o take
I am at a loss to know. Adele advises to make sure of Pepito, at any
price.'

''And that strikes me as being your surest if not your only course.'

''Yes, the surest; but how to make _sure_ of him?'

''By outbidding your competitors, and proving to him that in adhering to
you he is best serving his own interests.'

''But he is base enough to take bribes from both sides, and betray
each.'

''Oh! that I were a man!' exclaimed Adele, 'this fellow is the only one
who knows our secret. One man ought not to stand in fear of another.
Only _one_ man crosses your path, Arthur.'

''Unless I murder him, how can he be silenced?'

''_Murder_ him! It is not murder to kill a robber. Were _I_ a man, I
would not hesitate how to act.'

''The anxiety of Pedro,' I said, 'indicates you have an enemy. Have you
any idea who he is?'

''I believe,' said Adele, 'that I know him.'

''Are you sure there is only one?'

''Why do you ask?' said the woman, fixing her eye upon me as though she
would, in spite of every obstacle, read my inmost thoughts.

''Because I fancy there are _two_, for instance, Brown and Hunt.'

'At the mention of these names Adele started to her feet, exclaiming:

''On all sides there is treachery. I _demand_, sir, an explanation. What
leads you to associate the name of that firm with this matter? Either
you are our friend or you are not. Speak plainly!'

''Madame, by the merest chance, I overheard Pedro mention those names,
and since you have given me your confidence, I will give you some
information which may put you on your guard, and help to guide your
future plans.'

'I then briefly related the conversations I had overheard between
General Valiente and Pedro, both on the Alameda and in the gaming-house
in the Calle del Arco.

''Now, madame,' I continued, 'let me inquire whether the Mexican from
whom you derived your information, had any connection with this firm?'

''Yes, sir, he knew them,' she replied; then, after a slight pause, she
added: 'We have already told you so much that it would be folly to
conceal the way in which we became acquainted with the existence of this
mine. Soon after my marriage, I met a veteran officer of the Mexican
army, General Ramiro, then living in exile, at New-Orleans. For me he
conceived a paternal affection, and many a time remonstrated with Mr.
Percival, and entreated him to devote himself to his family, and abandon
the course of life which was leading him to