induced to make her a proposition."

"A proposition?"

"To remain on the plantation as its mistress--plainly an offer of
marriage, if you please. Not such a bad idea, is it?"

I stood speechless, held motionless only by the pressing muzzle of his
pistol, the cold-blooded villainy of the man striking me dumb. This
then had probably been his real purpose from the start. He had
followed Beaucaire deliberately with this final end in view--of ruining
him, and thus compelling the daughter to yield herself. He had egged
the man on, playing on the weakness of his nature, baiting him to
finally risk all on a game of chance, the real stake not the money on
the table, but the future of this young girl.

"You--you have never seen her?"

"No, but I have met those who have. She is reported to be beautiful,
and, better still, worth fifty thousand dollars."

"And you actually mean that you propose now to force Judge Beaucaire's
daughter to marry you?"

"Well hardly that, although I shall use whatever means I possess. I
intend to win her if I can, fair means, or foul."

I drew a deep breath, comprehending now the full iniquity of his plot,
and bracing myself to fight it.