outside at the far end of the patio.
The birds were singing, and the frogs were croaking in the nearby pond. Umbrellas were shading the tables, and to the left was a pathway for strolling, with benches where anyone could sit down and rest on the way back to the Chateau.
To say that the setting was enchanting would be an understatement. It was truly like the Chateaus one reads about in fairy tales.
Zack joined Hildy and Jay as they stood at the entrance to the patio. Cammie, Francois, Jenny, and Peter were already seated at one of the tables, sipping sherry with the Count and Countess.
Hildy paused briefly at the doorway and spoke to Zack in an undertone, making sure no one but Jay could hear her. “What is your impression of the Count and Countess?” she asked him.
“I like the Count,” Zack said in a quiet voice. “I like him very much. I think he’s sincere and trustworthy.”
“What about the Countess?” Jay asked.
“I sense an animosity that the Countess is trying to hide,” Zack replied. “I think we should keep an eye on her.” By this time they were too close to the others for Zack to say any more.
The staff had prepared a delicious lunch of chicken salad and fruit, accompanied by sparkling French wine—just the thing for an outdoor repast in warm weather. A dessert cart with every French pastry imaginable put the finishing touches to the meal. This was followed by more sherry of the finest French vintage.
When they were all through, Count Francois I put down his napkin and smiled. “Now—I suggest that we all go for a stroll and walk off some of this food,” he said, gesturing toward the shaded walkway. “This path goes for a couple of miles, but we don’t have to go that far. I just want to make sure you enjoy everything that our home has to offer.”
As they entered the pathway, the sun was fighting its way through the shade of the tall trees, giving just enough warmth to the sudden cooling of the mid-afternoon air.
Cammie walked ahead hanging on to Francois’ arm. Countess Lilli Claude Dubonnet followed behind, a smug smile on her face.
* * *
Zack couldn’t help noticing. What is she so pleased about? he wondered. Somehow he didn’t feel it was because she approved of Cammie. He wasn’t even sure that she did.
He toyed with the idea of going back to the Chateau to look at some of the records, but was afraid if he excused himself now he might arouse suspicion. He would have to wait for the right moment. And he needed to find out where the records were kept. They might not be here, anyway, he thought. Maybe they’re at Francois’ Chateau in Biarritz.
CHAPTER XIV
The next morning Zack woke up to the sound of voices directly beneath his window. He arose and looked out. Down below he could see two people talking, but couldn’t make out who they were. It was six o’clock, and the sun was just rising. Darkness was fighting the dawn, but the dawn was winning, and the sun soon shone brightly on the two.
Now he could see who they were—the Countess and her son, Francois. They were speaking in French, barely above a whisper. But Zack had ears like a hawk, and understood enough French to make out most of what they were saying.
“Everything is taken care of,” he heard Francois say. “Stop worrying.”
“We must succeed,” the Countess told him. “Nothing must go wrong. We’ve come this far. We must prove—” Her voice faded as she turned her head in the other direction, and Zack lost the words. Then she turned back again and faced Francois. “You’re sure Cammie won’t back out?” Zack heard her ask him.
“Positive!” Francois sneered. “She’s so crazy about me she can’t see straight!”
Zack stiffened at his obvious arrogance. Wait a minute! Did he hear Andre’s name mentioned? What did he have to do with this? Or is it some other Andre they’re talking about?
He strained to hear more, but just then the elder Count joined them, and they stopped
The birds were singing, and the frogs were croaking in the nearby pond. Umbrellas were shading the tables, and to the left was a pathway for strolling, with benches where anyone could sit down and rest on the way back to the Chateau.
To say that the setting was enchanting would be an understatement. It was truly like the Chateaus one reads about in fairy tales.
Zack joined Hildy and Jay as they stood at the entrance to the patio. Cammie, Francois, Jenny, and Peter were already seated at one of the tables, sipping sherry with the Count and Countess.
Hildy paused briefly at the doorway and spoke to Zack in an undertone, making sure no one but Jay could hear her. “What is your impression of the Count and Countess?” she asked him.
“I like the Count,” Zack said in a quiet voice. “I like him very much. I think he’s sincere and trustworthy.”
“What about the Countess?” Jay asked.
“I sense an animosity that the Countess is trying to hide,” Zack replied. “I think we should keep an eye on her.” By this time they were too close to the others for Zack to say any more.
The staff had prepared a delicious lunch of chicken salad and fruit, accompanied by sparkling French wine—just the thing for an outdoor repast in warm weather. A dessert cart with every French pastry imaginable put the finishing touches to the meal. This was followed by more sherry of the finest French vintage.
When they were all through, Count Francois I put down his napkin and smiled. “Now—I suggest that we all go for a stroll and walk off some of this food,” he said, gesturing toward the shaded walkway. “This path goes for a couple of miles, but we don’t have to go that far. I just want to make sure you enjoy everything that our home has to offer.”
As they entered the pathway, the sun was fighting its way through the shade of the tall trees, giving just enough warmth to the sudden cooling of the mid-afternoon air.
Cammie walked ahead hanging on to Francois’ arm. Countess Lilli Claude Dubonnet followed behind, a smug smile on her face.
* * *
Zack couldn’t help noticing. What is she so pleased about? he wondered. Somehow he didn’t feel it was because she approved of Cammie. He wasn’t even sure that she did.
He toyed with the idea of going back to the Chateau to look at some of the records, but was afraid if he excused himself now he might arouse suspicion. He would have to wait for the right moment. And he needed to find out where the records were kept. They might not be here, anyway, he thought. Maybe they’re at Francois’ Chateau in Biarritz.
CHAPTER XIV
The next morning Zack woke up to the sound of voices directly beneath his window. He arose and looked out. Down below he could see two people talking, but couldn’t make out who they were. It was six o’clock, and the sun was just rising. Darkness was fighting the dawn, but the dawn was winning, and the sun soon shone brightly on the two.
Now he could see who they were—the Countess and her son, Francois. They were speaking in French, barely above a whisper. But Zack had ears like a hawk, and understood enough French to make out most of what they were saying.
“Everything is taken care of,” he heard Francois say. “Stop worrying.”
“We must succeed,” the Countess told him. “Nothing must go wrong. We’ve come this far. We must prove—” Her voice faded as she turned her head in the other direction, and Zack lost the words. Then she turned back again and faced Francois. “You’re sure Cammie won’t back out?” Zack heard her ask him.
“Positive!” Francois sneered. “She’s so crazy about me she can’t see straight!”
Zack stiffened at his obvious arrogance. Wait a minute! Did he hear Andre’s name mentioned? What did he have to do with this? Or is it some other Andre they’re talking about?
He strained to hear more, but just then the elder Count joined them, and they stopped
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