''I understand, perfectly, madame,' I added, seeing Adéle hesitate.

''I feel,' she said, 'a certain reluctance at this portion of my
narrative, for it forces me to lay bare an act which General Ramiro ever
after regretted, and which--' ''Madame, I will spare you the recital;
the fact is, the General gained the Indian's secret, and
then--unfortunately for the Indian--forgot to fulfill his promise.'

''Alas! sir, you have rightly judged. Two hours after the interview, the
Indian suffered the garrote, and General Ramiro became the sole
possessor of this important secret. I will not attempt to justify my
venerable friend. He sincerely lamented his sin, and retribution
followed him with long, sad years of exile and poverty. We often sat
together for hours, he talking of his wonderful mine, and longing for
his recall to his native land. His enemies, however, held a firm hold of
government, and growing weary of delay, he made overtures to this firm
of Brown and Hunt, through their correspondents in New-Orleans. Being
sadly in want of funds, he was even mad enough to give a hint of some
kind, relative to an opal mine, which was to be worked by them on joint
account.

''Before any definite arrangement was perfected, an event occurred which
is indelibly impressed on my memory. The General, after spending a
portion of the afternoon with us, had returned to his home; and about
eleven at night, a messenger begged my immediate attendance on him. He
had been taken suddenly ill; and my husband, who was cognizant of the
paternal affection the General felt for me, urged me to hasten to his
bedside.

''I found him at the point of death; but my presence seemed to call him