ruin. He often spoke of his
desire to return to Mexico, and lived constantly in the hope of the
decree being revoked, which had driven him into exile. One day he
disclosed the chief cause of his desire to return, by revealing the
secret we have imparted to you.'

''Pardon me, madame,' I said, 'but tell me how General Ramiro gained his
information? Exploring for opal mines is hardly part of the duties of a
General, even in Mexico.'

''I was about to explain that,' replied the lady. 'An Indian, convicted
of murdering a monk, some three years previously, was condemned to
death. On being taken, according to Mexican usage, on the eve of
execution, to the confessional, he refused the slightest attention to
the exhortations of the priests, affirming that he had written a letter
to the Governor, which would secure his pardon.

''True enough, a party of dragoons arrived during the night, and took
him away. The letter was addressed to General Ramiro, then acting as
Governor, and contained promises of a revelation of the highest
importance.

''When conducted to the General, the Indian proved, by a host of
details, the existence of an opal mine, which he had accidentally
discovered, and in return for the revelation, demanded a free pardon.'

''I understand, perfectly, madame,' I added, seeing Adele 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 ar