"Stupid, tedious old bore!" The young Telemachus was not slow to wrath nor vengeance.

From babyhood he had interrupted his play in order to "work" in the reception room near to the hatrack by the door.

And the poor professor on his departure would find his hat crown dented in or its nap roughened up, or he would sally home innocently carrying spitballs on the skirts of his overcoat.
Now the boy contented himself with simply ignoring the existence of the family friend, passing in front of him without recognizing him and only greeting him when his mother ordered him to do so.
The day in which he brought the news of the return of the ship without its captain, Don Pedro made a longer visit than usual.

Cinto shed two tears upon the lace, but had to stop weeping, vanquished by the good sense of her counselor.
"Why weep and get your mind overwrought with so many suppositions without foundation ?...

What you ought to do, my daughter, is to call in this Toni who is mate of the vessel; he must know all about it....
Perhaps he may tell you the truth." Esteban was told to hunt him up the following day, and he quickly noticed Toni's extreme disquietude upon learning that Dona Cinta wished to talk with him.