d--thunderstruck. Adele was the first to
recover.

''Fool! fool that I was,' she exclaimed, 'why did I select in such an
enterprise a man worn down by sickness and disease?'

'The look she cast on Arthur, rapid as it was, was so full of menace
and reproach, that it startled me.

''Well, Arthur,' she said, laying her hand on his arm; 'do you feel ill
again?'

'Roused by the sound of her voice, Arthur placed his hand on his heart,
and mutely plead excuse for the silence which his sufferings imposed on
him.

'As for me, I spoke no word, but mentally consigned my mysterious
neighbors to a distant port, whence consignments never return.

''My dear sir,' I replied at length, 'Pepito's treachery, which appears
so deeply to affect you, is not yet carried into execution, it is only
contemplated. I will give you word for word what transpired.'

'When I had concluded my narrative, to which they listened with
breathless attention, Adele exclaimed:

''Our hopes are not yet crushed, the case is not utterly desperate; but
alas! it is evident our secret is suspected, if not known. Arthur,' she
continued, 'now is the time to display all our energy. We have some
enemy to dread, as I have long suspected. If we do not at once steal a
march on him, then farewell forever to all our dreams of happiness, of
wealth, or even of subsistence.'

''Sir,' said she, again addressing me; 'your honor alone has kept you in
ignorance of our secret. You could easily have tempted and corrupted
Pepito. We prefer you should learn it from us rather than from an
accidental source. We merely request your word of honor that you will
not use it to your own advantage, without our joint consent, nor in any
way thwart our plans.'

''I am deeply sensible, madame, of the confidence you repose in me; but
I must beg you will allow me to remain in ignorance.'

''You refuse, then, to give us the promise?' exclaimed Adele, 'I see it
all! you will thwart us; you would preserve your liberty of action
without forfeiting your word.'

'If you had known me longer, such a suspicion would not have crossed
your mind. However, as I have no other means of proving it unjust, I
will give the pledge you desire, I am now ready to hear whatever you
have to communicate.'

'Mr. Livermore resumed the conversation:

''The secret which Adele imparted to me will, I dare say, appear at
first very extravagant, but before you laugh at it, give me time to
explain. It is the existe