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or cleared his throat, and when he was finished, an

even deeper hush came over the crowd. It was as if

everyone had been stunned. Now, when I turned and

looked around, I saw all eyes were on me. Beau had

done such a good job of telling our story, many were

beginning to wonder if it couldn't be so. I felt my

hopes rise to the surface of my troubled thoughts. Monsieur Williams rose. "Just a few questions,

if I may, Your Honor."

"Go on," the judge said.

"Monsieur Andreas. You said your wife was

diagnosed with St. Louis encephalitis while you were

at your country estate. A doctor made the diagnosis?" "Yes."

"Didn't this doctor know he was diagnosing

your wife, Gisselle?" Beau looked toward Monsieur

Polk. "If so, why didn't you bring him here to testify

that it was Gisselle and not Ruby?" Monsieur

Williams hammered. Beau didn't respond.

"Monsieur Andreas?" the judge said. "Your honor," Monsieur Polk said. "Since the

twins are so identical, we didn't think the doctor

would be able to testify beyond a doubt as to which twin he examined. I have researched the medical history of the twins, as much as could be researched, and we are willing to admit that identical twins share so many physiological characteristics, it is virtually

impossible to use medical data to identify them." "You have no medical records to enter into the

record?" Judge Barrow asked.

"No, sir."

"Then what hard evidence to you intend to

enter into the record to substantiate this fantastic

story, sir?" the judge asked, getting right to the point. "We are prepared at this time," Monsieur Polk

said, approaching the judge, "to present handwriting

samples that you will quickly be able to see

distinguish one twin from the other. These come from

school records and legal documents," Monsieur Polk