Chapter 4 introduces a new character: João Pedro Manõel Alves, a Portuguese immigrant newly arrived in Santa Clara. The townspeople are excited to welcome him at first, but their enthusiasm cools when they find he prefers to keep to himself—even turning down a coveted post as an organizer for a religious festival. His name gradually evolves as the people discuss him, until he’s known as Joe Pete Manõel.

Richard and a girl named Genevieve befriend Joe Pete, and he tells them stories of his life; the son of a wealthy aristocratic family, he rejected his family and his comfortable background for an intellectual life on his own terms. However, he’s thoughtful about this decision: “Sometimes at night, when I am lonely, I find pleasure in thinking that I am better than these people. And I know how wrong I am, because no man is better than any other…” (82).

After leaving his home, he travelled widely, educating himself and making a literary life. Now, in Santa Clara, he finds solace in Richard’s admiration, and takes the boy under his wing. Richard is eager to learn from him, but frustrated by Joe Pete’s habit of telling him only parts of what he wants to know; Joe Pete insists that Richard must think for himself.