米格尔受到良心的谴责，主动说出是自己转移了昔日主人留给米尔德里德的财富，并将之据为己有，现在他愿意物归原主……
Late that afternoon Arthur and Louise sat in the court，chatting with their guests，who were occupied in coddlinga and amusing baby Jane，when Inez approached Mr.Weldon and said that Miguel wished to speak with him.
"Send him here，"said Arthur，and presently the old Mexican appeared，again arrayed in his best clothes and with the red necktie carefully arranged.He held his hat in his hand and looked uncertainly around the circle.Then hiseyes wandered to the nursery and through the open door he saw Mildred sitting in a rocker，engaged in reading a book.Runyon had gone home that morning，"to see if the ranch is still there，"he said.
"I have—some—private talks to make，Meest Weld，"began the old ranchero.
"Speak out，Miguel，"said his master encouragingly.
"Oh；but he said 'private，'"Patsy reminded him.
"I know.Miguel understands that he may speak before my friends.""It ees—about—Se？or Cristoval，Meest Weld.""Yes？Well，what about him，Miguel？""I am once servant for Se？or Cristoval.I stay here in house with him，long time.When he get sick，before he die，I care for him.Doctor say to me that Se？or Cristoval can not get well；I say so to Se？or Cristoval.He say never mind，he have live long enough."This was interesting to them all in view of the recent happenings，and the girls bent nearer to hear the old man's story.Arthur，the major and Uncle John were equally intent.
"Se？or Cristoval，he say，when he get very bad，there ees one thing he hate to leave，an'that ees—his money，"continued Miguel."He say，money ees his bes'friend，all time.But he no can take money where he will go.He ees mad that many poor fools will spend the money he have love an'cared for.So he make me take three big bag of gold an'drive to bank an'putaway so the poor fools will ？nd it.Much more money ees in bank，too.Then，when doctor come，he ask me when he will die，an'doctor say when sun next shine Se？or Cristoval will not see it.Doctor want to stay all night，but Se？or Cristoval pay an'tell him go.He want to die alone.
"But I am there.Some time in night Se？or Cristoval he call an'say：'Miguel，I mus'not die till I have give to Leighton what belong to him.I have keep Leighton's money for him.I will show you where it ees hid，so you can give it to Leighton.'"Ah，they were intent enough now.Intuitivelya eachlistener seemed to know that a secret was about to be revealed and many glances were cast toward the unconscious Mildred，who continued to read placidlyb.But no one interrupted the old Mexican.
"I help Senor Cristoval to stand up.He ees not strong，so I hold him.He walk from blue room to back room an'there he show me how to take block from wall.Behind block ees big place for money.Se？or Cristoval he say all money what belong to Leighton ees there.He tell me count it.So I put Se？or Cristoval in chair an'he watch while I take out money an'
count.There ees four bag.I count three bag an'he say good，it ees right.He say count last bag.So I empty bag on ？oor an'count gold an'put in bag again.When thees ees done I say：'Is eet right ？'But Se？or Cristoval say nothing.I look up，an'Se？or Cristoval ees dead."The old man spoke simply and quietly，but they foundhis relation intensely dramatic.Patsy was trembling with excitement.Beth clasped Louise's hand and found it cold from nervousness.
"And then，Miguel？"said Arthur.
"Then，Meest Weld，I put gold in wall an'？x block so no one know an'carry Se？or Cristoval to his bed.That ees all，Meest Weld.""And you told no one of Leighton's gold ？""I tell no one.It ees belong to Leighton.""Where is it now，Miguel？""In wall，Meest Weld.""All of it ？""All."There was a moment's pause.
"You know now that it belongs to Mildred—to Leighton'sdaughter，—do you not？"he asked，an accent of sternness in his voice.
"I know，Meest Weld."
"Then why did you not tell us of this before？"Old Miguel stood silent，shifting from one foot to another，his eyes cast down，his slender brown fingers spasmodicallya pressing the rim of his sombrero.But when he spoke it was in his former quiet manner.
"I am a bad man，Meest Weld.I theenk I keep gold formyself.Why not，when no one know？Long time after Se？or Cristoval die no one come here.Some time I go to room an'count gold.When I see it I have bad thought.I theenk it ees nice if I keep all myself.But when I go away an'work in the grove，I tell Miguel many time that gold ees not his；it ees Leighton's gold.I say when Leighton come for it he mus'have it.But Leighton do not come.Many year the gold ees mine，an'no one know.Then come Leighton's girl，an'I know I am bad man if I keep gold.But I say nothing.I theenk no one ever know.""But tell me，"said Arthur curiously，"what good is the money to you when it is hidden in a wall？""Not much，Meest Weld；but I know I am rich.I say I can buy ranch an'be big man，an'no one know I have steal Leighton's gold.""Then why have you told us the secret？"Miguel glanced toward the nursery.
