''Would two hundred tempt you to speak?'

''If such a proposition were to come from a stranger, I might,
perchance, accept it; but seeing it comes from you--never.'

''Why?'

''Because, when you offer me two hundred dollars for any thing, it must
be worth far more than you offer.'

''Well, now, admit, just as a supposition, that I am interested in this
matter, what harm will it do you, if we both turn an honest penny?'

''That is just the point; but I don't want you to turn ten pennies to my
one.'

''Your scruples, my dear Pepito, display a cautious temperament, and
evince deep acquaintance with human nature; you see through my little
veil of mystery, and I own your sagacity; now I will be honest with
you--with a man like you, lying is mere folly. It is true, I am to have
four hundred dollars if I can find out where you have been. I swear to
you by the holy Virgin of Guadalupe, I am making a clean breast of it.
Now, will you take that amount? Say the word, and I will go and fetch it
right away.'

'This proposition seemed to embarrass the scrupulous Pepito extremely,
and he remained some time lost in thought.

''But, if you only receive four hundred, and give me four hundred, what
the deuce will you make out of such an operation?'

''Trust entirely to your generosity.'

''What! leave me to do what I like! I take you up--by Jupiter! Pedro,
that is a noble trait in your character--I take you up.'

''Then it is a bargain. Will you wait here for me, or would you prefer
to meet me at our usual Monte in the Calle de los Meradores?'

''I prefer the Monte.'

''You will swear on the cross, to relate fully and truly every
particular relating to your journey?'

''Of course--every thing.'

''I will be there in a couple of hours.'

'After his friend's departure, Pepito sat silent; his brow was knit, and
yet a mocking sneer played around his lips; he seemed to be pursuing two
trains of thought at once; suspicion and merriment were clearly working
in his mind.

''This is a droll affair, Caballero; I can't clearly see the bottom of
it'

''There is nothing very unusual in it that I see,' I replied, 'for every
day men sacrifice honor for gold.'

''True, nothing more common, and yet this proposition beats all I ever
met with.'

''In what respect?'

''Why, the interest that these folks who employ Pedro, take in this
journey that I undertook for your friend, Senor Pride.'

''But, if this journey has some valuab