'After the doctor's departure, I sent to the American Legation, urgently requesting some official to return with my messenger. I took a chair beside the bed, while Donna Teresa knelt in the adjoining room, and prayed and sobbed with much fervor. In a short while, Arthur rallied from the stupor into which he had fallen. His features became calm, his breathing regular though feeble, and the tranquil, almost happy, expression of his eye made me for a time half doubt the fearful prediction of the physician. ''Do you feel better?' I inquired. ''Much much; I am in no pain.' ''Let us hope, then, for the best. I will send for another doctor.' ''No, that would be useless. My lower extremities are swelling, and I can feel the hand of death clutching at my vitals. The doctor was right; death is not racking me with torture, it is gently embracing me. But I want your assistance; sit down.' 'I resumed my seat, and Arthur continued, in a feeble tone, but perfectly calm: ''How mean a thing is life! Good God! so mean, that at this moment I can not explain to my own soul why man should cling to it. What do we meet during our short career? Deceit, hypocrisy, and treachery. Ah! death reveals the hollowness of life.' ''My dear friend, you are exhausting yourself. Did you not say you wanted my assistance? Rely on my zeal, my fidelity, and my discretion.' ''Rely on you! How can I tell? You are only a man; perhaps avaricious and treacherous as your fellow-mortals. No matter; though you should forswear yourself; I, at least, will do what is right. Feel beneath my pillow, there is a key; take it, open my desk. In the small drawer on the left is a package of letters. Have you them? Good. Next to that there is a sealed letter. Now, read aloud the direction on each.' ''Papers to be burnt after my death,' said I, obeying his injunction. ''Well, what do you intend doing with them?' ''Can you for one moment doubt?' I replied. 'What if I should tell you they contain the entire secret of my opal-mine!' 'I made no reply; but struck a match against the wall, and setting them on fire, resumed my seat. ''I could hardly have believed it; but you still have Pepito; from him you hope to learn the secret,' said the dying man. ''Shall I bind myself by an oath not to seek him?' ''No; I leave you at liberty. Act as you think best. I burned those papers because they were bought with blood, for no other reason.' ''Bought with blood?' I exclaimed. ''Yes; ten months ago, General Ramiro died at New-Orleans, by poison--poison administered by Adéle. Do you wonder life has lost all charm for me? Oh! life is the bitterness, not death.' 'His voice momently grew fainter. I leaned closer, to catch his fading tones, till he ceased to speak. I gazed intently at his glassy eyes; the lids closed for a moment, then partially opened, the jaw fell, and he was no more.'