Did the secret die with her? It is
fight now. She muses: "Now they may keep her. The seal of the grave
is on the only lips which could tell the story of Lagunitas." Villa
Rocca even, does not know who the child was! His evidence would
be valueless.
If--yes, if the Dauvray household should seek to fathom the history
of the waif, how like an everyday history is the story in reply:
"Marie Berard wished to disembarrass herself of her fatherless child.
She yet wished to hold some claim on the future in its behalf. That
explains Louise Moreau's motives." There is a high wall of defence
around her whole position. Her own child dead; but where, or how?
She must invent. Walls have been scaled, my Lady of the Castle
Dangerous. The enemy is mining under your defences, in silence.
With Villa Rocca's nerve and Italian finesse, even Hardin can
be managed. If HE should die, then the dark secret of her child's
transformation is safe forever!
Days fly by. Time waits for no aching hearts. There is a smile of
satisfaction on the lovely face of Natalie. She peruses the letters
from Hardin and the count. They announce the arrangement of the
dower for the absent "Irene Duval." Villa Rocca is in San Francisco.
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