Years later, recognizing with the precocity of a little-watched boy the relations that exist between men and women, he suspected that all these tears must be caused by the flirtations and infidelities of the distant sailor.
He adored his mother with the passion of an only and spoiled child, but he admired the captain no less, excusing every fault that he might commit.

His father was the bravest and handsomest man in all the world.
And when rummaging one day through the drawers in his father's stateroom, he chanced upon various photographs having the names of women from foreign countries, the lad's admiration was greater still.
Everybody must have been madly in love with the captain of the _Mare Nostrum.

Ay_! No matter what he might do when he became a man, he could never hope to equal this triumphant creature who had given him existence....
When the boat, on its return from Naples, arrived at Barcelona without its owner, Ferragut's son did not feel any surprise.
Toni, who was always a man of few words, was very lavish with them on the present occasion.

Captain Ferragut had remained behind because of important business, but he would not be long in returning.

His second was looking for him at any moment.