Kennedy did not know, but he did not confess it. "Until we know
differently, we must take their word for it," he evaded.
"It was not that that I meant, however," replied Senora de Moche.
"I meant that we might stop the curse by ceasing to hunt for the
treasure. It has never done any one good; it never will. Why tempt
fate, then? Why not pause before it is too late?"
I could not quite catch the secondary implication of her plan. Did
it mean that the treasure would then be left for her family? Or
was she hinting at Inez accepting Alfonso's suit? Somehow I could
not take the Senora at her face value. I constantly felt that
there was an ulterior motive back of her actions and words.
I saw Craig watching the young man's face, and followed his eyes.
There was no doubt of how he took the remark. He was gazing
ardently at Inez. If there had ever been any doubt of his
feelings, which, of course, there had not, this would have settled
it.
"One thing more," added the Senora, as though she had had an
afterthought, "and that is about Mr. Lockwood and Mr. Whitney. Let
me ask you to think it over. Suppose they have not the dagger.
Then are their chances better than others? And if they have"--she
paused to emphasize it--"what does that mean?"
Kennedy had turned his attention to the Senorita.
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