"Oh, yes," he replied. "But after their death she was trained by other artists as well."

The clown smiled slightly, then said that he considered Lolita the finest aerialist in the world.

"But her foster father makes her work too hard," he said angrily. "Kroon doesn't care about anything but money."

"He does seem rather dictatorial," Nancy remarked.

The clown looked at her. "That's putting it mildly. Kroon is cruel, and besides, I don't trust him."

Nancy wondered why Pietro distrusted the ringmaster, but the young man did not explain further. He changed the subject and said:

"About the horse charm. The one Lolita wears was given to her by her mother when she was only five years old. That was thirteen years ago. I suppose it's only coincidence that the charm looks like those on your bracelet," he said.

"I'm not so sure of that," Nancy rejoined.

Quickly she related what she knew of the charm bracelet's history; that the shopkeeper, from whom her Aunt Eloise had purchased the jewelry, had hinted at a mystery. The original owner, supposedly a circus performer, had sold the bracelet because she was in trouble.

Pietro stared at Nancy in amazement. "That might well be," he said. "I have suspected for a long time that there's some secret in connection with the Kroons and Lolita. Whenever I suggest this to her, she becomes frightened and asks me not to talk about it."

Suddenly a look of alarm came over the clown's face. "Here comes Kroon now. Run!" he advised. Like a shot he was off, dodging among the various animal cages and trucks until he was out of sight.

Nancy decided not to avoid the ringmaster. She wanted to speak to him and find out about Lolita's condition. But she had no opportunity. Kroon, instead of passing her, turned abruptly into a near-by tent. When she looked inside, he already had disappeared.

Nancy wondered whether or not to question any other circus people about Lolita's real parents. She concluded that it would be better to talk with the girl first. Nancy decided to attend the evening performance. Perhaps after it she would have a chance to interview the aerialist.