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ПРИЯТНОГО ЧТЕНИЯ!
Carolyn Keene
Nancy Drew Mystery Stories: Volume Forty-Three
The Mystery of the 99 Steps
Copyright © 1966 by Simon & Schuster, Inc.
Published by Grosset & Dunlap, Inc.
Despite warnings from a stranger, eighteen-year-old Nancy Drew and her friends set out for France to search for a flight of 99 steps that may help solve the mystery of a friend's strange dream and a possible case of blackmail.
CHAPTER I
The Strange Dream
"How exciting, Nancy! Your dad really wants Bess and me to go to France with you?" Nancy's tomboy friend exclaimed over the telephone.
"Yes, George, to help us solve a couple of mysteries. How about you girls having dinner with me tonight and I'll tell you the details."
"Give me a hint," George begged. "I can hardly wait I"
Nancy Drew laughed "My case involves a weird dream."
"A dream!" George exclaimed. "Hypers! And what's your dad's case about?"
"Too confidential for the phone," Nancy replied. "Be here at five so we can talk it over before dinner. I'll call Bess."
Bess Marvin and George Fayne were cousins. Like Nancy, they were eighteen, and had been friends of the attractive, titian-haired girl detective for a long time. They arrived promptly. Blond Bess's warm smile revealed two dimples. George, with dose-cropped dark hair, was slim and athletic—the exact opposite of her slightly plump cousin.
"We both have permission to go to France, Nancy," said Bess, "but please, please don't get me into any scary situations the way you have in your other mysteries."
Nancy grinned and put an arm affectionately around Bess. "I can't promise, but—"
"Of course you can't," George interrupted. "Besides, that's what makes solving mysteries so exciting. Now tell us all about everything."
The three girls went into the living room, where a cheerful blaze crackled in the fireplace. This was an unseasonably cool June day. Bess and George seated themselves in comfortable chairs, but Nancy remained standing, her back to the fire. Her blue eyes glistened excitedly.
"Begin!" George urged. "From your expression I'd say we shouldn't waste a minute getting these mysteries solved."
"How'd you guess?" said Nancy. "Dad has already gone to Paris on his case. We're to meet him at a hotel there and after a couple of days in Paris we girls will go for a visit to a large chateau in the country."
Bess's face glowed. "A real chateau! Divine!"
"Not only that," Nancy went on, smiling, "we're having dinner guests tonight—they live in the chateau."
"Well be staying with them?" Bess asked.
"No, they're visiting in the States for a few weeks and staying right in this house. You girls and I will be exchange guests."
George chuckled. "Will I be in exchange for a boy?"
Laughingly Nancy replied, "They’re girls–Marie and Monique Bardot." She exphined that arrangements had been made between her father and an aunt of the Bardot sisters. Carson Drew was a prominent attorney, who often was called upon to handle difficult cases. Frequently his daughter helped him.
"The girls' aunt, who is a few years older than their mother," Nancy continued, "lives here in River Heights. Marie and Monique are with her right now. But her apartment is too small to accommodate overnight guests. Mrs. Blair is the person with one of the mysteries—mine. She asked me to solve it."
Nancy went to stand by the fire. "You both know Mrs. Josette Blair, don't you?"
"Of course!" said Bess. "She's that lovely woman who lives in the apartment house near us. Don't tell me she's having more trouble and so soon after her husband and son were killed in that car accident. Now she has a sprained ankle! Poor Mrs. Blair," Bess added sympathetically.
"This is another kind of trouble," Nancy told the cousins. "It's weird. Every night Mrs. Blair has a horrible nightmare and wakes up with her heart pounding. In her dream she's blindfolded and is about to fall down a long flight of stairs, with someone whispering, '99 steps.'"
"How horrible!" Bess murmured.
"But," put in practical George, "at least it's only a dream. What's the mystery?"
"The mystery of the 99 steps," Nancy answered. "You see, Mrs. Blair lived in various places in France as a small child, and actually had this frightening experience, but she can't remember where or anything else about it. For years she did not think of what happened but recently had the dream again. Then something occurred that has really frightened her."
"What was it?" George asked.
Nancy said that Mrs. Blair had received a letter from Paris, written in French. "Unfortunately, in a moment of panic she destroyed the message. There was only one sentence in it. 'Tell no one about the 99 steps. Monsieur Neuf'!"
"Mr. Nine, eh?" Bess murmured, and Nancy nodded.
"It's our job," she continued, "to find Monsieur Neuf and where the 99 steps are, and—well, solve the mystery so poor Mrs. Blair can sleep peacefully again."
As Nancy stooped to poke the fire and put on another log, Bess groaned. "I can see danger ahead with this mysterious Mr. Nine."
Suddenly the three girls were startled by a loud whirring noise. "A helicopter!" George cried out. "It's awfully close!"
The girls listened tensely, knowing it was against a River Heights ordinance for any aircraft to fly so low over the residential area. Was the pilot in trouble?
An instant later a strong downdraft of air burst from the chimney. It sent sparks, soot, and ashes over Nancy and into the room.
"Oh, Nancy!" Bess screamed.
She rushed forward with George to help Nancy. They patted out the sparks in her hair and on her sweater. Then George trampled some burning fragments on the carpet.
George and Bess rushed forward to help Nancy
The scream had brought Mrs. Hannah Gruen, the Drews' housekeeper, running from the kitchen. She was a kind, pleasant-faced woman who had helped to rear Nancy since the sudden death of Mrs. Drew when the girl was three years old.
Hannah exclaimed, "What happened? Oh, my goodness!" she added, seeing Nancy covered with soot and ashes.
"That helicopter!" George exclaimed. "I'll bet it caused this mess!"
While Bess told Mrs. Gruen about the chimney episode and Nancy went upstairs to bathe, George dashed outdoors. She could see the helicopter in the distance, apparently getting ready to land at the River Heights airport.
"That pilot ought to be reported!" George thought angrily.
When Nancy came downstairs, George mentioned this and Nancy agreed. "I'll drive out to the airport tomorrow morning to see about it."
"In the meantime, Detective Drew," put in Bess, "tell us more about your mystery. For instance, how did Mr. Nine find out where Mrs. Blair is?"
"I suppose from her relatives in France. We'll ask Marie and Monique when they come. Maybe they can give us some other clues, too."
At that moment a taxi drove up and two attractive, dark-haired girl alighted. Each carried a large and a small suitcase. Nancy went to the door to meet them.
"You are Nancy Drew?" asked the taller of the pair, smiling. She had a musical voice with a delightful accent.
Nancy smiled. "Out. And you are Marie, n'est-ce pas?" She turned to the shorter girl. "Hello, Monique. Please come in, and welcome!"
As soon as the Bardots were in the hall, Nancy introduced Bess, George, and Mrs. Gruen. Then the visitors' bags were carried upstairs.
"What a charming house!" exclaimed Monique when all the girls were seated in the living room. "You are very kind to invite us, Nancy.
We do not want to be any trouble. Mrs. Gruen must give us something to do."
Conversation turned to Mrs. Josette Blair's mystery. The sisters felt sure none of the family in France had given their aunt's address to anyone. Marie and Monique were worried about the mysterious message she had received.
"Perhaps Tante Josette should go away," said Marie.
"I'm sure Mrs. Gruen would be glad to have her stay here," Nancy offered. "Perhaps she wouldn't be so frightened if she weren't alone."
"Merci bien." Monique said gratefully.
Presently Hannah announced dinner. At the table the group continued to discuss the mystery of the 99 steps, but the French visitors could shed no light on the subject. Nancy did not refer to her father's case. Bess and George, though disappointed, realized that it was a confidential matter and Nancy would tell them about it later.
Nancy herself was thinking, "I'll drive Bess and George home and tell them Dad's mystery then."
A luscious-looking lemon meringue pie had just been served by Hannah Gruen when the front doorbell rang.
"I'll get it," said Nancy. "Excuse me."
At the door Nancy was startled to see a man wearing a half mask! "This is the home of the Drews?" he asked in a strong French accent.
"Y-yes," Nancy replied. Fearful he would force his way inside, she held the door firmly.
The masked man did not try to enter, and Nancy made quick mental notes of his appearance. He was tall, with exceptionally long arms and feet.
The stranger, who wore heavy leather gloves, handed Nancy a sealed envelope, turned on his heel, and left. She noted that he walked with a slight limp and wondered if this was genuine. He disappeared down the winding driveway and Nancy closed the door. The typewritten address on the envelope was to Mr. and Miss Drew.
"Why was the man wearing heavy leather gloves—in June? This could be a dangerous trick," Nancy thought, her detective instinct for caution aroused.
She carried the envelope upstairs. To be rid of any possible contamination from it, Nancy washed her hands thoroughly, then put on leather gloves.
Using a letter opener, she carefully slit the envelope. A single sheet fell out with a typed message:
STAY OUT OF FRANCE! MONSIEUR NEUF
"Monsieur Neuf!" Nancy thought in dismay. "Was he the man who brought this?"
CHAPTER II
The Frightened Financier
At once Nancy rushed to the telephone in her father's bedroom and called Mrs. Blair. She told her of the warning note and asked if the first message from Monsieur Neuf had been typed also.
"Yes, on a French typewriter. You know many of the keys have different characters."
"Then the warning I just received was typed on another machine—an American one," Nancy said." Monsieur Neuf probably has a confederate in this country. By the way, Mrs. Blair, we were going to suggest that you stay here with our housekeeper and your nieces while Dad and I are away."
"That's sweet of you," said Mrs. Blair. "Let me think it over. It's you I'm worried about— not myself. I don't want you to take any undue risks for me."
Nancy replied in as lighthearted a tone as she could muster, "Oh, don't worry, Mrs. Blair, I must take risks when solving a mystery."
Some traps and scary situations in which she had found herself flashed through the young detective's mind, from her very first mystery involving The Secret of the Old Clock to her recent adventure—capturing The Phantom of Pine Hill.
"I'm sure you do take risks," Mrs. Blair said. "But I beg of you, be careful."
When Nancy returned to the dining room, she told the others about the masked man who had left the warning note. Everyone looked worried.
"Oh dear! You are in danger, Nancy, because of Monique and me," Marie burst out. "We will leave."
"No indeed you won't," Nancy replied firmly. "Monsieur Neuf is trying to keep me from going to France. But I'll go just the same. Dad wants me there. Besides, I have a job to do. I must solve your aunt's mystery. After I leave, I hope you people won't be bothered again."
Marie and Monique glanced at each other, as if unconvinced, but finally they smiled. Monique said, "Nancy, you are brave as well as kind. We will remain."
All the girls thanked Mrs. Gruen for the delicious meal, then insisted that she watch television while they cleared the table and tidied the kitchen. Shortly afterward, when Marie and Monique excused themselves to unpack, Bess and George declared they must leave. Nancy offered to drive them home.
As soon as the three girls were on their way, George said, "Now tell us about your father's case."
Nancy chuckled. "He calls it 'The Case of the Frightened Financier.’"
Bess giggled. "Who is this money man?" she asked. "And what's he frightened about? The stock market?"
"His name is Monsieur Charles Leblanc. We don't know why he's frightened."
Bess murmured dreamily, "Frenchman. Mmm!"
Nancy went on, "He lives in a chateau in the Loire River valley, and his office and a factory he manages are in Paris. He's wealthy and influential in business circles but inherited most of his financial empire. Lately he has become very secretive—is drawing large sums of cash from banks and threatens to close up his factory."
"And put all those people out of work?" George broke in.
"Right. He has sold large holdings of stocks and bonds, too, which isn't good for the country's economy."
"Nancy, how does your dad fit into this picture?" Bess asked.
"Monsieur Leblanc's business associates have engaged Dad to find out what has scared him into doing this. An American lawyer on vacation in France wouldn't be suspected by the 'frightened financier' of trying to learn what's going on."
As Nancy finished speaking, she pulled up in front of the Marvins' home. The girls said good night and Nancy went on to the Faynes’
"By the way," said George, "when are we taking off?"
"Day after tomorrow. Meet you at the airport eight-thirty a.m. sharp. Good night."
During the drive home Nancy's thoughts dwelt on the mystery. On a deserted street she was suddenly startled when a man stepped off the curb directly into her path! He limped forward, then fell. Nancy jerked the steering wheel hard and jammed on her brakes to avoid hitting him. Shaken, she stared out at the prone figure.
"Help!" he cried, with a French accent. "I am sick!"
Nancy's first instinct was to assist him, but instead she reached for the door locks and snapped them. The man on the pavement was the masked messenger who had come to her house earlier. This must be a trick! He had followed her and knew the route she probably would take hornet.
Quickly Nancy pulled the car near the opposite curb and drove off. In the rear-view mirror she could see the man picking himself up and limping to the sidewalk. On a chance she had been wrong, Nancy stopped a patrol car and told her story.
"We'll investigate at once, miss," said the driver.
A little while after arriving home Nancy telephoned police headquarters and learned that the suspect had vanished. The young sleuth, convinced the man had been feigning illness, told her French friends and Hannah of the incident.
Mrs. Gruen sighed. "Thank goodness you're home safe."
Marie and Monique looked concerned, but made no comment. Nancy felt sure they were wondering if all American households were as full of excitement as this one!
The trying events were forgotten temporarily, when the visitors offered to sing duets in French, Nancy and Hannah were delighted.
"These are old madrigals from the Loire valley where we live," Monique explained. "You will hear them often while you are there."
"The songs are beautiful," Nancy said, clapping.
Mrs. Gruen applauded loudly. "This is just like having a free ticket to a lovely concert," she said, smiling.
Before the group went to bed, Nancy invited the visitors to accompany her to the airport the next day. She told them about the helicopter that had buzzed the Drew home.
The three girls arrived there in the middle of the morning. Nancy spoke to the man at the regular service counter and was directed to the office of a private helicopter company.
A young man at a desk had to be prompted twice before replying to Nancy's question. He kept staring with a smile at the two French girls.
"Oh, yes," he finally said to Nancy, "a man was up with me yesterday—the one who's going to build the helipad on your roof."
Nancy stared at the young pilot, speechless. Then she said, "You're kidding!"
"Kidding, the girl says!" He rolled his eyes around and shrugged his shoulders. "No, this is for real."
Suddenly Nancy realized the pilot had been the victim of a hoax that perhaps tied in with Monsieur Neuf. She decided to be cagey in her questioning.
"Who told you?" she asked.
"Why, the man I took up. Guess you know him—James Chase."
"Was he from the—er—company that's going to build the helipad on our roof?" Nancy asked.
"Yes. He showed me a letter from the А В Heliport Construction Company signed by the president. I don't remember his name. It said what they were going to do and asked if I'd fly him low over your house. I got permission to do it."
"Next time you fly low you'd better be more careful," Nancy warned. "We had a fire going and you caused a downdraft that could have set our house on fire."
"Gosh, I'm sorry about that."
"I don't know this James Chase," Nancy said. "What does he look like?"
The pilot grinned. "Queer-looking duck about fifty-five years old. Real long face and arms and feet. Limped a little."
"Anything else?" Nancy asked, her pulses quickening.
"Well, he spoke with a French accent."
Nancy thanked the pilot for his information and left with her guests. When the three were out of earshot of his office, Nancy said excitedly, "James Chase is the masked man who came to my house!"
Marie and her sister exchanged quick glances. "Nancy," Marie burst out, "we think we know who this man is. His name is not James Chase!"
CHAPTER III
The Green Lion
"You know who the masked man is?" Nancy cried out unbelievingly.
"We are not acquainted with him," Marie answered. "But I'm sure he was a gardener at the chateau of friends of ours. He was discharged for not being honest. In fact he was later suspected of stealing large sums of money from several shops."
Monique spoke up. "We remember him because he was so odd looking, although I don't recall he limped. His first name was Claude. We don't know the rest."
"And," Nancy said, "he could be Monsieur Neuf! But if Neuf is trying to keep people away from the 99 steps, why would he leave France? Girls, you've given me a very valuable clue, anyway. Since you say Claude was not honest, and he's using an assumed name and sent that warning note to Dad and me, I think our police should be alerted."
When they reached headquarters, Nancy took the Bardot sisters inside to have them meet Chief McGinnis. The middle-aged, rugged-looking officer, a good friend of the Drews, greeted them all with a warm smile.
"I'm glad to meet your French visitors, Nancy," he said.
"You'll be doubly glad," said Nancy, "when they tell you about the man who is trying to keep me from going to Paris."
After Chief McGinnis had listened to the story, he nodded gravely and turned to the Bardots. "Will you young ladies compose a cable to your friends and ask for Claude's last name and his address in France. I'll send it, but the reply will come to your house, Nancy."
The officer winked, adding, "I wouldn't want the Bardots' friends to think Marie and Monique are having trouble with the River Heights' police!"
"Oh, no, no," said Marie, and the sisters laughed.
Everyone was pleased at the quick response that came from France. The three girls, after a sightseeing trip on the Muskoka River, arrived home at five o'clock. Hannah Gruen had just taken the message over the telephone. It said: Name Claude Aubert. Whereabouts unknown.
THE GREEN LION
"Good and bad news at the same time’" Nancy remarked." Apparently Claude the gardener has disappeared from his home town. But won't he be surprised when our River Heights police pick him up!"
She dialed headquarters at once. Chief McGinnis was still there. Upon hearing Nancy's report, he said, "I’ll get in touch with immigration authorities in Washington at once to check if Aubert entered this country legally. Most offices will be closing, but I'll call anyhow." He paused. "My men are out looking for this Frenchman. When do you leave, Nancy?"
"At eight tomorrow morning."
"Well, if I have any news before then I'll let you know. Good-by now."
"Good-by, and thanks!"
Monique turned to Nancy. "Oh, I hope the police catch Claude! He may try to harm you again before you leave."
The telephone rang. Nancy answered. "Hi, Bess! What's up?"
"You must help us out—tonight."
"How?"
"By performing anything you like. Play the piano, do tricks, tell a mystery story."
"Bess, what are you talking about? Is this some kind of gag?"
"No, indeed, Nancy. This is the night the Teeners Club entertains the Towners Club, remember? You had to decline because of your trip."
"Sorry, Bess," said Nancy. "I'm afraid I must decline again for the same reason. I haven't finished packing yet, and I told Mrs. Blair I'd drop in to see her. She was trying to find some clues for me from old diaries of her mother's."
"But, Nancy, we need one more number. We Teeners can't disappoint the older folks. Couldn't you just—?"
"Bess," Nancy said suddenly, "I just had a brainstorm. Maybe Marie and Monique will sing some madrigals."
"Marvelous!" Bess exclaimed. "Oh, Nancy, you're a whiz. Hurry up and ask them."
At first the French girls demurred, feeling that they did not sing well enough to perform in public. When Nancy, backed by Mrs. Gruen, assured the sisters they sang beautifully, the girls consented.
Monique said happily, "Marie and I brought old-time costumes used by singers in the Loire valley. We thought Tante Josette would like to see them."
"That's great," said Nancy, hugging the girls.
When she told Bess the good news, there was a squeal of delight from the other end of the wire. "I'll pick up Marie and Monique at seven-thirty," said Bess.
THE GREEN LION
Nancy requested that the sisters come last on the program. "I’ll try to finish my visit with Mrs. Blair in time to hear them."
A little later when Marie and Monique came downstairs in their costumes, Nancy and Mrs. Gruen clapped in admiration. The long-skirted bouffant dresses with tight bodices were made of fine flowered silk. Marie's was blue and trimmed with narrow strips of matching velvet. Her sister's was rose color with festoons of shirred white lace.
The girls' hair was piled high on their heads and they had powdered it to look like the wigs worn by the elegant ladies of the eighteenth century. On one cheek of each singer was a tiny black patch, another custom of the day.
"You will make a great hit," Mrs. Gruen prophesied.
"Merci beaucoup" said Marie, her cheeks flushed with excitement. "Mrs. Gruen, are you not going?"
"I hadn't planned to, since Nancy was not performing," the housekeeper replied.
At once the three girls urged her to attend. Hannah beamed. "All right. It won't take me long to change."
She hurried to her room and soon returned in a becoming navy-blue dress. A few moments later Bess arrived for her passengers and they left. Nancy set off in her car for Mrs. Blair's apartment.
The attractive woman, about forty years old, opened the door and said eagerly, "I found some notes in Mother's diary that may help us."
She sat down beside Nancy on a low couch in the living room and opened a small red-velvet-covered book. The writing was precise and quite faded in places.
"I've had a hard time deciphering this," said Mrs. Blair. "It tells mostly of my parents' travels, and mentions that I went along sometimes. But I was always with my governess."
"Then the experience you dream about," Nancy guessed, "could have included your governess. Is she still living in France?"
"I really don't know. To me she was just 'Mademoiselle' and that is what she's called in the diary. She was very kind, I remember. I was only three years old at the time."
Mrs. Blair gave the names of several famous chateaux they had visited. Another was where Marie and Monique lived.
Nancy's eyes sparkled. "Now we have something to work on! We'll go to each chateau and look for the 99 steps!"
"Another place mentioned in the diary, Chateau Loire, was mostly in ruins," Mrs. Blair went on. "It says the place was haunted by a ghostly alchemist who carried on his work there. You know, Nancy, in olden times people were superstitious about chemists and their experiments, and they were forbidden by law to work their 'miracles.'"
"But they did it in secret?" Nancy asked.
"Oh, yes. They had all kinds of signs, and symbols and special words to indicate to other people in their group what they had accomplished."
"How clever—and daring!" said Nancy.
Mrs. Blair arose and took a book from a shelf. It too was in French. She showed it to Nancy. "One of the interesting sets of symbols includes a Red King, White Queen, Gray Wolf, Black Crow, and Green Lion. The Red King stood for gold; the White Queen, for silver. I don't understand the meaning of the crow, but the Green Lion—he's a bad one. He devours the sun—or in other words, he's acid making the silver or gold look green."
"That's fascinating!" Nancy exclaimed.
"Yes, it is," the woman agreed. "And it's hard to realize that the forbidden art of alchemy finally became the basis for our modern chemistry. In the sixteenth century alchemists believed that minerals grew, so certain mines were closed to give the metals a chance to rest and grow."
Nancy listened intently as Mrs. Blair went on, "For a long time people laughed at this idea. But today chemists have discovered that metals do literally grow and change, though very slowly. My goodness!" the woman exclaimed. "We have wandered off the subject of our mystery, Nancy. But actually I didn't find any other clues to my dream or the 99 steps' incident of my childhood."
Nancy glanced at her wrist watch. She was reluctant to leave, but would still have time to hear Marie and Monique perform. She invited Mrs. Blair to accompany her, but the woman declined because of her sprained ankle.
Nancy arose, saying she must go. "You have given me a lot to work on, Mrs. Blair. I'll certainly be busy in France! Au revoir, and I hope I'll soon have good news for you."
Nancy hurried to the school auditorium where the Teeners were giving their show. She quietly slid into a rear seat in the dim light.
The Bardot sisters had just been announced and came out before the footlights. Standing with their heads close together, they began to sing. At the end of the number the applause was terrific.
As it died down, and the sisters started the second madrigal, Nancy's eyes wandered over the audience. Suddenly she caught her breath. Directly across the aisle in the center of a row sat Claude Aubert!
"I must get the police before he leaves!" Nancy thought. Quickly and unobtrusively she made her way outside.
CHAPTER IV
Backstage Scare
When Nancy reached the street she looked back to see if Claude Aubert were following, but evidently he had been unaware of her presence in the auditorium. She ran to a nearby street telephone and called police headquarters.
The officer on duty promised to send two plain-clothes detectives to the school at once. Nancy said she would meet them in the lobby, and hurried back to the school. As she entered the lobby she heard enthusiastic clapping and assumed Marie and Monique had finished their act.
"Oh, I hope Claude doesn't come out here before those detectives arrive," Nancy thought worriedly. She peered inside the auditorium. He was still in his seat.
Fortunately the audience insisted upon encores. Just before the show ended, Detective Panzer and Detective Keely walked into the lobby.
Nancy quickly led them inside and pointed out their quarry. Suddenly Claude Aubert arose, pushed into the side aisle, and, without limping, hurried toward the stage.
"Come on! Nancy urged the detectives. "He may be planning to harm the Bardots!"
The three hurried after the French ex-gardener. He went through the door that led up a short flight of stairs to the stage. To the left of the steps was an exit to the parking lot. When the pursuers reached the spot, the suspect was not in sight.
"Where did he go?" Nancy asked in dismay.
Detective Panzer yanked open the exit door and reported, "I don't see him." He and Keely dashed outside.
The next instant a scream came from somewhere backstage. Electrified, Nancy raced up the steps where a throng milled about on stage. Many persons were asking, "What happened?"
A sob could be heard above the noise. Nancy went to investigate and found Monique in hysterics. Marie was trying to comfort her.
Seeing Nancy, they cried out together, "He threatened us!"
"Claude Aubert?"
Yes," said Monique. "He grasped my arm so hard I screamed. Then Claude said in French, " 'If you sisters let Nancy Drew go to France, you will suffer and she will too!'"
"He must be Monsieur Neuf!" Marie added fearfully.
"Where did he go?" Nancy asked.
Marie pointed to the opposite side of the stage from where Nancy had entered. When Nancy reached it, she found an exit to a walk that ran behind the building to the parking lot-Nancy was elated. Mr. Nine was trapped! The walk ran between the school and a high concrete wall. There was no way out except through the parking lot. By this time the detectives must have nabbed the suspect!
Nancy dashed along the walk to the lot and stared ahead. A large crowd was making its way to the cars and some of the automobiles had already started to move out. The detectives were not in sight. Neither was Claude Aubert.
"Oh great!" Nancy groaned in disgust. Then she took heart. "Maybe he's already been captured and is on his way to jail!"
Nevertheless, Nancy searched thoroughly among the cars, but saw neither Claude Aubert nor the detectives. She returned to the stage. By this time Monique had calmed down and was receiving congratulations with her sister from many persons for their excellent performance.
"You certainly made a hit," said Bess, coming up with George. "Just as Hannah said."
"Oh, thank you." The Bardots smiled.
George added, "Someone told us a fresh guy came up and bothered you. Who was he?"
"A Frenchman who threatened Marie and me if we let Nancy make the trip."
"Such nerve!" George exclaimed. "What's his name?"
Nancy whispered it, then brought Bess and George up to date, telling of her suspicion that Aubert was Monsieur Neuf.
"Wow!" said George. "Mr. Nine must be worried you'll solve the mystery."
In a low tone Nancy said, "We'd better go home, and I'll call headquarters to see what happened to the detectives."
They found Mrs. Gruen waiting in Nancy's convertible. After bidding good night to Bess and George, Nancy drove off. The housekeeper was astounded at the story of the threat.
"Starting tonight, I'm going to keep the burglar alarm on all the time!" she declared. "I'm glad we had it put in."
Nancy grinned. "Marie and Monique, be careful not to come home unexpectedly. You may scare Hannah."
"Just the same," said Mrs. Gruen, "I don't like this whole thing. Nancy, perhaps you ought to postpone your trip for at least a few days."
"I can't," Nancy replied. "Dad and Mrs. Blair are counting on me. Let's not worry until we find out if Claude Aubert has been captured."
As soon as she reached home Nancy telephoned the police. The suspect, she learned, had not been brought in. Furthermore, Detective Panzer and Detective Keely had neither returned nor phoned a report.
"We assume they're still tailing their man," the desk sergeant added.
Nancy hung up, her mind in a turmoil. How had Claude Aubert escaped? Where would he show up next?
"I’ll bet," she thought, "that it will be right here. I'm glad the burglar alarm is on."
After a pre-bedtime snack, Mrs. Gruen and the girls went upstairs. Nancy, who had some final packing to do, was the last one to retire. Some time later she was awakened abruptly by a loud ringing.
The burglar alarm had gone off Instantly the young detective was out of bed and pulling on her robe and slippers. She dashed to a window and leaned out, hoping to spot the intruder. Seeing no one, Nancy sped to her father's room in the front of the house and peered below.
"Oh, they've caught him!" she exulted.
In the rays of a flashlight, the two plainclothes-men were holding a tall, long-faced man. Aubert? Just then Mrs. Gruen, Marie, and Monique rushed in.
Nancy cried out, "The detectives got the burglar! Hurry! Let's go down!"
She quickly led the way, turning on lights as she went, and flung open the front door. The detectives marched their prisoner, now limping, into the hall. Claude Aubert!
"Hello, Miss Drew," said Detective Keely. "We saw your lights go on and thought you'd like to know we got this fellow."
"Bud here and I had a wild chase," Panzer told Nancy. "We got clues to Aubert from people all over town who saw him, but we missed him every time. We figured he might come here, so Bud and I hid near your house and waited. We let him try to jimmy the window, then nabbed him red-handed."
Nancy expressed the theory that the fugitive had eluded them at the school by running in front of the stage curtains, jumping from the platform, and mingling with the crowd leaving the auditorium. The policemen agreed. "That's why we all missed him," said Detective Keely.
The prisoner was prodded into the living room. His black eyes glared malevolently at the three girls. The man's lips moved but no intelligible sounds came through them. A quick search of his pockets by Keely revealed no passport or other identification.
As soon as Mrs. Gruen and the girls were seated, Detective Panzer ordered, "Okay, Aubert. Talk! Tell everything from the beginning. Why and how did you sneak into this country and under what name?"
Silence.
Nancy spoke to the detectives. "I haven't introduced my friends from France—Marie and Monique Bardot. Perhaps they can act as interpreters."
"Good idea," Detective Keely agreed.
Marie was spokesman. She relayed questions from Nancy and the police to the prisoner about the threatening letters to Mrs. Blair and the Drews; the helicopter ride; the faked illness in front of Nancy's car, and his inconsistent limping. No answers from Aubert.
Finally Detective Panzer said, "We'll go now. A night in jail may loosen this man's tongue. He'll learn he can't nm around threatening people."
After the men had left, Mrs. Gruen said, "We should all be thankful that awful man is in custody. Nancy—you, Bess, and George can go to France with nothing to worry about."
Nancy merely smiled. She was not so sure! The group exchanged good nights again and retired. Soon Nancy began to dream. She kept chasing after a man who carried a large sign reading:
BEWARE M. NEUF
Then a great crowd of people in old-fashioned costumes came swarming from the ruins of a chateau. They carried large bells which they were ringing lustily.
Suddenly the dream ended. Nancy was wide awake. Bells, bells I Then she realized what was happening. The burglar alarm had gone off again!
CHAPTER V