I think that you are wrong on one point. I think, indeed I
am quite sure, that I have found the owners, at least one of them."

"Yes?" Her tone still questioned. "And what then?"

"Well," he went slowly now, "there are some questions I would like to ask
them. They may regard it as an awful impertinence; but it would be a lot
of satisfaction to me."

"What would be the nature of those questions?"

"Among other things"--he still spoke slowly, seeming to consider his
words--"I should like to ask them why, for years now, they should have
let a valuable property remain idle. Even if they have the wealth of
Midas it is still a puzzle. No one is ever quite rich enough, you know,
and down there is Tom Tiddler's ground to their hand."

"Well, what do you make of it--this puzzle?" She was looking steadily at
a ring she was turning about on her finger.

"This!" He leaned forward. For the life of him he could not keep a faint
ring of triumph out of his tone. "This, senorita. There is only one
reasonable, credible solution--" He paused cruelly.

"Yes?" Her eyes were on his, eager, almost voracious. "Yes?"

"The present owners can not locate the mine, or else they think it not
worth the trouble and expense of attempting to do so. That they have
allowed the estate to lie idle and in a measure go to waste is also
curious and puzzling. I can not explain that."

"Admitting such a thing for the sake of argument," she asked, "what
then?"

"Well, I think we will have several things to say to each other then.
For, if either of my suppositions is anywhere near correct their hands
are tied just as much as mine, so I think we shall have to talk business,
do not you?"

"I quite agree with you and I should add, the sooner the better."

"The sooner the better," he echoed, with emphasis.

She nodded. Again, she studied her nails, pink as almond-flowers, with
interest.

"And you really believe, you are quite convinced, that this lost or
abandoned mine is all that tradition says of it?" she asked at last.

"More," he replied laconically. "I have prospected over every foot of it,
and I know that it contains a fortune. A fortune"--he struck the table
with the palm of his hand--"beyond the dreams of avarice."

There were dancing sparkles in her green eyes. "Let me congratulate you,
'O gallant knight, gaily bedight, in sunshine or in shadow,' that you
have been lucky enough to find Eldorado."

She rose in a sweeping impetuosity, drew