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"Look," Beau said, squeezing my hand again, "what possible motive could we have for Ruby pretending to be Ruby? First, we will be exposing our deception to the world, and besides, everyone who knew Gisselle knew how self-centered she was. She wouldn't want to win custody of a child and be responsible for the child's upbringing."

Monsieur Polk thought a moment. He turned his chair and gazed out the window.

"I'll play the devil's advocate," he said, continuing to gaze down at the river. Then he turned sharply back to us and pointed at me with his cigar again. "You said your husband, Paul, inherited oil-rich land in the bayou?"

"Yes."

"And built you a mansion with beautiful grounds, an estate?"

"Yes, but--"

"And has wells pumping up oil, creating a large fortune?"

I couldn't swallow. I couldn't nod. Beau and I gazed at each other.

"But, monsieur, we are far from paupers. Ruby inherited a tidy sum and a profitable business and--"

"Monsieur Andreas, you have at your fingertips the possibility of inheriting a major fortune, a continually growing major fortune. We're not talking now about just being well-to-do."

"What about the child?" Beau threw out in desperation. "She knows her mother."

"She's an infant. I wouldn't think of putting her on a witness stand in a courtroom. She would be terrified, I'm sure."

"No, we can't do that, Beau," I said. "Never." Monsieur Polk sat back. "Let me look into the hospital records, talk to some doctors.Ill get back to you."

"How long will this take?"

"It can't be done overnight, madame," he said

frankly.

"But my baby. . . Oh, Beau."

"Did you consider going to see Madame Tate

and talking it out with her? Perhaps this was an

impulsive angry act and now she's had some time to

reconsider," Monsieur Polk suggested. "It would

simplify the problem."

"I don't say this is her motive," he added,

leaning forward, "but you might offer to sign over any

oil rights, et cetera."

"Yes," I said, hope springing in my hear

t. Beau nodded. "It could be driving her mad that

Ruby would inherit Cypress Woods and all the oil on

the land," Beau agreed. "Let's drive out there and see

if she will speak with us. But in the meantime . . ." "I'll go forward with my research in the matter,"