"Does Hardin know which girl is his daughter?"
"He does not!" Natalie says slowly.
There is a silence; Joe can hear his own heart beat. Victory at last.
"I have nothing to ask you, except to see no one but myself, Padre Francisco, or my lawyer. If Hardin wants to see you, I'll be present. Now I am going to see him to-night. You will be watched over night and day. I am going to have every precaution taken. I shall be near you always. Rest in safety. I think I can save you any opening up of the old days.
"I will see you early."
Her hands clasp his warmly! She says: "Colonel, send PŠre Fran‡ois to me. I will tell him all you need to know. He will know what to keep back."
"That's right," cries Joseph, warmly. "I know how to handle Hardin now. You can bank on the padre. He's dead game."
"And your reward?" Natalie whispers, with bowed head.
A wild thought makes the blood surge to Joe's brain. He slowly stammers, "My reward?" His eyes tell him he must make no mistake. A flash of genius.
"You will square my account, madame, if you make no objection to the immediate marriage of your daughter to Dauvray. He's a fine fellow for a Frenchman, and she shall never know this story. She'll have money enough. I'll see to that." Joe's voice is earnest.