About the same time that these events were happening at the Park, Ferdinand Contraras was taking farewell of his family. He explained to them that he was going to Spain, he could not say how long he would be away. It might be a few days, it might be weeks. He had left plenty of money in the bank for their needs.
His wife and daughter watched him out of the house without any signs of emotion. To these two, who should have been his nearest and dearest, he had long appeared as a man out of touch with realities.
When the car rolled out of sight, Madame Contraras turned to her daughter.
“I have a presentiment, Inez, he will never come back. He is going to give his life as well as his fortune to this insane cause.”
Inez, who was rather callous, shrugged her shapely shoulders. “Why did you marry him, mother? He must have been mad then.”
“The madness of strong, impetuous youth, my child. I never thought it would last through middle and old age.”
Chapter Twelve.
Contraras embarked on his great mission. Elderly man as he was, the fire of his convictions kept him alert and youthful.