greet her tutor when he hurried off. The woman he’d been talking to turned and walked toward the cathedral. Cécile squinted. Why, it was Hannah. Cécile was glad to think she must be feeling better. Cécile knew that her tutor and Hannah were acquainted. Maman had said that Monsieur Lejeune was the one who had told Hannah the Reys needed a housemaid and suggested she apply.
“Come on, Cécé. I just saw something that will make you happy,” Armand said, grabbing her hand. “We have to hurry.”
Cécile doubted that anything could make her happy until she found Tante Tay’s necklace, but she allowed her big brother to pull her along. Now he seemed just as anxious to get to the circus as she did.
They hurried down to the levee. A few people were strolling or riding in carriages, but the crowds and marchands were gone. They easily found the Floating Palace among the dozens of steamboats lined up along the wharves, their smokestacks releasing dark plumes into the air.
Armand pointed to a small wooden booth near the showboat. “That’s where they sell tickets to the circus,” he said. “The Lost and Found is probably there, too. Go see, and when you’re done, come over here.” Armand gestured to one of the nearby warehouses. “I have a surprise for you.”
Cécile hurried to the ticket booth. A sign said the circus was closed on Sundays, and she didn’t see anyone at the window. She stood on tiptoe and leaned over the ticket counter. Maybe she could at least see if there was a Lost and Found box inside.
“May I help you?” a voice roared.
Cécile was so startled, she almost fell backward. Behind the counter was the shortest man she’d ever seen. He reminded her of stories in Harper’s Monthly magazine about a tiny circus man named General Tom Thumb.
“I said, may I help you?” he boomed again. Cécile wondered how on earth such a big voice could be inside this little man. He held up his short-fingered hand. “Howdy. What can I do for you?”
Cécile reached across the counter and shook his hand. “Bonjour, monsieur. I lost a necklace. I thought maybe someone had turned it in. It was—”
“Stop,” the man said, holding his hand up to his forehead. “Let me guess. Was it a beautiful pearl necklace?”
Cécile shook her head. “No, it was a cameo necklace on black lace.”
The little man shrugged. “I’m better at guessing weights.” He tilted his head. “Hmm, seventy-two pounds?”
Cécile had no idea how much she weighed, but she was beginning to feel that this conversation wasn’t very helpful. Ignoring his guess, she asked, “Does the circus have a Lost and Found?”
The little man cackled. “Sure we do. You lose it, we find it—and then we keep it.”
Cécile decided she was wasting time talking to him. “Thank you,” she said, walking away.
“Sorry,” he called after her. “Only joking with you. We have a Lost and Found, but no one turned in your necklace. Hope you find it.”
Cécile thanked him again and scanned the wharf, looking for the spot where she had fallen. Yes, there it was—not far from the showboat’s gangplank, off to the right where the marchands had stood. Cécile walked toward the spot, slowing her pace as she neared it. She surveyed the wharf with each step, but she didn’t see the necklace. She didn’t even see crumbs from the fallen orange buns. Birds or rats had probably cleaned them up.
Thunder rumbled in the distance. Cécile heard Armand calling her. She looked up to see an astonishing sight. Across the wharf, a young man was leading an elephant out of a warehouse—and Armand was walking beside them!
“Come here, Cécile,” he shouted. “I have a surprise for you.”
Cécile hurried to her brother, staring in amazement at the elephant.
Armand’s face was lit up with satisfaction. “Pierre here is going to let you ride the elephant!”
The huge animal stopped walking. Cécile was almost close enough to touch its side. The elephant was so much bigger than she had ever imagined. She felt like a small insect standing beside it.
“Ride the elephant?” Cécile’s stomach lurched. She didn’t want to ride an elephant. She only wanted to find her necklace!
“I saw a handbill advertising elephant rides,” Armand explained. “Pierre says they don’t give rides on Sundays—but for a generous tip, he’ll make an exception for you.” Armand winked.
Pierre said, “You can touch her if you want.”
Cécile didn’t want to touch her. The elephant wouldn’t bring her aunt’s necklace back.
“Her name is Bella,” Pierre said. “She’s very gentle. Go ahead.”
Cécile remembered Grand-père telling her once that circus people considered it good luck to rub the neck of a giraffe. An elephant was even bigger. Maybe it would bring her luck, and she’d find the necklace.
Cécile reached out and touched the elephant’s rough skin. “She has hair,” Cécile said, surprised. She let her fingers glide along the ruffled, tough skin. Bella had folds near her knees, as if her skin were a bolt of cloth. The elephant moved her trunk slowly from side to side. Her tail swatted the air occasionally.
“Ready to ride?” Pierre asked, holding up a rope attached to Bella’s harness.
Cécile shook her head. She needed to find the necklace.
“Come on, Cécé,” Armand said. “This is the chance of a lifetime.”
Cécile could see that her brother was proud to have gotten her this opportunity. She backed up a few steps. Did she dare ride an elephant? Maman would be horrified, but maybe Papa and Grand-père would think Cécile brave. Armand always said that he thought she was very brave.
Her heart pounded. She had to admit, this would be quite a story to tell Monette and Marie-Grace. She’d bet even the Metoyer sisters had never ridden an elephant.
Cécile said, “Oui, I will get on, but only for a moment.” Then, she promised herself, she would get back to searching for the necklace as soon as she got off.
Pierre picked up a bale of hay and set it next to Bella. The elephant got down on her knees. Armand held Cécile’s hand as she put one foot on the bale. Her stomach did a somersault. Could she actually do this?
“Swing your leg over her back. I’ll help you up,” Pierre said. Cécile got on and grabbed the harness in front of her.
Pierre tapped Bella’s side two times, and slowly the elephant rose. Her trunk swayed back and forth, along with her massive body. Cécile felt as if she were on top of the world. She had never been so high in the air. Maybe this was how the circus performers felt! The elephant’s step jarred her body up and down, and her heartbeat raced. She wanted to scream in fear and cry out with joy. A chilly wind brought a spatter of raindrops, but Cécile didn’t even notice.
Armand shouted, “You’re doing it, Cécé! You’re riding an elephant all by yourself.”
Cécile grinned
