Chapter 10 The Mystery of the 99 Steps by Carolyn Keene
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 platter!”
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 house 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! Now we can follow him if he leaves!”
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.