Benita did so, and he ate in silence, with some heartiness.  When he had finished his food, and swallowed two or three tots of squareface, he spoke again: 

“I have come here, where I know I am not welcome, upon business,” he said in a calm, matter-of-fact voice.  “I am tired of this place, and I think it is time that we attained the object of our journey here, namely, to find the hidden gold.  That, as we all know, can only be done in a certain way, through the clairvoyant powers of one of us and the hypnotic powers of another.  Miss Clifford, I request that you will allow me to throw you into a state of trance.  You have told us everything else, but you have not yet told us where the treasure is hidden, and this it is necessary that we should know.”

“And if I refuse, Mr. Meyer?”

“Then I am sorry, but I must take means to compel your obedience.  Under those circumstances, much against my will, I shall be obliged”—­here his eye blazed out wildly—­“to execute your father, whose obstinacy and influence stand between us and splendid fortunes.  No, Clifford,” he added, “don’t stretch out your hand towards that rifle, for I am already covering you with the pistol in my pocket, and the moment your hand touches it I shall fire.  You poor old man, do you imagine for a single second that, sick as you are, and with your stiff limbs, you can hope to match yourself against my agility, intellect, and strength?  Why, I could kill you in a dozen ways before you could lift a finger against me, and by the God I do not believe in, unless your daughter is more compliant, kill you I will!”

“That remains to be seen, my friend,” said Mr. Clifford with a laugh, for he was a brave old man.  “I am not certain that the God—­whom you do not believe in—­will not kill you first.”

Now Benita, who had been taking counsel with herself, looked up and said suddenly: 

“Very well, Mr. Meyer, I consent—­because I must.  To-morrow morning you shall try to mesmerize me, if you can, in the same place, before the crucifix in the cave.”

“No,” he answered quickly.  “It was not there, it was here, and here it shall be again.  The spot you mention is unpropitious to me; the attempt would fail.”

“It is the spot that I have chosen,” answered Benita stubbornly.

“And this is the spot that I have chosen, Miss Clifford, and my will must prevail over yours.”

“Because you who do not believe in spirits are afraid to re-enter the cave, Mr. Meyer, lest you should chance——­”

“Never mind what I am or am not afraid of,” he replied with fury.  “Make your choice between doing my will and your father’s life.  To-morrow morning I shall come for your answer, and if you are still obstinate, within half an hour he will be dead, leaving you and me alone together.  Oh! you may call me wicked and a villain, but it is you who are wicked, you, you, you who force me to this deed of justice.”