Pere Francois conducts Hardin into the room whence Natalie dismissed
him, in her roused but sadly wounded spirit. She is there, waiting.
Her face is marble in pallor.
With a grave bow, the old ecclesiastic retires to an adjoining room
and leaves them alone. There is a writing table.
"Madame, to spare you discussion," Hardin remarks seriously, "I
will write on two sheets of paper what I ask and what I offer. You
may confer with your adviser. I will retire. You can add to either
anything you propose. We can then, at once, observe if we can
approach each other."
Natalie's stately head bows assent in silence. In five minutes
Hardin hands her the two sheets.
Natalie's face puzzles him. Calm and unmoved, she looks him quietly
in the eyes, as if in a mute farewell. She has simply uttered
monosyllables, in answer to his few explanations.
Hardin walks up and down upon the veranda, while Natalie, the priest,
and Colonel Joe scan the two sheets. His heart beats quickly while
the trio read his proposals.
They are simple enough. What he gets and what he gives. Madame de
Santos is to absent herself from the trial. She is to leave Isabel
Valois, her charge, with the priest. She is to be silent as to the
entire past.
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