When Nancy reached the top of the stairway Mrs. Gruen was there. Marie and Monique appeared a few seconds later. The group hurried down and flooded the first floor with light and turned off the alarm. No sign of a prowler.
"Let's divide up and search’" Nancy suggested. "Marie and Monique, will you examine the windows? Hannah, please try the doors. I’ll search, for anyone hiding."
The four separated. There was tense silence as the hunt went on. Nancy looked in closets, behind draperies and furniture. She found no one.
"I guess the intruder was scared away," she thought. "At least we know he wasn't Claude Aubert!"
At that moment Marie called from the dining room, "Please come here, everybody!"
The others rushed to her side. She was pointing to a side window which had been jimmied between the sashes and the lock broken. The intruder probably had been frightened by the burglar alarm before he had a chance to climb in.
"There will be footprints outside," Mrs. Gruen spoke up.
"We'll look," Nancy said, and went for a flashlight.
The quartet trooped outdoors to the dining-room window. A few feet away from it they stopped and Nancy beamed her light over the area.
"No footprints!" Hannah exclaimed. "If somebody tried to get in the house from here, he must have been a ghost!"
Nancy had been studying the ground. Now she pointed to a series of evenly spaced holes. "I think they were made by stilts."
"Stilts!" Monique exclaimed. "You mean the person who tried to get into your house was walking on stilts?"
"That's my guess," Nancy replied.
Mrs. Gruen gave a sigh. "It seems to me that every time we have a chance to pick up a clue, somebody outwits us."
Nancy smiled. "Stilts might be a better giveaway than footprints," she said cheerfully. "I'm sure there aren't many thieves who use them."
Monique asked, "Then you think the intruder meant to steal something?"
Hannah Gruen answered. "He was either a thief or intended to harm us."
Nancy's own feeling was that the stilt walker might be linked with her mystery. She returned to the house and called the police. The sergeant at the desk was amazed to hear of the second attempted break-in.
"Two alarms in one night!" he exclaimed. "But this one sounds like some boy's prank," he commented. "Probably a town hood. I'll make an investigation and see if anybody on our list of troublemakers owns a pair of stilts. Miss Drew, perhaps you have some ideas yourself about who the person was and why he wanted to break in."
"No, I haven't," she answered, "unless there's a connection between him and Claude Aubert."
The officer whistled. "In any case, I'll speak to the chief about having a detective watch your house every night until this prowler mystery is solved."
"Thank you and I'll hunt around our place for more clues," she offered.
Again Nancy organized a search party. Marie and Monique were assigned to the house. The sisters frankly admitted they did not know what to look for.
"Oh, anything that seems odd to you," Nancy replied. "For instance, table silver missing or disturbed." Even though she felt that the intruder had not entered the house, Nancy did not want to miss an opportunity to track down the slightest piece of evidence.
She and Mrs. Gruen began searching the grounds. A single set of stilt marks came from the street, ran along the curved driveway, then turned toward the window.
"There should be two sets of marks," Nancy said. "One coming and one going."
She asked Hannah to go into the house and put on the back porch and garage lights. As soon as this was done, Nancy extinguished her flashlight and stared intently at the ground.
She noticed that the top branches of a bush near the forced window were broken. Nancy looked beyond the shrub and saw that the stilt marks went across the rear lawn toward the garage.
"I guess the man stepped over the bush," she thought.
As Nancy hastened forward to follow the marks, the housekeeper joined her. Side by side the two hurried to the double garage. The door behind Nancy's convertible had been left open. As she and Hannah approached it, they stared in astonishment. Propped against the inside of the rear window of the car was a large cardboard sign. On it, printed in green crayon, were the words:
BEWARE THE GREEN LION
"How strange!" Mrs. Gruen murmured.
"How strange!" Hannah murmured
At that moment a patrol car came up the driveway and an officer stepped out. He introduced himself as Detective Braun. "Are you Miss Nancy Drew?"
"Yes. And this is Mrs. Gruen who lives with us."
The headlights of the police car had shown up the warning sign vividly. "For Pete's sake, what's that all about?" the detective asked.
"We just found it," Nancy told him. "I think the person who tried to get into our house intended to leave the warning in some room. When he was scared away, he put it here."
"Do you know what it means?" Detective Braun asked.
"I'm not sure, but the message may have something to do with a mystery I'm trying to solve." Nancy told about the old alchemists' codes, some of which Mrs. Blair had shown her.
"One man used the Green Lion as a symbol that he had figured out how to make gold look green."
Detective Braun shook his head. "This wasn't the stunt of a kid on stilts," he said. "It's a real warning."
Mrs. Gruen nodded. "I'm afraid you're right and this means trouble for Nancy in France after all. She's leaving early tomorrow morning."
Nancy, seeing how worried the housekeeper was, tried to sound lighthearted. "Not tomorrow morning, Hannah dear," she said teasingly. "It's already morning! Do you realize I'll be leaving home in about four hours?"
Hannah gasped. "You're right. What a terrible night you've had–just when you need a good rest!"
Braun said he would take the sign back to headquarters and have it examined for fingerprints.
"Good," night Nancy said. "And thank you."
At eight o'clock the young sleuth was ready to leave. She and Hannah Gruen and the Bardots drove to the airport in the convertible. The housekeeper would bring the car back. Marie and Monique were sad when it came time to say good-by at the loading gate.
Marie said, "I want to see Tante Josette's mystery solved, but please don't let yourself be harmed, Nancy dear."
Monique added, "Do not spend all your time on your detective work. France is so lovely to see, and please have some fun."
"I will," Nancy promised.
She had begun to worry about Bess and George, who had not yet arrived.
But a minute later the two girls came dashing up with their parents. The cousins said quick hellos and good-bys. Then the three travelers waved adieus and walked to a four-engine craft that would take them to New York. There they would change planes.
Nancy motioned Bess to a window seat while she took one next to her on the aisle. George sat across from her. Seat belts were fastened and in a few minutes the craft taxied down the runway and took off.
As soon as the lighted "Fasten Your Seat Belt" sign was turned off and the girls unbuckled their straps, Nancy said to George, "Sit on the arm of my chair. I have something exciting to tell you and Bess."
When she finished her recital of the night's adventures, both her friends gaped unbelievingly. Then Bess said worriedly, "More trouble–now with a green lion!"
George snorted. "Sounds ridiculous to me. The alchemist who worked out that code lived hundreds of years ago. Somebody came across it just by chance and is using those words to try to scare you, Nancy."
The girl detective frowned. "What puzzles me is, where does everything fit? I have a feeling it'll be some time before I put this jigsaw together."
As she spoke, Nancy could hardly hold back a yawn and slept during most of the flight to New York. Here the girls boarded a larger plane and jetted off to Paris. After they had been cleared through customs the next morning, Mr. Drew met his daughter and her friends. The tall handsome man beamed in delight at seeing the girls.
"I've been mighty lonesome without you, Nancy," he said. "I'll enjoy showing this beautiful city to you. Now tell me, how is your mystery coming?"
Nancy chuckled. "I have one villain in jail already." She was amused at her father's upraised eyebrows and quickly reported all that had happened.
"I can hardly believe it," the lawyer said. "Well done, Nancy. You're way ahead of me."
In lowered tones, Mr. Drew continued, "I haven't learned yet why Monsieur Leblanc is acting so strangely. Whenever I meet the man I find him very pleasant but not a hard worker, though he goes to his office regularly. He hasn't given a hint as to why he is selling his investments at such an alarming rate."
Mr. Drew remarked that he was very much interested in the warning Beware the Green Lion.
"Dad, I've been assuming the warning was linked with my mystery," she said, "but now I wonder if it was meant for you, too. After all, the first one from Monsieur Neuf was addressed to both of us."
"You could be right."
When the travelers reached the heart of Paris, they were intrigued by the wide boulevards with their beautiful buildings and the spectacular Eiffel Tower.
"What would you girls like to visit first?" Mr. Drew asked.
George responded at once, "Notre Dame. I want to see those ugly gargoyles."
The lawyer laughed and nodded. "Notre Dame it shall be, as soon as we have checked into our hotel on the Rue de la Paix and you girls have unpacked. I have reserved a large room for you with three beds."
In an hour the group was ready for the sightseeing trip. Mr. Drew called a taxi and they drove directly to the street called Double D'Arcole in front of the famous old cathedral.
As they stepped from the cab, Bess exclaimed, "Oh, it's gorgeous! Goodness, look at all the carvings and statues! There must be hundreds!"
"There are," Mr. Drew agreed. "Would you girls like to climb to the top of one of the two towers? You can get a better look at some of the gargoyles and also a magnificent view of the city."
"Yes, let's," George urged.
Mr. Drew led the girls around the corner into a side street with several sidewalk cafes opposite the north wall of the cathedral. A narrow doorway opened upon an even narrower circular stone staircase. The steps were precipitous and on one side barely had toe room.
"I hope we don't meet anyone coming down," Bess remarked, frowning.
Nancy went first, with Bess directly behind her. George came next and Mr. Drew brought up the rear. The stairway was rather dark in spots where light could not filter through the tiny square openings in the outer wall.
Nancy was silently counting the steps. "I may as well begin my sleuthing and see if there are any clues on the 99th step," she thought.
Slowly she and the others spiraled their way upward. Nancy had just passed the 99th step, without having seen anything significant, when she started around a sharp turn. Coming down toward her was an enormously fat woman, who blocked the entire width of the staircase.
Without regard for those below her, she descended swiftly and thoughtlessly, not moving sideways to give Nancy any room. Dismayed, Nancy stood on her toes and tried to hug the wall which was too flat to give any handhold.
"S'il vous plait—" Nancy began.
The fat woman paid no attention. She pushed against Nancy so hard that the girl lost her balance! She fell against Bess, who in turn dropped backward onto George. Unable to keep her balance, George desperately clawed the air!
Would they all go tumbling to the bottom?
CHAPTER VI
Double Take
As the three girls tumbled down the circular stairway, Mr. Drew braced himself to try stopping them. He held one hand firmly against the inner wall and leaned forward. As the impact came he teetered, but only momentarily. The girls, too, had pressed against the stone side and this had helped to break the fall.
"Oh, thank you!" Bess cried out. "I was never so scared in my life!"
She, George, and Nancy regained their balance. The fat woman who had caused the accident had paused for only an instant. With a curt pardon she went on down the stairway.
The Americans laughed off the incident, but all of them sincerely hoped they would not meet any more overweight persons on the steps!
"How much farther to the top?" Bess asked, puffing a little.
Mr. Drew said that the Notre Dame tower was 226 feet high. "You should be glad you're not going to the tip of the spire," he said with a chuckle. "That's 296 feet from the ground."
"It's a tremendous building, isn't it?" Nancy remarked.
Mr. Drew nodded. "And some outstanding historical events have taken place here, including two coronations of enormous pomp and ceremony—for Henry V of England and Napoleon I."
By this time Nancy had reached the top step and walked out onto the platform of the tower with its shoulder-high stone railing. A few feet ahead of her a massive stone gargoyle protruded from the roof. It looked like some strange prehistoric bird overlooking the swift-flowing River Seine below.
As Bess reached Nancy's side, she commented, "This gargoyle and the others I can see around this tower are so ugly they're almost handsome!"
George turned to Mr. Drew. "Who ever thought up gargoyles and what does the name mean?"
"I understand," Mr. Drew replied, "that these figures are really rainspouts. Gargoyle is derived from a medieval French word meaning gurgle or gargle. As to why they were made to look so grotesque, it's thought this was a whim of the designer and the architects."
Mr. Drew and the girls walked from one end of the platform to the other viewing as much of Paris as they could. The thing they noticed particularly was that practically all the buildings except churches had flat roofs.
"They were also in vogue in our country around the turn of the century," said Mr. Drew, "but we went back to the gabled variety. Now the flat ones are becoming popular again for large buildings. Give you one guess why."
"So helicopters can land on them," Nancy replied. Smiling, she said, "Dad, will we have to change our roof for the helipad?"
George chuckled. "Paris is ready for the future. A helipad on every roof! And the Drews won't be far behind!"
Nancy glanced down at the street from which they had entered the tower. Suddenly she grabbed her father's arm.
"Dad! That man down there! He looks like Claude Aubert!"
Mr. Drew was surprised and Bess and George dashed to Nancy's side. The man on the street was gazing upward directly at the group.
"But you said Claude Aubert was in the River Heights' jail!" Mr. Drew exclaimed.
At that moment the man apparently sensed that they were looking at him. He turned on his heel and walked away quickly.
"He's not limping!" Bess exclaimed.
As George gazed after him, she said, "Hard to believe he escaped from jail and got over here so fast!"
Nancy remained silent, but her father spoke up. "It's possible Aubert had someone put up bail money for him, then he jumped bail and managed to catch an overseas plane somewhere."
When Nancy still did not put forth an opinion, Mr. Drew asked, "What's your theory?"
"Rather startling," she replied, "but I have a hunch this man is Claude Aubert's brother, perhaps an identical twin."
"Then which one," said George, "is the real Monsieur Neuf?"
Nancy frowned. "I don't know, but I believe they're working together - Claude in the United States, this man over here. It's my guess we've been followed ever since we arrived."
A frightened look came over Bess's face. "Then we didn't leave the danger behind. Nancy, supposing the men are brothers, do you think one calls himself the Green Lion?"
"Possibly. In any case, we should find out at once if Claude Aubert did escape, or jump bail. I'll phone Chief McGinnis as soon as we leave here."
Mr. Drew liked the idea and the four left the tower immediately. When they reached the street, Nancy suggested that Bess and George go inside the cathedral while she and her father looked for a telephone.
"There's a delightful little garden in back of Notre Dame," said Mr. Drew. "Suppose we all meet there in half an hour."
The group separated. Nancy and her father found a restaurant which had a telephone booth and Nancy put in a call to River Heights. She was told there would be a delay of fifteen minutes.
"I'll wait," she said in French. "Will you please ring me at this number?"
The operator promised to do so. Nancy and her father sat down at a nearby table and ordered some French pastry and hot chocolate. When the food arrived, Mr. Drew chuckled and said, "Wouldn't Bess be goggle-eyed over this pastry?" Nancy grinned.
Ten minutes later the telephone rang and she jumped to answer it. "Chief McGinnis?"
"Yes. You're calling from Paris, Nancy?" he said. "It must be important."
"It is. Tell me, is Claude Aubert still in jail?"
"Sure. Why?"
Quickly Nancy told him about the man she had seen. "Could you find out from Aubert if he has a brother who looks like him, perhaps a twin?"
"Hold on!" The chief was gone for several minutes.
Finally McGinnis came back and said that Aubert had refused to answer. "That makes me think you may have guessed correctly," the officer told Nancy. "By the way, we've observed that his limp is phony. Anyhow, I will report your suspicions to the Paris police."
Nancy told the chief where she was staying and thanked him for his help. She asked about the stilt walker. The man had not been found yet.
As Nancy emerged from the booth and rejoined her father, she was beaming.
"Don't tell me," said Mr. Drew. "I know from your expression you're on the right track."
Nancy laughed. "I shouldn't wear my secrets on my face." Then she remarked softly, "If this other man is Claude Aubert's brother and is following us, we should turn the tables and follow him."
"A neat trick if you can do it," the lawyer said. "But we'll keep our eyes open."
The Drews made a tour of the breathtaking interior of Notre Dame. Nancy was awed by its vastness and the beauty of the stained-glass windows and the many statues. She paused before one of the Virgin Mary, whose lovely face looked down at arms which had once cradled an infant.
"The baby's statue was mysteriously taken away," her father explained. "Stolen apparently."
"How dreadful!" Nancy exclaimed. "And how sad!"
She and her father left the cathedral and walked down the side street to the open garden at the rear. Bess and George were waiting for them and admiring the colorful beds of zinnias and petunias. The four sat down on chairs and Nancy told the cousins of her talk with Chief McGinnis. She urged that wherever they all went, each one try to spot the man she thought was Claude's brother. A few minutes later Mr. Drew suggested that they go back to the hotel and have lunch.
"That's a grand idea," Bess spoke up. "I'm starved!"
She arose, and before heading toward the street, turned slowly in a complete circle, hoping she might see the suspect. Suddenly her eyes became riveted on a black lamppost which stood near high bushes and trees at the back of the garden. She had spied a figure crouching behind the post.
"Nancy," Bess whispered quickly, "I think. I see Mr. Nine!"
CHAPTER VII
Exciting Steps
As Bess pointed toward the lamppost, the man crouching behind it seemed to realize he had been discovered. He sprang up and plunged into a mass of bushes and trees behind him.
"Let's chase him!" Nancy urged, and the whole group took off in pursuit.
George reached the other side of the shrubbery first. She cried out, "I see him! He's heading for the back street!"
When they came to the Rue du Cloitre, they could see their quarry running to the south.
"We mustn't let him escape!" called Mr. Drew. "You girls go on. I can't run as fast as I used to."
Nancy soon caught up to George. But at the corner of the Quai de l'Archeveche, they were stopped by a policeman wearing a tight-fitting, dark-blue tunic suit, white gauntlets, and a high-crowned, peaked cap.
"Why are you in such a hurry?" he called out in French.
Nancy pointed down the street toward the fugitive. "He is a suspect trying to get away from us!"
The officer's eyebrows lifted. "Suspected of what?" he asked.
For a moment Nancy was stumped. What did she suspect the man of? Only of being Claude Aubert's brother. Finally she said, "He has been watching and following us. We want to find out why."
By this time Mr. Drew and Bess had reached the group. The lawyer introduced himself and the girls and showed his identification.
"I beg the pardon of the Americans," the policeman said, and waved them on.
But Nancy shook her head. "Too late. Look!"
At that moment the long-armed man was jumping into a taxi. Disappointedly his pursuers watched it drive out of sight.
The policeman said cheerfully, "If the man is following you, he will be seen again. What is his name?"
"We do not know," Nancy replied. "We think it may be Aubert. By any chance, have you ever heard of a Claude Aubert?"
The officer stared at her. "Mais oui, mademoiselle! Claude Aubert is a well-known forger. Some time ago he faked the signature on a large check and was nearly caught by our captain, but he got away. You mean, that man you were chasing is Claude?"
"No, he's in jail in the States," Nancy replied, then added that Captain McGinnis was going to get in touch with the Paris police. On a hunch she asked whose signature Claude Aubert had forged. The group was astounded to learn it was that of Charles Leblanc! The "frightened financier"!
Nancy and her father were elated over this clue, which might prove a strong link between his case and Nancy's.
As calmly as she could, Nancy asked the officer where Claude Aubert had lived at the time he vanished. The policeman gave her the address of an apartment house in the section of Paris known as the Left Bank.
The Drews thanked him for the information and walked back toward Notre Dame. Mr. Drew suggested they have lunch at one of the sidewalk cafes instead of returning to the hotel, then go to Aubert's apartment house.
"That would be fun," Bess said eagerly. "Some fine French food will step up my brainpower. You'd like that, wouldn't you, Nancy?"
Her friend laughed. "This mystery is becoming so complicated, I can use all the help you can give me."
Mr. Drew selected a pleasant cafe and the group seated themselves at a small table. After their luncheon orders of cheese souffle had been given, the lawyer said in a low tone, "Monsieur Leblanc's office building is not far from Aubert's apartment."
George asked, "Do you think that fact has a bearing on your case, Mr. Drew?"
The lawyer shrugged. "At least it's a strange coincidence."
When they finished eating, Mr. Drew suggested that on their way to the Left Bank, they stop at the famous Louvre to view some of the paintings and statuary. A taxi took them to the massive museum which had once been a palace.
Bess sighed. "It would take us a week to see everything in this place," she commented.
Mr. Drew smiled. "You're right, Bess, but there are certain priceless art objects you must not miss —for instance, the Winged Victory."
George grinned. "She's the lady with the wings but no head, isn't she?"
"That's the one," Mr. Drew answered.
"The Venus de Milo statue is here too," Nancy said.
"That's right."
George chuckled. "She's the beautiful lady without any arms. Where did she lose them?"
"I haven't heard," the lawyer said with a grin, "or I might look for them."
Bess announced, "One thing I want to see is Leonardo da Vinci's portrait of Mona Lisa."
Mr. Drew said that apparently this was considered the most valuable art treasure in the Louvre, since it was more heavily protected than any of the other pieces.
When the group reached the famous painting, they found it guarded by an iron rail and two uniformed men, who carefully watched each visitor.
"Mona Lisa's face is lovely," Nancy remarked. "Just looking at her portrait gives me a peaceful feeling."
The River Heights visitors stayed for an hour in the famous old building. Then, weary, they decided to stop walking and drive across the Seine to Claude Aubert's former home. The concierge in charge of the apartment house was a rather gruff man of about fifty. At first he seemed unwilling to answer any of their questions about the forger.
"It was bad enough having the police come here disturbing me!" he complained, growing red in the face. "Who are you?"
Nancy smiled disarmingly. She decided to shoot a direct question at him. Could she get him to answer?
"What's Claude Aubert's twin's name?" she asked.
Without hesitation, the concierge replied, "Louis."
Nancy could hardly keep from shouting her delight. Mr. Drew, Bess, and George also found it difficult to maintain calm expressions.
"Oh, yes," Nancy said nonchalantly. "Let me see, where does Louis live?"
The man did not answer at once, but finally he said, "It is out in the country. I do not know the name of the place." Suddenly he went on, "You know, Louis is the bright one. Claude is a bit slow. He just does what his brother tells him to."
Mr. Drew put in casually, "Louis keeps busy, no doubt. We saw him today from a distance. What's he doing now?"
"Oh, he is some sort of scientist. That business with formulas and flasks and such is beyond me."
Nancy's intuition told her they were getting nearer and nearer to an excellent clue. Again she smiled at the concierge. "Would it be possible for us to see where Claude used to live?"
Actually Nancy did not expect to find any clue in the apartment. What she did want to do was count the number of steps to Aubert's living quarters. It was just possible there might be 99 and there would be some significance to this!
"I can show you which apartment it is," the concierge replied. "But I cannot admit you because a young man and his wife occupy it now."
As he led the way up the stairs, Nancy moved backward to the front door. Then, as she walked forward again, she began to count. It took her ten steps to die stairway. She added each tread as the group climbed. On the second floor there were ten steps to the next stairway. The concierge went on up, and Nancy continued to count. When they reached the top, she found there were 69 steps in the two stairways.
"Maybe—just maybe—" Nancy told herself.
Would there be ten steps to the Aubert apartment? There were. The total was 991
"But now that I have the information, how can I use it?" Nancy thought. "The number may have been a signal between Louis and Claude or between Claude and some pals of his to meet here in connection with his forgeries. But where does it fit in with Mrs. Blair's dream?"
Meanwhile, the Drews and their companions had pretended to gaze with interest at the apartment door, then returned to the front entrance. Mr. Drew thanked the concierge, hailed a taxi, and the callers went back to their hotel.
"I have a surprise for you girls this evening," said Mr. Drew. "We're invited to a soiree. It's being held by friends of mine especially for you girls to meet Monsieur Charles Leblanc and see what you can learn."
"It sounds wonderful!" Bess remarked.
The lawyer turned to his daughter and smiled. "If you can get as much information from Monsieur Leblanc as you did from the policeman and the concierge, I'll buy you a special gift from Paris!"
Nancy laughed. "I'll do my best to win it!"
After tea and a short rest, Mr. Drew and the girls dressed in evening clothes and taxied to a beautiful mansion near the Bois de Boulogne Park. The large stone building had several steps leading up to a massive carved doorway. The house was brilliantly lighted, and strains of music from inside floated to the ears of the arriving guests.
"How divine!" Bess murmured.
Mr. Drew alighted first. He was just helping Nancy out when a car came up behind their taxi, and without braking, smashed into it. Despite her father's efforts to save Nancy, she was knocked off-balance and thrown full force to the pavement!
CHAPTER VIII
Dancing Sleuths
The impact snapped Bess and George against the rear seat of the taxi, then bounced them onto the floor. The driver was also jolted, although less severely.
A stream of furious French issued from his lips and he scrambled out, shaking his fist. But the car responsible for the crash had quickly backed up, then roared off down the street before anyone could get the license number.
By this time Mr. Drew had gently helped Nancy to her feet and the taximan assisted Bess and George from the car. Although badly shaken, the cousins' first concern was for Nancy.
"Are you hurt?" they asked.
At first she did not answer. The breath had been knocked from her and she had fallen heavily on one shoulder. Nancy admitted it hurt.
"Nothing's broken, though. I'll be all right. How about you girls?"
"Okay," George said gamely, rubbing the bade of her neck. "We're lucky."
Mr. Drew was greatly concerned for his daughter and her friends. "We'd better give up the party and go back to our hotel."
"Oh, no!" Nancy insisted. "I just wish we'd seen the person who crashed into us. It was certainly deliberate!"
Grim-faced, her father agreed. No one had caught even a glimpse of the culprit. Mr. Drew paid their fare and the banged-up taxi rattled off.
The door of the mansion had opened and the doorman, who evidently had heard the crash, came hurrying down the steps. Upon learning that Mr. Drew and the girls had an invitation to the soiree, he said quickly:
"I will take you to bedrooms so that you can refresh yourselves." When he saw Nancy rubbing one shoulder, he told her there was a doctor at the party. "I will send him upstairs."
Nancy protested, but the doorman was insistent. "I know Monsieur Tremaine—your host —would want me to do that."
He escorted the American guests to elegantly furnished bedrooms on the second floor. Heavily carved furniture was set off by velvet flower-patterned rugs and large tapestries which hung on the walls. The one in the girls' room showed a hunting scene with women seated sidesaddle on their horses. The costumes made the girls smile.
The women wore bodiced dresses with long skirts and large hats with plumes.
"I wonder if those women ever really did any riding or whether they just sat on the horses and posed," Bess remarked.
A few moments later the doorman brought in the physician and introduced him. He was very gracious and seemed glad that Nancy and the others spoke French, since he said he spoke little English. He examined her shoulder thoroughly and reported that it was neither broken nor strained.
"But you have a bad bruise. I suggest that an ice pack be put on it at once and that you get some rest."
Then the doctor examined Bess and George. He seemed pleased that their injuries were minor and prescribed ice packs for the bruises.
Mr. Drew summoned a maid, who quickly brought some ice. The girls lost no time in applying it.
Presently Nancy declared, "I feel all right now. Let's go down to the party."
Bess helped her put on fresh make-up and combed her hair. George brushed the dirt off Nancy's dress and used some water to remove a couple of spots.
"Thanks a million, girls," she said. "All set?"
With a smile Mr. Drew gave Nancy his arm and they led the way downstairs. News of the accident had spread among the guests and many had gathered in the reception room to meet the newcomers. Beyond, the girls could see a ballroom gleaming with crystal chandeliers.
Monsieur and Madame Tremaine were very solicitous, but Nancy and the cousins assured them they felt fine. "We are grateful to you for inviting us to the soiree," Nancy added, not revealing she knew why the party was being given.
"I should like to introduce you to some of our other guests," Madame Tremaine said.
After she had presented them to various friends, she escorted the four Americans into the ballroom where Monsieur Leblanc was standing, and introduced them. A tall slender man with iron-gray hair and mustache, he spoke English fluently.
Nancy thought, "He is handsome and has a charming smile."
"Mr. Drew," said the financier, "you are fortunate to have such a lovely daughter." His eyes beamed with admiration as he looked at Nancy. Then, turning, he smiled at Bess and George.
"Ah! We Frenchmen pride ourselves on the good-looking women in this country, Mr. Drew, but if Mesdemoiselles Drew, Fayne, and Marvin are examples of the young women in America, perhaps our women have to take second place, nоn?"
Nancy, Bess, and George as well as Mr. Drew carried on the banter. Then Nancy adroitly brought the conversation around to another subject with the question, "You are alone this evening, Monsieur Leblanc?"
"Unfortunately, yes," he replied. "Madame Leblanc is at our house in the country. She did not feel well enough to attend."
"I'm so sorry," said Nancy. "I would have liked to meet her."
She had the feeling he might have invited the group to do so, but at that moment they were interrupted by an announcement from the leader of a small string orchestra. He introduced a young woman soprano who had just joined the Paris Opera Company. The listeners were spellbound by her clear silvery voice, and after she had finished two solos, the applause was thunderous.
Directly afterward, Monsieur Leblanc murmured "Pardon" to the girls and Mr. Drew, and went off. The young opera singer graciously gave an encore, then said she must leave.
As the orchestra resumed playing, Nancy, Bess, and George began to talk in subdued tones to Mr. Drew about Monsieur Leblanc. "He seemed attentive to the music," Nancy remarked, "but I did notice that once in a while during the singing he had a faraway look in his eyes."
Bess said dramatically, "Maybe he's been hypnotized and is being coerced into selling his securities!"
"At any rate," George declared emphatically, "I have a hunch it won't be easy to get information out of him!"
Mr. Drew nodded. "I've already learned that But I really think you girls may have better luck."
Some of the guests they had already met began introducing the River Heights group to others. Two debonair young men asked Bess and George to dance. Another young man was just making his way toward Nancy when Monsieur Leblanc returned.
Bowing low, he said, "May I have the pleasure?"
Nancy did not want to dance—her shoulder was aching—but she felt she should not miss this opportunity to talk with the financier. As they circled the floor of the ballroom, he began to query her about her trip to France. Instantly she wondered if he suspected something, but if he did, Leblanc gave no evidence of it.
She said, "Whenever Dad's away from home he misses me very much. My mother died when I was a child and he and I have always been close pals. He asked me to join him here. Bess and George often go on trips with me."
"I wish," Leblanc said, "that I might have the honor of showing you and your friends around. But I am very busy and unfortunately have little time to myself."
When the music stopped, the Frenchman escorted Nancy to a chair, then excused himself. A few minutes later George made her way to Nancy's side, saying:
"I have something terribly important to tell you. I told my partner I'd be back in a few minutes. See that man in Arabian dress standing in the doorway?"
When Nancy nodded, George went on, "Well, what do you think of this? After Monsieur Le-blanc left you, I heard him say to the Arab—in the doorway to the palm garden, where I was— 'I told you not to come here, or anywhere else, unless we were alone!"
Nancy sat straight. "Go on!" she urged.
"The Arab replied, 'But 9 is coming up. You must meet me.'"
"This is exciting!" Nancy remarked. "What else happened?"
"Monsieur Leblanc answered, 'Tomorrow—99" Then the men separated."
"Ninety-nine!" Nancy echoed softly, her eyes lighting up. "I'd like to follow the Arab!"
At that moment Mr. Drew walked over and Nancy repeated what George had told her. He too was extremely interested, but said he would not permit Nancy to do any more sleuthing that evening.
"Don't forget you were banged up a while ago.
You must get back to the hotel and go to bed. I'll make a bargain with you, though. Tomorrow we'll follow Monsieur Leblanc."
"All right, Dad. Now, may I make a bargain with you?"
He smiled. "What is it?"
"I'd like to shadow the Arab here just for a few minutes and see what I can find out. Please!"
Mr. Drew agreed to give his daughter twenty minutes. "Be very careful," he warned her. "We don't want anyone becoming suspicious."
Just then a young man, Henri Durant, came up and asked Nancy to dance. She accepted and as the music started he led her onto the floor. The young sleuth glanced about as casually as possible. Suddenly her gaze fixed on the far end of the ballroom which opened onto the indoor garden with palm trees and exotic plants. She spotted the Arab in the garden I
An idea quickly came to Nancy. "I hope it works!" she thought.
As they moved along to a lively tune, Henri complimented Nancy not only on her dancing but also on her ability to speak French so well.
Nancy laughed. "You dance very well yourself." Then, seconds later, she said, "Would you mind going into the garden and sitting out the rest of this dance? My shoulder is aching."
Henri was most solicitous and at once led her to a bench in the heavy foliaged garden. At first she could not see the Arab. Then suddenly she spotted him among the palms. He was staring intently at her!
Did he know who Nancy was? Had he guessed that she was trying to solve the mystery of the 99 steps? Was this man a new enemy of hers?
Turning to her companion, Nancy asked, "Do you know who that Arab is?"
"No, but I'll be glad to find out," Henri answered.
He arose and started toward the man. But instantly the stranger turned and hurried off to the far end of the garden where there was another entrance into the ballroom.
Nancy caught up to Henri, thinking, "That Arab certainly acts suspiciously. I mustn't let him get away without finding out who he is!" Smiling, Nancy said to Henri, "I want to speak to that Arabian man and I thought he might be leaving."
This seemed to satisfy Henri and he accompanied her to the edge of the dance floor. Nancy caught sight of the Arab's turban as he disappeared out the doorway which led to the hall. She and Henri made their way through the crowd of dancers as fast as they could.
By the time they reached the hall, however, the Arab was going out the front door. Apparently he had not bothered to say good night to the Tremaines. Hurrying to the doorman, Nancy asked him who the stranger was.
"I do not know the gentleman," he replied. "He had a proper invitation, so of course I admitted him."
"I must speak to Monsieur!" said Nancy, and the servant opened the door.
She ran outside and from the top of the long flight of steps gazed up and down. The Arab was striding quickly toward a small, dark car parked up the street. There was a driver at the wheel and the motor was running.
"Come on, Henri!" Nancy urged.
CHAPTER IX
Startling Headlines
Together, Nancy and Henri dashed down the steps of the Tremaine mansion. By this time the mysterious Arab had jumped into the automobile. The driver pulled away and the car shot forward.
Suddenly, in the glare of two street lamps in front of the Tremaine home, the Arab took off his turban. With it came a wig and fake whiskers.
"Oh!" Nancy gasped.
The man was Louis Aubert!
"Is something the matter?" Henri asked.
"That man was in disguise. I have an idea he had no right to be at the party. We should tell the Tremaines."
"Do you think he is a thief?" Henri looked perplexed. "Is that why you wished to stop him?"
Nancy hesitated, then answered truthfully, "I'm not sure. But I do have reason to suspect that the man is dishonest."
Henri accepted her reply as if sensing Nancy did not wish to divulge anything else. The couple reentered the house.
Monsieur and Madame Tremaine were at the back of the hall saying good night to several guests. Nancy waited until they had departed, then asked her host who the Arab was. He and his wife exchanged glances, then Monsieur Tremaine responded:
"We did not catch his name. He suddenly appeared and told us he was a friend of Monsieur Leblanc's. Do you wish me to ask him?"
"He has already left," Nancy told them. "He seemed to be in a great hurry."
The Tremaines frowned. Obviously the man had displayed very bad manners! Nancy was saved from explaining the reason for her query because Bess, George, and Mr. Drew joined them. The lawyer said he thought they should leave now.
Henri smiled at Nancy and said good night. Monsieur Leblanc then came up to the group. His manner seemed perfectly natural as he expressed the hope of seeing them all again some time in the near future.
Nancy's brain was in a whirl. She wondered if the financier might be staying in town and planning to meet Louis Aubert early in the morning. Smiling, Nancy asked Leblanc, "Will you go way out to the country tonight?"
"Yes, indeed. I love it there. I sleep much better."
George had caught on to Nancy's line of questioning. She spoke up. "Do you commute to your office every day, Monsieur Leblanc?"
"Yes. I will be at my desk by nine o'clock tomorrow morning, as usual," he replied.
Nancy had come to a conclusion. He would meet Louis Aubert either in Paris during the daytime or out in the country the next evening. "I can't wait to follow him," she thought.
The girls went for their wraps, and after thanking the Tremaines for a delightful evening, left with Mr. Drew. Nancy, although bursting with her news, decided not to tell it until they were alone at the hotel. Once there, she asked her father to come to the girls' room.
Nancy told about the Arab being Louis Aubert and added her suspicion that the invitation might have been obtained fraudulently.
"It could even have been forged," she said. "Remember, his brother Claude is a wanted forger. Louis could be one, too."
George in turn repeated the conversation she had overheard between Louis and Leblanc
"These are excellent clues!" the lawyer exclaimed. "They may tie in with something I heard this evening from Monsieur Tremaine. He is one of the people who is greatly alarmed about Monsieur Leblanc's irresponsibility in business affairs."
Nancy asked eagerly, "Can you tell us why?"
"Oh, yes. Today Leblanc received a very large sum of money—thousands of dollars in francs—for the sale of certain securities. He had insisted upon having it in cash. I assume that he had the sum with him tonight."
Bess's eyes grew wide with excitement. "You mean that perhaps the poor man is being blackmailed by Louis Aubert?"
The lawyer smiled wryly. "I'm not making any definite statement yet, but what we've heard and seen tonight seems to add up to some kind of secret dealing."
He and the girls continued to discuss every angle of the mystery for nearly an hour. In the end, all agreed that the whole thing remained very puzzling.
"I still can't fit Mrs. Blair's strange dream into the picture," Nancy remarked, "yet I'm sure there's a connection."
One by one the foursome began to yawn. Mr. Drew stood up and said he was going to bed. "I'll see you all at breakfast," he added, then kissed each girl good night.
As Nancy undressed she looked woefully at her bruised shoulder. There was a large black-and-blue area. Bess asked if she wanted more ice, but Nancy shook her head.
"The doctor said I was all right and I think a good night's sleep will help a lot."
In the morning her shoulder did feel better, although it was very sensitive to the touch. Nancy smiled. "Just a little souvenir of Paris."
When the girls joined Mr. Drew in the hotel dining room, they found him reading the morning paper. As he laid it down, a headline caught Nancy's eye and she gasped.
"Monsieur Leblanc robbed on the way home I" she repeated. "And of thousands of dollars! It must have been the money he received from the securities!"
Her father nodded. "I'm afraid so."
"Have you read the whole article?" George asked Mr. Drew.
"Yes. Leblanc's car was waylaid by two men on a lonely stretch of road not far from his home. The bandits did not harm Leblanc or his chauffeur, but they did take every penny which both carried."
"How dreadful!" Bess exclaimed. "Have the thieves been caught yet?"
Mr. Drew said No, and there was probably little chance the police could do so. After the holdup, there had been rain and any footprints had been washed away.
"Mr. Drew," Bess asked, "could one of the holdup men have been Louis Aubert?"
"I confess I'm baffled," Nancy's father replied. "If that make-believe Arab is blackmailing Leblanc and was going to meet him today, why would he rob him last night? On the other hand, he may have feared Leblanc would change his mind so he decided to get the money right away."
Nancy spoke up. "One thing we haven't followed up about Louis is his being a scientist. My hunch is he's a chemist."
Bess sighed. "It's going to be hard to find out about his work if nobody knows or will tell where Aubert lives. I'll bet if Monsieur Leblanc has the address he isn't going to reveal it."
The others agreed and felt that pursuing this lead would have to wait. Nancy said, "I'd like to find out if Monsieur Leblanc plans to stay home because of the robbery."
"Why don't you call up and find out?" Bess suggested. "You can act terribly upset and sympathetic over what happened."
"I'll do that," Nancy said. "I'll phone his office."
Shortly after nine, Nancy put in the call. She learned from the operator that Monsieur Leblanc was there, and appeared to show no ill effects of the incident. "He is busy in a conference," the girl told her. "Would you like to leave a message?"
"No, thank you. I just wanted to make sure that Monsieur Leblanc is all right." Nancy rang off before the operator might ask who was calling.
When Mr. Drew heard his daughter's report, he decided to get in touch with Monsieur Tremaine and suggest that a private detective be retained to watch Leblanc's office building that day and follow the financier wherever he might go.
Mr. Tremaine readily agreed and asked if the detective should continue his assignment that evening also.
"Thank you, no. The girls and I will take over then."
Nancy was eager to pursue her sleuthing, but she went sightseeing with her friends and had lunch aboard a pleasure boat on the River Seine. Later, while buying some souvenirs, Nancy said, "Look! A musical coffeepot! I'll buy it for Hannah Gruen!"
Late in the afternoon Mr. Drew and the girls picked up a car he had rented earlier. They drove to Monsieur Leblanc's office building and parked nearby.
Immediately a man in street clothes walked up to them. Smiling and tipping his hat to the girls, he inquired, "Monsieur Drew? Monsieur Carson Drew?"
When Mr. Drew nodded, the man presented a card identifying him as the detective assigned to watch Leblanc.
"Monsieur Leblanc has not come out all day," the detective reported. "Do you want me to stay longer?"
"No, that won't be necessary," Mr. Drew replied. "We'll relieve you now."
Not long after the detective had left, the financier emerged from the building. He walked briskly to an automobile with a chauffeur at the wheel and got in.
A few seconds after Leblanc's car started off, Mr. Drew pulled out and followed him easily, but for only half a block. Then the dense rush-hour traffic closed in, making it impossible for Mr. Drew to keep close to their quarry. In a few moments he had lost sight of the financier's car completely.
Nancy sighed. She was very disappointed. "What if Monsieur Leblanc stops for a rendezvous at the 99 steps!" she thought. "We'll miss a perfect chance to find out where they are."
As the Drews were debating what to do next, Bess spoke up. "I'm absolutely famished. Couldn't we stop somewhere for just a quick bite—and then look for Monsieur Leblanc?"
Nancy started to agree when a sudden idea struck her. "First let's go back to Claude Aubert's old apartment!" she exclaimed.
"Why?" Bess asked.
"Monsieur Leblanc might be heading there right now—to meet Louis!"
CHAPTER X
A Sinister Figure
Mr. Drew threaded his way through the Paris traffic to the Left Bank. When they reached the apartment house, the travelers scanned both sides of the street. Leblanc's car was not in sight.
"I guess he didn't come here after all," the lawyer said.
Before leaving the area, however, Mr. Drew drove around the two adjoining blocks. Still no sign of Monsieur Leblanc.
"He probably went straight home," Bess remarked. "Do we eat now?" she asked hopefully.
Mr. Drew chuckled. "Right away."
Soon he pulled up at a small cheerful restaurant which was willing to serve dinner earlier than was customary in Paris. Bess regarded the menu suspiciously.
"Snails!" she exclaimed. "And fish served whole—I just can't stand to look at the eyes of a fish on a platted"
Mischievously Nancy pointed to another item. "Why not try this, Bess? It's very popular here-raw beef mixed with chopped onions and an uncooked egg."
Bess was horrified. "That's even worse!"
The others laughed and George said, "Why, Bess Marvin, I thought you were a gourmet!"
"Sorry," said Bess. "I'll stick to good old cream of tomato soup, medium-well-done roast beef, potatoes, asparagus, salad, some cheese, and then fruit."
George looked at her cousin disapprovingly. "You'll be bursting out of your clothes within three days if you eat like that!" As a compromise, Bess said she would not have the soup.
The food was delicious, and everyone enjoyed the meal immensely. It was seven o'clock before they left the restaurant.
"How far away does Monsieur Leblanc live?" Nancy asked her father.
"About twenty miles outside of Paris."
On the way, Nancy did not talk much. She was mulling over the various angles to the mystery. There was no doubt now but that both her case and her father's revolved around the 99 steps. Her one clue to them so far had faded out.
"If I could only unearth another clue to the right steps!" Nancy said to herself.
Mr. Drew had come to an area of handsome homes, most of them with extensive grounds. The girls exclaimed over their attractiveness. In a little while they reached an estate which Mr. Drew said belonged to Monsieur Leblanc. It was surrounded by a high stone wall, and the entranceway was almost hidden by a grove of sycamore trees. Nancy's father pulled in among them and stopped.
"I'll hide the car here," he said. "It will be easy to take out and follow Leblanc if necessary."
"What if he doesn't come outside?" Nancy asked. "Shall we go up to the home when it's darker?"
"We'll have no choice."
They waited in the car for over fifteen minutes, then George burst out, "I need exercise! Let's do some walking!"
The others agreed and Nancy added, "We can try a little sleuthing too."
Mr. Drew locked the ignition and took the key. As the four passed through the driveway entrance, they noticed a great stone pillar on either side. Tall iron gates were attached to them, but they stood open.
"Just put here for decoration," Mr. Drew observed. "I imagine they're never closed."
Nancy suggested that the group separate. "Bess and George, suppose you take the right side of the driveway up to the house. See if you can pick up any clues as to what Monsieur Leblanc is frightened about. Dad and I will take the other side and meet you there."
Mr. Drew added, "If you two girls see Leblanc leaving, give our birdcall warning and run as fast as you can back to the car so we can follow him."
Bess and George set off among the trees that grew along the driveway. It was dark under the heavy foliage and they kept stumbling over roots.
"I wish we'd brought flashlights," Bess complained.
"We couldn't have used them, anyhow," George retorted. "Someone would spot us right away."
They went on silently for a few minutes, then Bess whispered fearfully, "I don't like this. There may be watchdogs prowling around."
"Oh, don't be silly!" said George and hurried ahead.
Suddenly Bess let out a scream. George dashed back. "What is it?"
Bess, ashen-faced, stammered out, "There! Hanging from that tree! A–a body!"
George turned a little squeamish herself, but decided to investigate. She went over, felt the object, and then laughed softly.
"It's only a stuffed dummy," she declared.
"Why is it hanging there?" asked Bess, still trembling. "It must be some kind of a sinister warning. I'm not going another step. Let's go back to the car."
"And run out on Nancy? Nothing doing," George replied firmly. "Do you know what I think this figure might be? A punching bag!"
"You mean, like football players use in practice?" Bess asked.
George nodded.
Finally Bess summoned up enough courage to go on, and presently the cousins found themselves at the head of the driveway. On the far side stood a large and imposing chateau. The girls would have to cross in the open to reach it. They discussed whether or not it was wise to do this.
The front of the mansion was well lighted. Several windows stood open, but not a sound came from inside.
"I wonder if Monsieur Leblanc is at home," George murmured.
Before she and Bess could make up their minds what to do, the front door opened. A tall, slender woman, holding a mastiff on a leash, walked down the short flight of steps. Hastily the cousins ducked back among the trees as the woman turned in their direction. Had she heard Bess's scream and was coming to investigate?
"I told you they'd have a watchdog!" Bess groaned. "We'd better go before she lets that beast loose!"
George did not argue, and the two girls began to retrace their steps hurriedly.
Meanwhile, Nancy and her father had made their way cautiously toward the rear of the big house. A little way behind it was a five-car garage, filled with automobiles. The Drews recognized the car in which Leblanc had ridden earlier.
"Dad, this must mean he's at home," Nancy said.
Directly behind the house was a large flower garden. The Drews entered it and walked along a path. Fortunately it was dark enough so that their figures could not be seen in silhouette. They passed what Mr. Drew said were the kitchen and dining room. Just beyond was a brightly lighted room with a large window, partly open, that overlooked the garden.
The room was lined with bookshelves, and comfortably furnished. In the center stood a mahogany desk. The Drews could see no one.
A moment later a telephone on the desk began to ring. The door to the room opened and a tall man strode in.
"Monsieur Leblanc!" Nancy whispered excitedly. "He is home I Now we can follow him if he leavesl"
Her father said, "Remember, he may already have met the man we think is Louis Aubert. Let's wait and see what happens."
Monsieur Leblanc did not lower his voice and through an open window his part in the phone conversation came clearly to the Drews.
"I told you the money was stolen!" the financier said. "If I did not have the money, what was the use of my coming?"
Another long pause. Then Leblanc said firmly, "Now listen. People are beginning to show some suspicion. I will have to be more careful."
There followed a long silence. At last he spoke again. "It is against my better judgment. Let us not do anything more for a few days."
Nancy was hardly breathing. She did not want to lose one word that this enigmatic financier was saying.
Leblanc's voice grew angry. "Why can't you wait? I know you said 9 was coming up, but even the thought of it brought me bad luck. Every cent I had with me was taken."
The next pause was so long that Mr. Drew and Nancy began to wonder if the caller had hung up. But finally they heard Monsieur Leblanc say in a resigned tone, "Very well, then. I will go to the orange garden." He put down the telephone.
CHAPTER XI
Clue From Home
Nancy squeezed her father's arm and whispered, "The orange garden! Do you think it's here?"
Mr. Drew shook his head. "I know every inch of these grounds."
The two became silent again as they wondered where the orange garden might be and if the telephone caller had been Louis Aubert. "I'm sure he was," Nancy thought, and hoped Monsieur Le-blanc would start out immediately.
The Drews watched him intently. Leblanc did not leave the study, however. Instead, he took off his jacket and slipped on a lounging robe. Then he sat down at the desk and wrote for several minutes.
"It doesn't look as if he's going out tonight," Nancy remarked.
At that moment the Frenchman picked up a book from his desk and went to a large leather easy chair. He sank into it and began to read.
"I guess this settles the matter," said Mr. Drew in a low voice. "We had better go."
His daughter lingered. "Maybe Monsieur Le-blanc is going out later."
Mr. Drew smiled. "I think it's more likely he'll stop at this mysterious orange garden on his way to the office. But we can't stay here all night. Remember, you girls leave for the Bardots' chateau tomorrow."
Reluctantly Nancy started back with her father. Just then they heard a series of deep-throated barks. "That's the Leblancs' guard dog," Mr. Drew said.
"Oh!" Nancy cried out. "It may be after Bess and George! We'd better find out!"
The Drews hurried from the garden and raced quickly down the driveway. The barking continued. When Nancy and her father reached the entrance, the gates were locked.
There was no escape!
"This is bad!" Mr. Drew exclaimed. "Nancy, I'll boost you to the top of the wall. The dog won't harm you there."
"But how about you?" Nancy argued. "And where are Bess and Georg