"I have no children and I like to feel that yours are occupying the house that was mine…. Perhaps when I get to be an old man—if they do not kill me, I will come to spend the summers with you. Courage now, Toni!… We shall yet go fishing together, as I used to go fishing with my uncle, the doctor."
But the mate did not regain his spirits on hearing these optimistic affirmations. His eyes were swollen with tears that sparkled in the corners of his eyes. He was swearing between his teeth, protesting against the coming separation…. Never to see him again, after so many years of brotherly companionship!… Cristo!…
The captain was afraid that he, too, might burst into tears and again ordered his mate to present the accounts of the crew.
An hour later Toni reëntered the saloon, carrying in his hand the opened letter. He had not been able to resist the temptation of forcing the secret, fearing that Ferragut's generosity might prove excessive, and impossible to consider. He protested, handing to Ulysses the check taken from the envelope.
"I could not accept it!… It's a crazy idea!…"
He had read with terror the amount made out to him in the letter of credit, first in figures then in long hand. Two hundred and fifty thousand pesetas!… fifty thousand dollars!
"That is not for me," he said again. "I do not deserve it…. What could I ever do with so much money?"
The captain pretended to be irritated by his disobedience.
"You take that paper, you brute!… I was just afraid that you were going to protest…. It's for your children, and so that you can take a rest. Now we won't talk any more about it or I shall get angry."
Then, in order to conquer Toni's scruples, he abandoned his violent tone, and said sadly: