa is frustrated when he realizes that the clerk who records the sale is the hunchback he’s been searching for.

When Dorantes tells the clerk that he’s joining the Narváez expedition, the clerk warns Dorantes about Narváez by recounting how Narváez was outmaneuvered by Cortés in New Spain. Eager to complete the transaction, Dorantes dismisses the story, saying, “This mission has nothing to do with Cortés.