“A king?” Nancy repeated in bewilderment. “Then Mrs. Alexandra-”
Mr. Faber looked a bit dismayed. “You did not know?”
“I had no idea.”
“Madame Alexandra prefers that no special deference be shown her,” Mr. Faber explained. “She does not mind if a few discreet people know who she is, but if her true identity became known to everyone, she would be subjected to the kind of publicity she wishes to avoid.”
“I understand. I’ll do everything I can to help her,” Nancy promised.
A few minutes later she left the shop, still excited by the amazing story Mr. Faber had told her. She went directly to police headquarters.
To her disappointment, no record had been made of Francis Baum’s address because he had got his wallet back immediately after it had been stolen. Chief McGinnis said he would instruct the officer who had seen Baum to be on watch for him.
Throughout the afternoon she searched diligently for the mysterious stranger, making many inquiries. At length, weariness and hunger forced her into a snack shop not far from the river docks.
“Finding Francis Baum isn’t going to be as easy as I thought,” she reflected, biting into a toasted cheese sandwich.
Through a window Nancy absently watched a ferryboat tie up at the dock. Passengers alighted, and others boarded the vessel.
Suddenly her gaze was drawn to a young man who looked familiar. The thief who had snatched Francis Baum’s wallet!
Nancy quickly paid her check and left the shop. As she gazed down the street, the young detective saw the man board the ferry.
“There he goes!” she thought excitedly, then reflected, “Or is he the man who was mistaken for the thief?”
Before Nancy could decide whether or not to follow him, the boat’s whistle warned her that the ferry was about to leave. There was no time to think further-the man would escape if she did not act instantly.
Running as fast as she could, Nancy reached the dock a moment before the gate closed. She hurriedly bought a ticket, then dashed aboard the crowded deck. The ropes were cast off and the vessel edged away.