“”On another occasion, when Kitty questioned Baba about his work with the boys, he remarked, "I am working with the youth of the future."
William Donkin, who was also staying with the group in Cannes, was apprised of Baba's wish to find a boy, and he left for England to look for such a youth. Donkin returned to Cannes on the morning of the 28th with a young Spanish refugee named José Luis. Baba, however, did not completely approve of him but kept him at the villa anyway.
Soon after, Kitty was asked to go to Paris to look for another boy and Baba indicated, if it was necessary, that he would fly there along with Donkin to choose a boy himself. Kitty left the following evening with Margaret to look once again for a suitable candidate for Baba's work. They went to the Spanish refugee camp in Paris where Baba had repeatedly indicated there was one such boy.
“”Kitty telephoned and telegraphed on 30 August to convey that she had found one boy, and Baba simply cabled back: "Bring."
On 31 August, Kitty brought a Spanish boy named Bellarmino to Baba. But after meeting the boy, Baba did not approve of him either and decided that José Luis should stay instead.
“”Baba remarked, "Perhaps, if Luis begins to love me, I may take him with me to India."
Meanwhile, day by day, it seemed that the change in environment was having a positive effect on Luis, as he became healthier and showed a livelier attitude and was becoming more aware of who Baba was. The boy would wait for Baba's arrival every morning and refer to him as the "King of Kings!" He took delight in spelling on Baba's alphabet board, "Baba Luis amore [Baba loves Luis]."
Baba would walk from his villa with Rano to the men mandali's quarters in the morning, where he would meet visitors. Luis wanted to sit by Baba's side but, after permitting him to do so for a while, Baba would send him to another room, since most persons who came to see Baba preferred to talk with him in private. One day Luis confided in Alfredo, saying, "I like the man with the long hair. He is so kind and gentle. What a pity he is dumb and cannot speak."
