arduino -> max232 adapter -> BT232B-E bluetooth serial adapter

Sorry for nagging you with this but I am really getting silly. I'm a newbie.

I'm trying to communicate between arduino and a bluetooth serial adapter without any success.
I bought a ready made max232 adapter, so in my child mind the flow is as the subject.

I have tested first the arduino rx-tx loopback. It works. Then I have tested arduino +max232 loopback echo test. It works
Once I attach the rs232 to the max232 no data whatsoever is tranferred /echoed
Default parameters: 19200 1 stop bit parity none

Any suggestions? What am I missing?

Any help is really appreciated.

Thanks a lot

Alfonso