"Of course it wasn't!" said Kit emphatically.
"Did it belong to Martha Washington?" asked Bet suddenly.
"We seem to be doing a lot of guessing today."
"No, it did not belong to Martha Washington. A lot more interesting than that!"
"Lady Betty Merriweather! I'm sure it was hers," exclaimed Kit.
"Wrong again! No, the fan once belonged to a queen, a beautiful, light-hearted queen of France, who came to a tragic end."
"Marie Antoinette!" gasped Bet. "Oh, Daddy, think of it!"
"Yes. When she first came to France as the bride of the Dauphin, Louis XV admired her for her great beauty and showered her with gifts. And we believe this fan was given to her by the king. As soon as I hear from an expert who is working on the case, I will know for sure."
"A queen's fan!" exclaimed Kit. "Doesn't it sound romantic?"
"And she would use it like this!" And Bet took the fan from her father, flourished it back and forth coquettishly with a flippant smile, half hidden by the fan.