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Clue in the Ancient Disguise |
Chapter 1 - Alarm Call
Carson Drew asks Nancy to help out his client Pierre Michaud, a handsome French inventor who was cleaning out his recently deceased father's papers when he found a 30-year-old letter from a Louise Duval of River Heights. She hints at a mystery involving a common ancestor, but apparently nothing ever came of it. Ms. Duval soon after writing the letter, so Pierre went to visit her beneficiary, Lisa Thorpe. Pierre and Nancy go out to lunch to discuss the details further. Pierre explains that he is in America to develop a computer memory device, and has a financial backer. He also admits to having been attracted to Lisa, but that her father had disapproved of him. Nancy spots a menacing man following them. The luncheon is interrupted by a phone call informing Pierre that his workshop is on fire.
Chapter 2 - Faces from the Past
Pierre and Nancy race to the scene of the fire, where Pierre rescues his assistant Nyra from the burning building. Once the firemen have finished their work, a warning message is found spray painted on one of the workshop walls. Nancy calls Bess, who happens to be volunteering at a thrift shop with Lisa, and the three girls go out for ice cream. They discuss the letter from Louise Duval, and Lisa believes the mystery surrounds an ancestor named Yvette Duval who emigrated to America 200 years ago. Lisa offers to show the girls a portrait of Yvette which is at her house. Mr. Thorpe returns home while the girls are viewing the painting, learns of Nancy's connection to Pierre and orders her and Bess to leave.
Chapter 3 - Red Juggernaut
Nancy coolly responds to Mr. Thorpe's rude behavior and
departs. Once at home, Hannah tells Nancy that the curator
from a local museum would like her to investigate some recent
break-ins. Nancy then goes to visit Louise Duval's former
maid, Emily Owsler, to see it she remembers anything about
Louise's big secret. Miss Owsler remembers that Louise had
hired an expert to do some research, and suggests that Nancy
contact the lawyer who handled her affairs. Then she goes on
to explain the circumstances of Louise's death - that she
suffered a heart attack after being nearly run down by a big
red car. While Nancy is driving back home after the visit, she
notices a red card following her, which appears to have no
driver. When Nancy gets home, the swarthy man who was
following her earlier accosts her.
Chapter 4 - Car Snoop
The man warns Nancy to stay away from Pierre. Togo starts barking from inside the house and scares the man away. Carson returns home and Nancy discusses the case's developments with him. He informs her that Louise's attorney is deceased and that the firm is now run by an uncooperative and shifty fellow. Nancy makes a visit to the firm and is coldly turned away. When she exits the building, Bess and George are standing by her car, explaining that they have just seen a girl leaning in one of the windows. All three girls pile into Nancy's car and drive to the museum.
Chapter 5- Weird Intruders
They meet with the curator who explains that there have been two break-ins at night, but nothing has been discovered to be missing. The intruders appear to be interested in the storage area, which is in the basement of the museum. Nancy discovers that the Duval family had been some of the earliest endowers of the museum, and that Louise herself has become quite cross with the staff when a portrait that the family had donated was removed from exhibit as it was not considered particularly noteworthy. Nancy asks to have the painting found so she can see it. Back in the galleries, Nancy is introduced to Lee Talbot, a conceited artist. A newspaper reporter, Peter Worden, arrives and hints that Lee may have been guilty of plagiarism in a recent piece.
Chapter 6 - Copycat
Peter and Lee face off, but do not come to blows. Once Lee leaves, Peter explains that he believes he had seen a painting at the museum with the same elements (an Egyptian bust, a grey cat and a moon) that was almost exactly like the one Lee used recently in a prize-winning piece. Nancy returns to visit Miss Owsler again, and is directed to visit a friend of Louise's, Mrs. Ferbury. Nancy then pays a visit to Pierre, and they are departing in her car when he becomes agitated and asks to get out.
Chapter 7 -The Secret Seal
Pierre is infuriated by the fact that Nancy has a sticker on her dashboard with the logo of a company called Data-Link, which is apparently a computer company, and Pierre believes Nancy is an industrial spy. Meanwhile Nyra is smirking in the background. Nancy explains how Bess and George saw someone fiddling with her car earlier and Pierre becomes bewildered instead on angry. Nancy is forgiven and Nyra is furious (Nancy believes Nyra was the girl who planted the sticker on the dashboard). Over lunch, Pierre says his financial backer, Mr. Varney, is coming for a visit. Afterwards, Nancy visits Mrs. Ferbury who remembers that a Professor Crawford from Westmoor University was the person helping Louise with some research. Next, Nancy returns to the museum, to find out that the Duval family's painting is missing from the storage area and is believed to have been stolen by the intruders.
Chapter 8 - A Dangerous Plan
Miss Heron, a museum worker, comes into the curator's office
and says that several pieces have been found in the wrong
places in the storage room, so perhaps the painting is not
gone, just misplaced. Nancy decides to set a trap for the
burglars and plans to hide in the museum that night, bringing
Bess and George with her. That afternoon, Nancy goes in search
of Professor Crawford, to find out that he is deceased. She
finds out that he specialized in the history of France between
the Revolution and the Napoleonic Wars, and is directed to his
daughter for further information. Hannah suggests that Nancy
check with the local Historical Society to see if they have
any documents pertaining to the early Duvals. That evening,
Nancy, Bess and George are let into the museum by the night
watchman and settle in for the vigil. After a while, they hear
clanking, metallic footsteps coming toward them.
Chapter 9 - Spook in Armor
They try to contact the night watchman on their walkie-talkies, but get no response. Then, a figure clad in armor enters the room, wielding a halberd, which he swings at Nancy, knocking her walkie-talkie away. The girls flee to another room, but then Nancy bravely emerges and sees the "knight" looking through some of the stored paintings. She seizes the halberd and knocks him upside the head; he manages to stumble away and lock the girls in the room behind him. Nancy picks the lock with a paper clip and they find the night watchman knocked out in the curator's office. The police are called and the nightwatchman is revived. The next day, Nancy returns to the museum and spots the painting which closely resembles Lee's.
Chapter 10 -Damaging Evidence
Nancy does not wish to tattle on Lee, but takes a photograph
of the painting. The curator shows how the intruder got in,
and they rule out an inside job. Nancy then visits the offices
of the River Heights Record and they show Nancy a photograph
of Lee's prize-winning painting - it is almost a duplica
te, although the original is
smaller. She tells Peter Worden of her discovery, but speaks
off the record, as she does not wish to be used as a source
for the story.
Nancy's next visit is to Mrs. Grale, Professor Crawford's daughter, but she cannot offer any further information. Then Nancy goes to Pierre's workshop, where he is meeting with a computer company representative. Just as Pierre is about to demonstrate his invention, Nancy notices some scratches on the housing and she yells out a warning, just before the computer explodes.
Chapter 11 - English Settlers
Everyone is warned in enough time to avoid injury. Mr. Varney
appears and says he will continue to support Pierre. Nancy
calls Lisa and asks if the family is still in possession of
any of Louise's old things, and Lisa remembers that there 
are trunks
in the attic which might provide some clues. Back at home,
Nancy receives a call from the Historical Society indicating
that Paul and Yvette Duval emigrated to River Heights from
London in 1796. That evening, Nancy visits Lisa, and Lee also
happens to be visiting. Nancy disingenuously asks him how he
chose the subject matter for his painting, and he becomes
enraged that she is accusing him of copying, and threatens to
sue her for libel before leaving.
Chapter 12 - A Ghost in the Attic
The girls discuss the Duval family history as a storm rages outside. Then they hear footsteps coming from above and the girls go to investigate with the aid of Booker, Mr. Thorpe's valet. There is no one in the basement but a casement window is open and there is evidence that someone was up there looking around.
Chapter 13 - Phantom Fashions
Mr. Thorpe comes hope and acts rudely toward Nancy. They
exchange words about Pierre Michaud and Nancy appears to win
this verbal war. The girls then begin to search the attic, for
things either belonging to Louise or Yvette. They discover and
ancient brass-bound trunk full of old gowns which are in the
style of the early 1800s. Curiously, mixed in with the fine
gowns is a simple, crude dress such as a peasant might have
worn. 
The girls
also find a wedding ring with the names "Yvette and Philippe"
and the year "1789" inscribed. They are confused as Mr.
Duval's name was Paul; they begin to suspect that Yvette may
have had two husbands. On the way home, Nancy is followed by
the red phantom-driven car and loses the steering on her car,
forcing her off the road and down a hillside.
Chapter 14 - Legal Threats
Nancy is able to stop the car and call a towing service and get home. The next morning, Nancy hears a TV news report that Lee Talbot reveals as a copyist, giving Nancy credit for the exposé. She calls Peter at the paper and he confirms that he did not use her as a source. Miss Owsler calls and says she would like to show Nancy an old album which might provide some clues. Lee Talbot also calls and charges Nancy with libel - her cool response is that he should contact her counsel, Mr. Drew. Nancy then goes to pick up her car from the repair shop, and is told that someone cut her power steering hose. She then goes to the museum, where she is told that the Duval family painting has been found.
Chapter 15 - An Odd Likeness
The portrait is of an elegant man of the last 18th century with a cleft chin. Nancy also speaks with Miss Heron and discovers that it was the museum assistant who inadvertently leaked Nancy's involvement in Lee's story to the press. Nancy's next visit is to Pierre - while she is there she realizes the resemblance between the Frenchman and the portrait from the museum. Mr. Varney arrives and says some discouraging words and considers withdrawing his support. Nancy then goes to visit Mr. Drew at his office and discusses her pending libel suit.
Chapter 16 - The French Imposter
Over lunch, Mr. Drew says he has has a visit from a French lawyer named Henri Grison, who was asking many questions about Pierre. After a bit of investigating, Mr. Drew was able to determine that there is no such lawyer in France by that name. Nancy visits Miss Owsler and is shown Louise's album, which includes an old letter on parchment from Yvette's sister Charlotte.
Chapter 17 - A Tantalizing Translation
The letter is dated 1797 and wishes Yvette and Paul well in their new home in America, and that the search for Yvette's "precious lost treasure" has been thwarted by the ongoing wartime turmoil in France. Also in the album is a picture of Professor Crawford in front of an old gristmill. Nancy then returns to Mr. Drew's office for her meeting with Lee and his attorney. Lee strongly refutes any allegations of being a copyist and the attorney presses for a quick settlement. Nancy coolly produces the photo of the painting in the museum's basement and the accusers are stunned into silence - it appears that Lee did not intentionally copy the original, but must have seen it earlier and it unconsciously stuck in his memory. Back at home, Nancy receives a call from the curator, indicating that the man in the Duval portrait has been identified as the Comte d'Auvergne.
Chapter 18 - The Old Gowns
The next day, Nancy, Bess and George pay a visit to Mrs. Grale, and she identifies the gristmill in the photo as her father's retreat near Peachtown. She believes his old papers may still be in the desk there. Nancy also receives information about the Comte d'Auvergne - that he was one of the French noblemen who died on the guillotine during the Reign of Terror. The girls then visit Lisa to see the portrait and the gowns again. While Nancy is lifting out the peasant dress, the hem brushes against the edge of the trunk, and a clink is heard, causing Nancy to suspect that something is sewn into the hem.
Chapter 19 - The Eyes Have It!
The hem is carefully opened to reveal a valuable miniature
portrait of a little boy, about 5 years old. He has a cleft in
his chin like Pierre's, and slanty eyes like Yvette's. The
girls share the discovery with Mr. Thorpe, who is distressed
that Pierre might be related to them. Nancy asks him why he is
so prejudiced against the Frenchman, and Mr. Thorpe explains
that M. Grison had told him that the inventor was a con
artist. Once Nancy tells Mr. Thorpe that Grison is an alias,
Lisa's father is willing to reconsider his attitude. 
Nancy calls Pierre and invites him to Peachtown to find the professor's papers. They find a "Report to Louise Duval" which concludes that Pierre's grandfather was the rightful Comte d'Auvergne. Mr. Varney and his stooge suddenly appear and threaten to dispose of Nancy and Pierre now that they have discovered the truth.
Chapter 20 - History Lesson
Pierre is confused as to why his former sponsor now wants him dead, so Nancy explains that he is really M. Vernet, a relative of Yvette's first husband, Philippe Vernet. During the explanation, Pierre attacks the two men, then the swarthy man who has been following Nancy enters, and much to her relief begins helping Pierre against the two culprits. Once Varney and Bousha are overpowered, M. Freneau introduces himself and says he is a French private detective, on the trail of Vernet. He thought Vernet and Pierre were in cahoots together. After the police take the two men away, everyone returns to the Thorpes'.
Nancy sums up the material in Professor Crawford's report: Yvette was originally married to Philippe Vernet, the Comte d'Auvergne, and they had a son, whose portrait is on the miniature. At the time of the French Revolution, Yvette and Philippe left their small son in care of the local notary (M. Michaud), where they felt he would be safer, while they fled to England, where Yvette's sister Charlotte lived. Philippe was recognized during the flight abd taken to the guillotine, but Yvette, dressed as a peasant girl was able to cross the Channel. She later remarried Paul Duval, who was a widower with a son (from whom Lisa is descended). The Michauds moved from their native village during the wars, and Yvette was never able to find and retrieve her son. As it appeared that the Comte left no successor, his cousin claimed the title, and from this branch Mr. Varney was descended. He was enjoying the lifestyle of a French nobleman and did not want to give it up, even though the true descendant of the earlier Comte had been identified.
Lisa and Pierre announce their engagement, and Mr. Thorpe gives his blessing, as Pierre has been granted a lucrative contract with a computer firm, and is now also nobility!
6 grayscale pictures by Paul Frame © 1982 by Simon & Schuster, New York. color image by Ruth Sanderson © 1982 by Simon & Schuster, New York.
© 2001, Lea Shangraw Fox