“She will look at you with love like Simone’s Guka, mamma,” Stone Girl promised.

Otter Boy nodded. He seemed satisfied now and kept his eyes on the door but no lady came, only a small girl who gazed at them with hostility. She stuck out her tongue at Otter Boy and vanished. Finally the servant with blue calico on her head came to the door and announced that Captain Stanton was coming. Looking out of the window, they saw nothing but heard a horse and presently a firm step in the hall. Then a man stood in the doorway, not a small pleasant eager little man with red cheeks like Simone’s father but a big man like the Yengwe major at Madame Corbusier’s, an imposing figure in light breeches and with a dark face that didn’t welcome their presence in this room.

The priest rose to his feet but Stone Girl sat very still. Never had she felt such a faintness inside of her.

“I am Father Le Clercq. I have come a long way to see you,” the priest announced. “From across the great lake you call Michigan. From Fort Detroit, which once was ours but now belongs to you English.”

The assemblyman inclined his head but remained silent. Stone Girl noticed he did not pay reverence to the priest as was customary among those who came to Madame Corbusier’s. Père Le Clercq went on.

“I have made this long journey on your behalf, monsieur,” he declared, and when the Englishman still said nothing, “I understand that you lost a daughter to the Indians?”

“That is true.” A shadow crossed the dark face. “She was stolen from us on the way up from her grandmother’s, where her uncle and aunt had taken her. They were both killed and scalped and the boatmen as well.”

“You may be thankful that your child was not killed likewise,” the priest declared. “What would you have to say if I told you now I had brought your daughter back safe and sound to your bosom?”

The assemblyman looked unmoved.

“I would say it was impossible.”

“Nothing is impossible to God,” the priest asserted. “As God’s servant and advocate, I can tell you now that He looked after your child all these years, protected and sustained her, and now through the efforts of my society she is returned to you. This is she who was dead and is alive again, who was lost and is found.”

The assemblyman gave no sign of pleasure, only stared at the priest, then coldly at Stone Girl.

“My daughter has already been returned to me,” he announced.

Père Le Clercq was taken aback.

“You are joking, monsieur. Surely you cannot be serious.”

“Quite serious. I received my daughter back more than a year ago. She is with me now.”

“But are you sure, monsieur?” the priest stammered.

“I am quite sure. She remembered me and living here as a small child. Also she bears a strong resemblance to my wife. The same coloring and hair.” He turned to indicate Stone Girl. “On the other hand, this girl whom you claim to be my daughter bears no resemblance to my wife at all.”