’’For three months I had no tidings of him; night and day, I was the prey of doubt and fear.  No words can portray the agony of suspense that I endured; the hours seemed days, the days months, and the bitterness of years was crowded into that short interval.  At last, thanks be to heaven, my messenger returned.’

‘’Do you mean Pepito?’ I exclaimed.

‘’The very man,’ replied Arthur; ’his journey was successful.  You have seen the specimens he brought.  I was intoxicated with delight; but Adele did not share my joy.  Nature has given woman a faculty of intuition denied to man.  Alas!  Adele’s presentiment has been verified; your account of the interview between Pepito and his friend proves her fears were well-grounded.’

‘’In what way?’

’’In this way; it shows we have an enemy who has an inkling of our secret, and is striving to snatch the prize from us.  What course to 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?’