floor
the door opened and Ruiz Rios opened to them. He bowed deeply,
courteously, his manner cordial, his eyes inscrutable.

At his invitation they entered. He led them through a great,
low-ceiled room where dim light hovered over luxurious appointments,
across Oriental rugs and hardwood floors to a wide hallway. Down this
for a long way, past a dozen doors at each hand and finally into a
suite looking out into the gardens from a corner of the building. As
they went in, two Mexican girls, young and pretty, with quick black
eyes and in white caps and aprons, came out. The girls dropped their
eyes, curtsied and passed on, as silent as little ghosts.

"Your rooms, senores," said Rios, standing aside for them. "When you
are ready you will ring and a servant will show you to the _patio_,
where I will be waiting for you. If there is anything forgotten, you
have but to ring and ask."

He left them and hurried away, obviously glad to be done with them.
They went in and closed the door and looked about them. Here were big
leather chairs, a mahogany table, cigars, smoking trays, cigarets, a
bottle of brandy and one of fine red wine standing forth hospitably.
Through one door they saw an artistically and comfortably furnished
bedroom; through another a tiled, glisteningly white bath; beyond the
bath the second bedroom.

All this they marked at a glance. Then Kendric turned soberly to his
companion.

"I've known you a good many years off and on, Twisty," he said bluntly,
"for the sort of man to name pardner and friend. For half a dozen
years, however, I've seen little of you. What have those half-dozen
years done to you?"

"What do you mean?" asked Barlow.

"I mean that for a mate on a crazy expedition like this I want a man I
can tie to. That means a man that turns off every card from the top,
straight as they come. A man that doesn't bury the ace. I haven't
held out anything on you. What have you held out on me?"

Barlow looked troubled. He uncorked the brandy bottle and helped
himself, sipping slowly.

"You've got in mind what she said outside?" he asked.

"Yes. That and other things."

"If I had told you at the beginnin'," said Barlow, "that you and me
were comin' to a place, lookin' for treasure, that was right next door
to where Zoraida Castelmar lived, would you of come?"

"No. I don't think I would."

"Well, that's why I didn't tell you."

"And you promised her--just what?"

"That I'd