Let us go as soon as we politely can. I have found out
what I wanted to know. Guerrero is not here."
We rose shortly and excused ourselves and, with general regrets
in which all but Torreon joined, were bowed out with the same
courtly politeness with which we had been received.
As we left the house, the return to the world was quick. It was
like coming out from the matinee and seeing the crowds on the
street. They, not the matinee, were unreal for the moment. But,
strange to say, I found one felt no depression as a result of the
mescal intoxication.
"What is it about mescal that produces such results?" I asked.
"The alkaloids," replied Kennedy as we walked slowly along.
"Mescal was first brought to the attention of scientists by
explorers employed by our bureau of ethnology. Dr. Weir Mitchell
and Dr. Harvey Wiley and several German scientists have
investigated it since then. It is well known that it contains
half a dozen alkaloids and resins of curious and
little-investigated nature. I can't recall even the names of them
offhand, but I have them in my laboratory."
As the effect of the mescal began to wear off in the fresh air, I
found myself in a peculiar questioning state. What had we gained
by our visit? Looking calmly at it, I could not help but ask
myself why both Torreon and Senora Mendez had acted as if they
were concealing something about the whereabouts of Guerrero.
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