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gut
,” the Dutchman replied. “You are a good judge of men.”
    â€œI guess the Spaniards back all those years ago found some, but sure wasted a lot of time looking.”
    â€œIt was not a waste,” the Dutchman observed. “Much was found . . . Mexico . . . Peru . . . even
here
.”
    â€œThe Spaniards spent a lot of effort and never found El Dorado, though,” Cole observed.
    â€œThat’s because it was found by a
German
,” the Dutchman said, grinning at his companion. “Have you heard of Philipp von Hutten? He ist the ‘Dutchman’ who
found
El Dorado.”
    â€œWhat happened to him?”
    â€œImprisonment by the Spanish. He died before he could be freed and return to El Dorado. Many stories of treasure end that way.
Nein
, I should say that
most
stories about hunters of treasure end this way, or end with the avaricious who go back for more and never return to civilization.”
    â€œThat’s what happened to Dearing,” Cole recalled.
    â€œThat ist what continues to happen with his discovery. Many men come to me to help them find the way to the Dearing treasure. I tell them honestly, and bid them farewell. If I ever see them again, they have terror in their eyes, not the glow of satisfied lust.”
    â€œHow do you know that nobody has found it?”
    â€œWord of
that much
gold going to market would spread far and wide.”
    â€œWhen you gave those men directions to this gold, did you believe that you were sending them to their deaths?” Cole asked.
    â€œIt is their choice,” the Dutchman said. “They have been told of the risks and the chances of success. There is no difference between you and I. We both possess the power of life and death over men, and the power to offer men the choice of living or dying. You have in your pocket death warrants for two men. They read ‘Dead or Alive,’ meaning that their lives will be spared if they make the correct choice.”
    â€œThat’s right,” Cole agreed. “Most men who operate on the wrong side of the law know they’re living a gamble.”
    â€œLife ist a matter of choices,” Geier said. “A man must never stop weighing the choices that he makes. Some treasure ist not worth having, but it ist up to the man to decide where to stop. I cannot make that choice for them.”
    â€œI understand.” Cole nodded.
    â€œIf all treasure was easy to find and to hold, all men would be rich,” the Dutchman said. “Not all men are meant to be wealthy. Fools least of all.”
    â€œYou strike me as a man who has little use for fools.”
    â€œAs I said, Herr Cole, you are a good judge of character.”

Chapter 9

    â€œ BONSOIR, MONSIEUR,” NICOLETTE DE LA GRAVIÈRE SAID with smile. She spoke in Spanish to those who she thought spoke it, and English to probable English speakers. She saved her French for her friends.
    â€œGood evening, mademoiselle,” Amos Richardson said, returning the smile. “It will be the usual.”
    â€œ
Très bien
,” Nicolette said as she swirled away toward the kitchen to put in his order.
    It was Richardson’s custom to dine twice a week at the Refugio del Viajero. There was some variation in the days, but he never varied from a twice-weekly routine.
    Therese de la Gravière, the owner of the Refugio, caught his eye from across the room and approached his table with a large bottle.
    â€œNew from France, Doctor,” she said with a smile. Her smile always reminded Richardson of her daughter’s smile, and vice versa. “Would you care for a glass with my compliments?”
    â€œAbsolutely, ma’am.”
    â€œThe coming of the railroad has changed many things,” she said as she uncorked the bottle and poured him a generous portion. “Wine from France was never before possible in Santa Fe . . . at least not at a reasonable