The Mystery of the 99 Steps by Carolyn G. Keene Page A

Nancy inquired. “Or where she might have come from?”
    “No,” Monsieur Dupont replied. “But she did say she had married. Her name is Mrs. Louis Aubert.”

CHAPTER XIII
    Schoolmaster Suspect
     
     
     
    WHILE Nancy and the other girls were mulling over the startling bit of information about the governess, the Duponts’ maid came from the house.
    “Pardon, madame. I could not help but overhear your conversation about a man named Aubert,” she said. “Perhaps I can be of some help to the young ladies.”
    Everyone looked eagerly at her, and Mrs. Dupont said, “Yes, Estelle?”
    The maid, who was a little older than the girls, turned to Nancy. “I come from Orléans. I went to school there two years ago, and one of my masters was Monsieur Louis Aubert.”
    This statement excited Nancy still more. Was she on the verge of a really big discovery?
    “Tell me about the man. Was he in his fifties?” she asked.
    “Yes.” Estelle described her schoolmaster in detail. He certainly could be the Louis Aubert for whom Nancy was looking!
    “Can you give me his address?” she asked the maid.
    “I am afraid not, except I am sure his home is in Orléans.”
    “Did you ever meet his wife?” Nancy inquired.
    Estelle shook her head. “I do not even know her name.”
    Nancy thanked the girl, saying, “What you’ve told us might be of great help.” She also expressed her appreciation to the Duponts, who said they were very happy to have met the Americans and wished them luck in their search.
    During the drive home, the entire conversation revolved about Louis Aubert. Bess remarked, “Do you suppose he’s leading a double life—one as a respectable schoolteacher, and the other as a crook?”
    “It certainly looks that way,” George said.
    Nancy suggested, “How about going to Orléans and checking?”
    Everyone thought this a good idea. After an early breakfast the next morning the three girls set off, prepared to stay overnight if necessary.
    Madame Bardot kissed them good-by, saying, “If your sleuthing in Orléans should take much time and you girls plan to stay, please phone me.”
    “I certainly will,” said Nancy, “and let you know how we’re getting along.”
    A short time later the girls’ conversation turned to the city of Orléans and its place in history.
    “From the time I was a child,” said Bess, “Joan of Arc, the Maid of Orléans, was one of my favorite heroines.”
    George added, “The idea of a girl soldier appeals to me. What terrific courage she had! That much of her story I do remember well.”
    Nancy smiled. “I wish we had Joan on this trip with us. She was a pretty good detective, too.”
    “Imagine a young peasant girl saving her country!” Bess remarked.
    “Yes,” said Nancy. “Joan was only seventeen when she requested a horse, armor, and an escort of men from a French commander to help fight the English invaders.”
    “I’ll bet he laughed at her,” George remarked.
    “He did at first,” Nancy continued, “but finally consented. Joan also wanted to help put Charles VII, the Dauphin, on the throne at Reims, which was held by the English. Charles was a weak man and had little money.”
    “And still he wanted to be crowned king?” George asked.
    “Yes. He didn’t want the English to take over France,” Nancy went on. “When Joan arrived at Charles’ castle and offered to help, the Dauphin decided to test the peasant girl’s ability.”
    “How did he do that?” George interrupted.
    “By slipping in among his courtiers and asking one of the nobles to sit on the throne. But he couldn’t fool her—she showed up the hoax at once.”
    Nancy smiled, brushing a strand of hair from her forehead. “Joan glanced at the man on the throne, then walked directly to Charles and curtsied. Everyone was amazed, since she had never seen the Dauphin in person.”
    Bess put in excitedly, “Yes, and Joan claimed she had seen a vision of the Dauphin. That’s how she knew