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"We'd have to study these, of course, Your Honor, but," he said with the confidence of someone who had anticipated our move, "even if these do prove satisfa

ctory, this doesn't eliminate the possibility of these two impostors getting their clutches on the Tate fortune. The child whom they are trying to get custody of would inherit, and they would naturally be the trustees of that enormous inheritance."

The judge turned to Monsieur Tate.

"Your Honor, it is the contention of my clients that Pearl Tate's natural father is Beau Andreas. She would have no claims to Monsieur Tate's estate."

The judge nodded. It was like watching a game of chess being played with real people on the board instead of figurines of knights and queens, pawns and kings. We were the pawns, and to the victor went my darling Pearl.

"Do you have any further exhibits to enter, Monsieur Polk, or any further witnesses?"

"No, Your Honor."

"Monsieur Williams?"

"We do, Your Honor."

The judge sat back. Monsieur Polk returned to his seat beside us, and Monsieur Williams went to his desk to confer with his associate for a moment before turning and calling out his witness's name.

"We would like to call Monsieur Bruce Bristow to the stand."

"Bruce!" I exclaimed. Beau shook his head in astonishment.

"Is this not your stepmother's husband?" Monsieur Polk asked.

"Yes, but . . we have nothing to do with him anymore," Beau explained.

The doors opened in the rear and Bruce came sauntering down the aisle, a Cheshire cat's grin on his lips when he gazed our way.

"She must have made him an offer, bought his testimony," I told Monsieur Polk.

"What sort of testimony can this man give?" he wondered aloud.

"He'll say anything, even under oath," Beau said, eyeing Bruce angrily.

Bruce was sworn in and sat in the witness chair. Monsieur Williams approached him.

"Please state your name, sir."

"I'm Bruce Bristow."

"And were you married to the now-deceased stepmother of Ruby and Gisselle Dumas?"

"I was."

"How long have you known the twins?"

"Quite a long time," he said, gazing at me and smiling. "Years. I was employed by Monsieur and Madame Dumas for about eight years before Monsieur Dumas's death."

"After which you married Daphne Dumas and became, for all practical purposes, the stepfather to the twins Gisselle and Ruby?"

"Yes, that's true."

"So you knew them well?"

"Very well. Intimately," he added.

"As the only living parent of the twins, can you assure the court you can distinguish between them?"