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"Of course. Gisselle," he said, looking at me again, "has a completely different personality, a more, shall we say, sophisticated awareness. Ruby was more of an innocent, shy, soft-spoken."
"Are you now, and have you recently been, involved in some legal problems with the current owners of the Dumas Enterprises, Beau and Gisselle Andreas?" Monsieur Williams asked.
"Yes, sir. They threw me out of the business," he said, glaring at us. "After years of dedicated service, they decided to enforce a foolish prenuptial agreement between me and my deceased wife. They manipulated me out of my rightful position and drove me into the streets, turning me into a pauper."
"He's lying," Beau whispered to Monsieur Polk. "You should have told me all about him," he replied. "I asked you if there was anything else."
"Who knew Gladys Tate would find him?"
"More likely, he found her, Beau," I said. "For revenge. They fit together like a hand in a glove."
"This woman who you see sitting before you, sir," Monsieur Williams said, turning to me. "Was she a party to all this, directly?"
"Yes, she was. I went back to plead with her recently and she literally had me thrown out of what had been my own house," he said.
"So," Monsieur Williams concluded with a smile of satisfaction, "this was no shy, innocent woman."
"Hardly," Bruce said, widening his own smile and looking at the judge, who turned his scrutinizing eyes on me.
"Still, sir, it is possible, I imagine, for an identical twin to fool someone into believing she is her sister," Monsieur Williams said. "She could have performed a well-prepared script and said all the right things to convince you she was her sister."
"I suppose," Bruce said. Why was Monsieur Williams giving us that benefit of doubt? I wondered, but it was like hearing--the first shoe drop. I cringed inside and clutched my hands so hard, my fingers went numb.
"Then how can you be so sure you were in an argument with Gisselle and not Ruby recently?"
"I'm ashamed to say," Bruce replied, looking down.
"I'm afraid I have to ask you nevertheless, sir. A child's future is in the balance, not to mention a major fortune."
Bruce nodded, took a deep breath, and looked up as if he were concentrating on an angel in the ceiling. "I once let myself be seduced by my stepdaughter Gisselle."
The audience gave one simultaneous gasp.
"As I said, she was very sophisticated and worldly," he added.
"Did anyone else know about this, monsieur?"
"No," Bruce said. "I wasn't very proud of it." "But this woman indicated to you that she knew?"
Monsieur Williams asked, pointing to me.
"Yes. She brought it up during our argument and threatened to use it against me should I put up any resistance to her and her husband's effort to drive me out of my rightful position. Under the circumstances I thought it was better to effect a quick retreat and start my life anew.
"However," he said, looking at Madame Tate, "when I heard what they were up to now, I had to step forward and do my duty regardless of the
consequences to my reputation."
"So you are telling the court under oath that this woman who has presented herself as Ruby Tate knew intimate details between you and Gisselle, details only Gisselle would have known?"
"That is correct," Bruce said, and sat back contented.
"The only reason he is doing this," Beau whispered to Monsieur Polk, "is because we forced him to leave the business. He and Daphne did some very shaky financial dealings."
"Are you prepared to open up all that?" Monsieur Polk asked.
Beau looked at me. "Yes. We'll do anything." Beau began to write some questions for Monsieur Polk quickly.
"I have no further questions for the witness, Your Honor," Monsieur Williams said, and returned to his table, where Gladys Tate sat looking stronger. She gazed my way and smiled coldly, sending chills down my spine.
