The Clue in the Jewel Box by Carolyn Keene

Author:Carolyn Keene [Keene, Carolyn]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Penguin USA, Inc.
Published: 2011-11-02T18:34:46+00:00

CHAPTER XII

A Puzzling Secret

NANCY might have been bitten by the vicious dog if the letter carrier had not acted quickly. As she dodged the animal, the man leaped from the vestibule, seized the hose from her hand and beat off the dog.

Nancy ran toward the cellar door and yanked it open. When the animal followed her, she got behind the door. As he shot down the cellar stairs Nancy slammed the door shut. He was trapped!

In the meantime, the letter carrier examined his torn trouser legs. “Are you the owner?” he asked Nancy.

“He belongs to Mrs. Alexandra’s grandson.”

“The dog must be turned over to the authorities.”

“I agree with you,” Nancy said. “If he’s allowed to stay here, someone may be bitten. I’ll call the dog warden at once.”

Anna, who had witnessed the scene from indoors, offered no objection to the decision.

“The dog has greatly upset Madame Marie. It should go,” Anna said quietly.

Nancy telephoned the city pound, and presently a man arrived to take away the dangerous animal. Rudy resisted capture, but eventually was subdued.

“It is a great relief,” Anna sighed as she prepared a tray of food for her mistress.

A bell in the kitchen jingled. Anna explained, “It is Madame Marie. Come and see her.”

Nancy followed Anna upstairs to a large room. The walls were draped with silk hangings, the floor covered with a beautiful Oriental rug. A canopy of blue velvet with gold fringe hung above a large four-poster bed that had graceful figures of swans carved on the headboard.

“This is a queen’s room indeed,” thought Nancy as she and the woman exchanged greetings.

Mrs. Alexandra, her face pale, tossed restlessly on a lace-covered pillow.

“Anna, why were you so long in coming?”

“I came as quickly as I could, Madame. There was a slight disturbance—”

“The dog?”

“Yes, but he will annoy you no more.”

“I am so glad. His constant barking makes my head ache.” She went on, “Anna, bring my clothing. I cannot remain any longer in bed.”

“But, Madame, you must rest. I will bring your luncheon tray.”

“I have no appetite.”

“I’ll sit beside you while you eat,” Nancy offered, “and you can tell me of life at court.”

She knew that the woman frequently forgot her present troubles while talking of happy past events.

“I will taste the food,” Mrs. Alexandra murmured politely.

Nancy and Anna raised the woman up in bed, bracing her with cushions. The maid then brought water in a silver basin. After washing her mistress’s hands, she dried them on a towel of fine linen. The woman’s initials and a royal crown were embroidered on it.

At first Mrs. Alexandra ate sparingly. But as Nancy encouraged her to talk about life at the palace before the start of the Revolution, she seemed to forget her unhappiness. Soon she had finished the entire meal.

“Madame Marie, would you not enjoy showing Miss Nancy a few of your things?” Anna said, delighted that her mistress’s spirits were lifting. “The orchid silk sachet bags we use to scent your clothing, for instance?”

“I should love to see them—everything!” Nancy said.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.