The Secret of the Old Clock · Chapter
Looking for the Will explained
Nancy oversleeps and hurries to meet her father, who has obtained a court order to search for Josiah Crowley's will.
What happens
Nancy oversleeps and hurries to meet her father, who has obtained a court order to search for Josiah Crowley's will. They travel to Masonville and, after some difficulty with the bank, access a safety deposit box rented under the name Josiah Harkston. Inside they find Crowley's will, which appears to mention Grace and Allie Horner and Abigail Rowen but not the Tophams. They plan to have the will examined for legality before revealing it.
Themes in this chapter
Mystery and Detection
Nancy and her father use clues and a court order to locate and retrieve Crowley's hidden will from a bank safety deposit box.
Justice and Fairness
The discovery of the will aims to ensure that the rightful heirs—Grace, Allie, and Abigail—receive their inheritance, countering the Tophams' claims.
Characters to notice
- Nancy Drew
Oversleeps, retrieves the Crowley notebook, and accompanies her father to the bank to find the will.
- Carson Drew
Obtains a court order, accompanies Nancy to Masonville, and uses the order to open the safety deposit box.
- Josiah Crowley
Referred to as the eccentric deceased who rented a box under the name Josiah Harkston and left a will.
- Grace Horner
Mentioned in the will as one of the beneficiaries.
- Allie Horner
Mentioned in the will as one of the beneficiaries.
- Abigail Rowen
Mentioned in the will as one of the beneficiaries.
Key passages
““Oh, what a surprise the Tophams are going to get!” she chuckled softly.”
Nancy gleefully anticipates the Tophams' shock when the will is revealed.
Shows Nancy's playful confidence in the outcome.
““You must remember one thing, Nancy,” returned her father calmly. “Crowley was a queer character and did things in a queer way. So the will may be there, and again it may not be.””
Carson Drew cautions Nancy that Crowley's eccentricity means the will might not be found.
Highlights the uncertainty and the methodical approach needed.
““If the will does prove to be legal, won’t it be a blow for the Tophams? I’d give a lot to see how they take it.””
Nancy imagines the Tophams' dismay if the will is valid and suggests a dramatic reading.
Reflects Nancy's desire for justice and a bit of theatricality.