The ambassador is received by good-humored Joe
Woods. He declines an interview, by the lady's orders, unless its
object is stated.
Hardin requests that some friend other than the Missouri miner,
may be named to represent Natalie.
His eyes gleam when the selection is made of Pere Francois. Just
what he would wish.
It lacks now but three days of the final hearing. An hour after the
message, Hardin and the priest are seated, in quiet commune. There
are no papers. There is no time lost, none to lose. No witnesses,
no interlopers.
Hardin opens his proposals. The priest seems tractable. "I do not
wish to refer to any present legal matters. I speak only of the
past. I will refer only to the future of 'Madame de Santos.' You
may say to her that if she will grant me a brief interview, I feel
I can make her a proposition she will accept, as very advantageous.
In justice to her, I cannot communicate its details, even to you.
But if she wishes to advise with you, I have no objection to giving
you the guarantees of my provision for her future. You shall know
as much of our whole arrangement as she wishes you to. She can
have you or other friends, in an adjoining room. You can be called
in to witness the papers, and examine the details.
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