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Dear mouse friends, Welcome to the world of
Geronimo
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The Rodent’s Gazette Editorial Staff
Geronimo Stilton
Thea Stilton
A learned and brainy mouse; editor of The Rodent’s Gazette
Geronimo’s sister and special correspondent at The Rodent’s Gazette
Trap Stilton
Benjamin Stilton
An awful joker; Geronimo's cousin and owner of the store Cheap )unk for Less
A sweet and loving nine-year-old mouse; Geronimo’s favorite nephew
Gerorumo Stilton THE MOUSE HOAX
Scholastic Inc.
No part of this publication may be stored, reproduced, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information and retrieval system, without*written permission from the copyright holder. For information regarding permission, please contact: Atlantyca S.p.A., Via Leopardi 8, 20123 Milan, Italy; e-mail
[email protected], www.atlantyca.com. ISBN 978-0-545-10373-2 Copyright © 2007 by Edizioni Piemme S.p.A., Corso Como 15, 20154 Milan, Italy. International Rights © Atlantyca S.p.A. English translation © 2012 by Atlantyca S.p.A. GERONIMO STILTON names, characters, and related indicia are copyright, trademark, and exclusive license of Atlantyca S.p.A. All rights reserved. The moral right of the author has been asserted. Based on an original idea by Elisabetta Dami. www.geronimostilton.com Published by Scholastic Inc., 557 Broadway, New York. NY 10012. SCHOLASTIC and associated logos are trademarks and/or registered trademarks of Scholastic Inc. Stilton is the name of a famous English cheese. It is a registered trademark of the Stilton Cheese Makers’ Association. For more information, go to www. stiltoncheese. com. Text by Geronimo Stilton Original title II topo falsario Cover by Giuseppe Ferrario Illustrations by Claudio Cernuschi Color by Giuseppe Di Dio Graphics by Michela Battaglin Special thanks to Ann Marie Anderson Translated by Julia Heim Interior design by Becky James Fingerprint on cover and page i © NREY/Shutterstock
12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 Printed in the U.S.A. First printing, November 2012
12 13 14 15 16 17/0
132
A Strange Little Gift It was a
day at the office. The
telephones wouldn’t stop rphjiuf! “Hello?” I answered my
desk phone.
“Mr. Stilton? It’s Mitzy Mouserson. Remember me?” “Yes?” I answered my cell
plnome.
“Stilton, it’s Andrew Whitetail. About that manuscript . . On top of the phone calls, every few minutes someone entered my office and I lost my >Hr W Aim of thought. Oh, excuse me! I haven’t introduced myself. My name is Stilton, and I am the publisher of The Rodent’s Gazette, the most faitlOUSC newspaper on Mouse Island. So, I was in my office when an dl$l?M$IJSC’ package entered the room. A familiar snout poked out from behind it.
“Happy faarfWay, Stilton!” a voice shouted.
2
It was my friend Hercule Poirat, the famouse detective. “Birthday?” I repeated. “But isn’t my birthday!” “Oh, well,” Hercule replied as he placed the package on my desk. “You should take the day off anyway!” “Oh, I can’t,” I told him. “I have a
LOT to do today.” 3
Hercule got
lilUScI
to my desk.
“Yes, I see that,” he said. “You’re always here, working. You should get out more! A change would be good for you. Come with me to my
office.”
My whiskers tlCITibicd at just the thought of the
flea-infested
shack Hercule calls his office. He is a complete
Slob, and his office is a total
disaster area! “I’m sorry, I can’t,” I told him quickly. “I really have to finish this article.” Hercule sighed. “All right, Stilton. I’ll go. But first open the little gift I got you. Aren’t you even a little GUALouA/ about what’s inside?”
4
A Real Stinker
Inside the package was a painting. It was no masterpiece. In fact, it looked like it had been painted by my little cousin
MESSYPAWS, was a real
and he’s just a baby! It
stinker;
In the lower right-hand corner were the painter’s initials: P-M“Do you like it?” Hercule asked me.
“Er, yes, of course!” I replied. I didn’t want to offend him. “But it’s a bit . . . ©c[c[. Where did you get it?” “A while ago, I met a rat who was down on his
luck
Hercule replied.
“He gave it to me in exchange for some
QBG/2B and cheese Isn’t it great?” At that moment, one of the new editors,
Katie Clneeselneart, popped in. “Are you ready for the
KT CXH1 PIT?” she asked.
(nl
“Tonight is the opening,
rctfectnbcr?”
6
The Invitation to the Show 0}i, for the love of cheese! I had completely forgotten about the art show opening of the great painter
MOUfCHMtO “Petunia Pretty Paws called,” Katie told me. “She and Bugsy Wugsy will be there.” Ah, Petunia Pretty Paws! She is the most fascinating \°0den£) I know. I have a
UddSOR?,
tiny crush on her.
“You can bring guests,” Katie reminded me. “I’ll come!” Hercule said eagerly.
7
I sighed. Hercule is a very friend, but whenever he’s around, I end up in a SEft of trouble. “Well, er, actually ... I promised Benjamin I would take him,” I replied. Right at that moment, my dear little nephew
aroeapet) Hi, PgNjaWlN!” I exclaimed. Tpr®
“Hi, Uncle G!” Benjamin said as he gave me a huge hug. “Is Hercule coming with
us to the show? How nice!” Hercule ULliflkcol at me, and we all left together.
8
A Ratastic Villa!
The show was in Master Mousehasso’s house. “This guy sure has a
PdtdStlC villa!”
exclaimed Hercule.
Shhhhh!
I quieted him. “Do you
want them to kick us out?” At that moment, I heard the ^wee&e^ voice behind me. “Hi, G!”
It was Petunia Pretty Raws! Then a little mouse with black braids jumped out at me and threw her arms around my neck — it was Bugsy, Petunia’s
9
Pablo Mousehasso’s villa
niece and Benjamin’s
best friend.
I let the ladies enter first and then I gave the
to the butler.
“Mr. Stilton!” the butler exclaimed. “What an H©1N©S?>. And are these other guests with you?” “Yes, this is my nephew Benjamin,” I replied. “And this, er, is the famouse investigator Hercule Poirat.” Hercule was busy
waving his
magnifying glass in the butler’s face. My snout turned
purple
with
embarrassment, but the butler didn’t a whisker. “Welcome,” he said kindly. “Please CUT** this main stairway. On the
12
second floor you will see the BUF F@ I. Have a good evening!” “Thank you!” I replied, trying to smile through my embarrassment. Hercule disappeared in the crowd.
I offered my arm to
Petunia,
and we
climbed the main stairway that led to the second floor.
The Great Mousehasso The main hall was full of people admiring the paintings that h U D§ on the walls. In one comer, I saw a rodent surrounded by BHQB0g!0E!iai9B0a and admirers. It was Master Mousehasso! “I want to see if I can get a picture, tooTBugsy said as she showed off her mmcamera with pride. “Come with me, Benjamin!” “Can I, Uncle G?” Benjamin squeaked. “Of course, Benjamin!” I said. I was finally alone with Petunia when Hercule suddenly appeared, speaking
15
loudly as he was snackiruj. “But . . . chomp . . . that guy . . . chomp, chomp . . . I . . . chomp . . “Hercule!” I scolded. “You shouldn’t talk with your mouth
fULLr
He just laughed. “While you fill your head with tlP t, I fill my stomach with f
!”
My snout turned PUI*p(0 with embarrassment. He ignored me. “Listen up, Stilton,” Hercule whispered. “This Mousehasso guy — I’ve seen him before, but
I can’t renenber where.
I just might go over there and ask him.” And he disappeared again!
17
Petunia turned to m6 and smiled
Sweetly. “Why don’t we go and get something to eat?” she asked. So we approached the SUPBP-CPOWdBd refreshment table. I had just managed to get my paws on two Gorgonzola taurfs when a rodent asked: “Do you like my work?
Tarts and Countesses The rodent stuck out his BW. “It’s very nice to M&efcyou,” he said. “I am Master “M-my name is Stilton, I stuttered. I could hardly believe I was speaking with a master artist! “I am —” “Oh, I know who you are!” he replied with a smile. “And I want to offer you an exclusive
interview
for your
newspaper. What do you say?” “That sounds
FaBUMollSEr i
exclaimed. “When can we do it?”
19
“Right away!” he said. “Just follow me into my studio. Naturally, your LOVEL/ girlfriend can come with us!” My snout turned
purple
with
embarrassment. I haven’t yet had the __
courage to tell Petunia how I feel about her! “Can our niece and nephew
come, too?” Petunia asked. “It would be a
pleasure to meet
them,” Mousehasso replied.
Meanwhile, Hercule was approaching. I didn’t want him to see us: Who knew what kind of mess Hercule would get me
I turned red ...
into! But right as he was arriving, Mousehasso
r»4/r»t>llcf
something
and ran off.
...then green ...
“Taste this!” Hercule said as he shoved a tart into my mouth. The Tc^rT went down the wrong pipe, and I turned l?0D, then
green,
then as
21
.. then as white as mozzarella!
camuQ as mozzarella. Hercule IffJ^me really hard on the back until I spit out the tart. It flew across the room, hitting
Countess Snobella
in
the back of the neck. “How rude!” she shrieked, smacking me with a
CANE.
“Oh, for the love
22
Hercule shouted. “Stilton, when will you learn to leave little
oli ladies alone?”
When she heard Hercule call her an old lady, Countess Snobella began
CHASING after him instead. I sighed with
relief and led Petunia out of the
way.
23
An Exclusive Interview The butler approached me. “Mr. Stilton, the MMTFR is waiting for you,” he said. I called Benjamin and Bugsy Wugsy, and together we all went into the studio. “Shall we begin?” the
CU*tl$t asked.
“I only have a few minutes.” “Yes, of course,” I replied. “So, how did you become such a success?” “It wasn’t easy,” Master Mousehasso said. “In the beginning, I never had much money or enough to eat. Sometimes I had to give away my paintings in exchange
24
for a bit of BBBQ0 and
g©w strongef That
Vi
fi!
sentence
sounded very familiar. Mousehasso continued. “Because I remember my humble beginnings, I am organizing a charity auction of a few of my works the day after tomorrow. The proceeds will help yOUO§ artists. I hope you can make it.” “Oh, yes,” I rei “It would be a gr
Master Mousehasso rang a bell, and the butler
26
appeared with two eNORM°^se packages. Mousehasso gave one to Petunia and one to me. “Don’t open them right away,” he instructed us. “It’s a §Mppr°l§e!” “I don’t know how to thank you,” I said breathlessly. “Oh, it’s nothing!” he replied. “I look forward to seeing you at the
What a scoop! I couldn’t wait to get back to my office to write my article.
Why did Master Mousehasso’s sentence seem familiar to Geronimo?
The Master’s Gift
The next day, copies of The Rodent’s Gazette flew off the stands. Bugsy’s
I3t9fiI9fil2
came out so well that I
published one on the front page. As I was enjoying my success, the phone T&M'QIt was Petunia Pretty Paws. “Hi, G,” she said sweetly. “There’s a beautiful horse
in my
painting. What’s yours like?”
for the love of cheese!
I hadn’t
opened my gift from the master yet! “I’ll look right now,” I told Petunia.
28
©
o
* 'Vould have preferred to Qlnt it m your office, but I wted to surprise you! Pablo Mousehasso
Then I opened the package,
for the love of cheese! It was me! “So, G?” Petunia asked. “What is it?” My snout turned
purple
with
embarrassment. It’s a good thing Petunia couldn’t see me.
30
“Er, well . . . it’s a portrait of me,” I replied. Petunia asked. “Pll come right over so I can see it. You don’t mind, do you?” Mind?
I was on cloud nine;
I hung the
facing my
desk, right next to the painting Hercule had given me. Now this is a real masterpiece, I thought. It’s nothing like that
Stinker.' Then the door to my office suddenly
BURST open. 31
Bread and Cheese
it was Hercule Poirat! “Stilton!” he exclaimed. “I remembered where I’ve seen Mousehasso before! He was the rat who gave me the painting in exchange for some QQG/33 and
Cheese! He was such a TERRIBLE artist I don’t know how he ever got famouse!” “Well, he isn’t TERRIBLE anymore,” I said. “Look what he gave me.” I pointed to the portrait V$nging on the wall. Hercule approached it with his
magnifying
glass.
“You put it right next to the stinker!” he exclaimed. “Didn’t you notice anything about these two paintings?” Hercule was right — how had I
missed it?
What did Hercule Poirat notice about the two paintings?
Are You Okay, G?
“The same mouse couldn’t have painted
both of these,” I squeaked. “It’s quite a mystery,” Hercule agreed. At that moment, Bugsy, Benjamin, and Petunia Pretty Paws came in. “Are you okay, G?” Petunia asked. “I just made an important discovery,” I told her. “ELQQCSB The SIGNATURES are similar. The initials in the corner of the painting Hercule gave me are the same as Pablo Mousehasso’s!” “Hey, / made the
34
DISCOVERY.
Hercule protested. Bugsy picked up a slip of paper from the ground and handed it to me. “This fell,” she said. “Thanks,” I replied. It was the master’s hlOTE to me.
“MOLDY MOZZAAELLA!” I exclaimed in surprise. “Look at this Strange writing on the back of the note!” I held it out for my friends to see.
Y5U HTE CLBAK ltesfje 35
The Anagram
“What does it mean?” Hercule asked. “It’s an ANAGRAM!” Petunia exclaimed. “A telegram?” Hercule replied. “No, an anagram.” I explained, “It’s a game in which the letters of a word are SCT&nnbled and need to be put back in order.” “Let’s figure it out!”
36
Bugsy said. “The first group of letters is
YBl/ . What does that mean?” I thought and thought. “Um, UBY?” I suggested. “YUB?”
“I'VE GOT IT!
Hercule shouted.
“It spells BUY!” “Nice work!” Benjamin and Bugsy % exclaimed in “Now we need
unison
to do the same thing with the other groups of letters to make a sentence.”
Try to solve the anagram. What sentence do you get?
37
The Coded Message
The solution to the anagram:
BUY THE BLACK LETTERS I was PErPLEXEd. “What does ‘buy the black letters’ mean?” “I don’t think this sentence was by the master,” Benjamin pointed out. “The handwriting looks
^iffeTe’rrb.” “So someone else knew about the gift Master Mousehasso gave Uncle G,” observed Bugsy. “And that mouse wrote a
BflHBH
message to let Uncle G
know —”
38
“To buy the black letters!” Benjamin finished with
excitement.
“They must be for sale if Geronimo is supposed to buy them,” Hercule TDUltcrcd. “But who would be selling
BLACK LETTERS?” “I know!” exclaimed Petunia. “Tomorrow
is Mousehasso’s charity auction at his villa.” “Of course!” I agreed. “The master will be selling his
at the
auction. Maybe the black letters will be for sale then!”
39
The Charity Auction
When we arrived at the charity auction at Pablo Mousehasso’s villa the next morning, the butler handed us a catalog of all the paintings that were for sale. Then we walked around to take a look at them. “If you notice anything StvciTMJC, let me know!” Hercule told us. We stopped in front of a painting of a lake surrounded by mountains. “Do you see anything odd in this painting?” Bugsy Wugsy asked Hercule.
40
“Well, now that you mention it, yes I do,” Hercule replied. “Those (50,003(38 remind me of a banana S ID OOt hi 6, and those mountains look a little like banana
cakes; I rolled my eyes . Hercule
42
LOVE!
bananas the way most mice love cheese. “Hey!” Benjamin whispered. “I see something Strctfltje. Look in the bottom right corner!” “But of course!” Hercule exclaimed
loUDiy. I didn’t know what they were talking about. I didn’t see anything but Master Mousehasso’s
SIGNATURE.
But then I
looked more closely.
MIT of CO«f?Sl! What did Benjamin see in the painting?
43
The Black Letters There was a black letter in the white signature! It had to be one of the BLACK
LETTERS. But where were the others? We didn’t have time to look because the auction was about to
start.
“Psst,” Hercule whispered. “Let’s
look in the catalog and find the paintings with BLACK letters. We'LL BUy 8LL
OF ThEM!” Finding the paintings was easy: There were SObB of them! “Soon we’ll know what the author of the
MYSTERIOUS note wanted to say!”
Petunia said. I had a sudden realization. “Who is going to
PflV for all of these paintings?”
Benjamin gave me a pleading look. “Won’t yCU, Uncle?” I could never say no to my SW€€t little nephew! “Of course, Benjamin,” I told him. “After all, there’s a mystery to solve!”
45
Start Your Bidding!
“Do you want some help
bidding,
Stilton?” Hercule asked. “Oh, no!” I said. “It’s no problem,” he replied. “I’ll just offer an amount that’s a little
UiCII
to make sure we get the painting!”
“Abs«lofely nof/” I insisted, twisting my whiskers anxiously. “I’ll go broke!” “Oh, fine.” Hercule pouted. “Do it your way!” The first few y&lNTXN(|{ were not the ones with the black letters. We watched the other rodents bid.
48
IjSgigKp^fu^^^jjThe prices were so high I almost fainted. “Why are they raising their paws. Uncle?” Benjamin asked. “To show the price they are willing to pay,” I replied. “Each raised paw means they are willing to pay fifty dollar more
than the previous rodent.”
Wow!
Benjamin exclaimed. “Those
are some expensive paintings! ” Finally, the painting with the banana cake-shaped mountains came up. The opening price for this y’khdid painting is five hundred dollars,” the auctioneer said. ‘Ladies and gentlemice, start your bidding!”
Five JiUnJreJ dollars! I
was about
to faint from the price, but I raised my paw anyway. “Five hundred 0®LLAPS to the
50
gentlemouse in the back!” A lady rodent in the first row raised her hand. “Five hundred fifty
to
the lady in front!” Several more rodents raised their paws. Suddenly, a waiter came in with a huge tray of banana cream jpastries.
Hercule waved his arms to get the
waiter^
attention: He* really
LOVES
bananas! But every time he raised his arm, the auctioneer raised the price! I tried to stop him, but Hercule continued lifting his arms until, finally, we got the painting for . . .
OWE THOOs^* W-LAHs,
52
Astronomical Prices
We still needed to buy
four more
paintings. And every time a W9rfc6r passed by with a tray of treats, Hercule raised his arm,
increasing
the price!
During bidding for the second painting, there was a tray of banana
ifisuifffiiifis. I was going broke! During bidding for the third painting, Hercule waved for the crispy banana chips.
$EC0ND PA/A/T/^
53
1 was really going broke! * During bidding for the fourth painting, the tray was full of
banana sundaes. I was really, really going broke! During bidding for the fifth painting, I gave up.
Y was completely broke! But I was Ilekppy anyway. After all, the money was for a
cause:
good
Another Anagram
After the auction, we ms to my
FIVE paintings. you JiscoVe**e«£
house to study the “So? Have
anything?” asked Petunia. “Well, the black letters are
L, M, E,
H, P, and E,” Hercule replied. “We knew that just by looking at the catalog!” said Benjamin. “Yes, but we hadn’t figured out that it was another kilogram!” explained Hercule. “You mean another ANAGRAM,” I told Hercule. “What do the letters spell?”
55
“Let’s try rearranging them a few different ways,” Benjamin suggested. “H-E-E-L-M-P?” I suggested. “M-E-E-P-H-L?” Bugsy tried.
56
Help Me!
Hercule nibbled his way through
five
bananas and drank
tWO
banana
smoothies as we worked. “Maybe it’s two words,” Benjamin said. “Otherwise there are a lot of consonants.” “I figured it out!” Hercule shouted. “The letters spell
HELP Mli!”
“‘Help me’?” I asked in astonishment. “Someone must be in
tfoukle!”
“Who could it be?” asked Bugsy. Hercule was so excited that he accidentally spilled his smoothie on one
57
of the paintings. The paint $i as he wiped it off. “Look at this!” exclaimed Petunia. A hidden picture had appeared. “It’s part of a MAP!” Bugsy realized. But it s
incomplete.
“I think I know where the rest of the map is,” said Benjamin. “Hercule, can you wipe off the other paintings?”
The Map
Hercule didn’t need to be asked twice: He happily Spilled the smoothie on all the paintings to reveal the piCCCS of the map. One of the paintings, however, didn’t seem to have a part of the map.
How strange! Hercule inspected every inch of the canvas until he discovered an eight-digit
number in the corner.
59
“What do these numbers mean?” Petunia asked.
“1 don’t knOW, but we’ll figure it out!” Benjamin replied. Meanwhile, Hercule put all the pieces of the map TOGETHER. The map’s shape looked very familiar. I felt as though I had been to the place in the drawing. But was it? Suddenly, Bugsy and ftEf/JAM /!/
60
exclaimed in unison:
“WsVs Qot it!’
“By my banana, I’ve got it, too!’ Hercule cried.
> QS
“Me, too!”
added
Petunia. “You recognize it, don’t you, G?” Suddenly, it came to me.
you recognize the place drawn on the map?
61
The Last Piece of the Puzzle The mystery location on the map was Pablo Mousehasso’s very own villa!
ME £>®N'T flftVE ft MINUTE T® SPftft l!” Hercule exclaimed. We hurried outside to a
TfEE3Q.
When we cirTiVed at the villa, the
butler opened the door. “The master is not at home,” he told us. “He’s at a ceremony receiving the
HODEflT OF THE YEAR. award.” “That’s perfect,” I said. “We aren’t here to see him anyway.” “Let’s hurry!” Benjamin said as he Slipped past the butler. “Hey, wait a minute,” protested the butler. “You can’t just come in here!” “You have to let us in,” Bugsy insisted. “Someone’s in
fpouWer
The butler didn’t know what to say. We just walked by him into the villa. Then we used the
MAP
to find the spot
that was marked with an A.
63
We ended up in a small STORAGE ROOM in the cellar. “Look, there’s a little door down there!” exclaimed Bugsy. We opened the door and found ourselves in front of a
JJJjJ-L-L
made
of bricks, some with markings numbering ✓a
• ( • • i n5] ;
V
them from
one to nine.
Oh, for the love of cheese! We were so close to solving the mystery, but the wall was
blocking US.
“I’ve got it!” Benjamin exclaimed suddenly. He PULLEP the piece of canvas with the eight numbers from his pocket. Then he pUShgd on different bricks. The wall !HQV6(| to reveal a secret passage. A small, skinny rodent appeared before
our eyes. “Finally you’re here!” he said.
How was Benjamin able to open the door to the secret passage?
Salvador Rati
The rodent explained the whole story. “My name is
Salvador Rati,”
he
/* "told us. “I met Pablo Mousehasso many i
years ago, when he was KiCK^I>oUf '
of the New Mouse City
art sckooi. He was a charming mouse, but he didn’t know what to do with a between his paws! I, on the other hand, was talented but very shy. So he made me a proposal: I
66
would create paintings that he would sign and sell, and we would split the profits.” “What a cheater!” Hercule exclaimed. “My
-NTlNCj
did very well,”
Rati continued, “but Mousehasso was the one becoming
He kept
asking for more and more of the money. When I told him that I was tired of the lie, he locked me in his villa and forced me to work for “That’s awful!” Benjamin exclaimed. The rest of us nodded in agreement. “It’s time to expose this
HOAX,”
Hercule announced. “And I have a plan!”
67
Rodent of the Year We arrived just in time at the theater
where the KODEflT OF TIE 'YEAS, awards ceremony was being held. The had already begun.
Hercule disappeared backstage with Rati while the rest of us sat in the last row.
68
“And now, the moment you’ve all been waiting for: the
THE YEAH
UODEftT OP
award!” the emcee
announced. The
h®§be§§
turned over the envelope. “The most important rodent in New Mouse City this year is . . .
Salvador Jtati?!” A'murmur spread through the room. I don’t know how Hercule had done it, but he had managed to change the winner’s name at the last
69
minute!
Pablo Mousehasso stormed onstage, as BCD as a tomato. “Who dares to steal myJF he bellowed. “I do!” Rati announced as he stepped onto the stage as well. Mousehasso gasped.
“How did you manage to BSCapBT’ he asked. “Uh, I mean ... who are you?” “I’m a real yMNTf R, not a con artist like you!” Rati said proudly.
1WS N®T TPCtf
Mousehasso
replied. “I’m a great painter!” “Then prove it,” Rati said calmly. “Right now, in front of everyone. You will paillt my portrait, and I will Jiaitlt yours! ” Mousehasso turned as pale as a slice of mozzarella, but there was no way around it. He had to agree to the challenge!
Rati, on the other paw, seemed very sure of himself as the emcee set up two easels and two canvases on the stage.
71
--- —
1
1
—r 1
M#1llfiir
=T
"" j
/ _i|\r -
Y
With trembling paws, Mousehasso began to paint. The crowd «
softly. This was the result:
74
Then it was Rati’s turn. He picked up a brush and in a flash painted a
Itfdid
portrait of Mousehasso. The crowd broke
out in amause
75
The True Story of Salvador Rati Salvador Rati was given the HOPEH i
0P
TSE HAt award, and Pablo Mousehasso went to jail, where he began taking a painting class. The Rodent’s Gazette published an exclusive story about Salvador Rati, and it was an enormouse success! To
I invited all my friends
to my house for a party. Rati was the guest of honor. It was an lXP-£oT*gGnight!
76
WM Why did Master Mousehasso’s sentence seem famiiiar to Geronimo? Mousehasso said that in the past he had to exchange his paintings for bread and cheese. When Hercule gave Geronimo the bad painting, he told him he'd gotten it for bread and cheese. Hercule must have gotten it from Mousehasso! What did Hercule Poirat notice about the two paintings? The initials of the signatures on the two paintings are identical: PM. and Pablo Mousehasso. Try to solve the anagram. What sentence do you get? The sentence is Buy the black letters. What did Benjamin see in the painting? He saw a black letter in the white signature. Did you recognize the place drawn on the map? It is Pablo Mousehasso's villa!
WHM How was Benjamin able to open the door to the secret passage? Benjamin pushed the numbered bricks in the sequence of the eight numbers on the canvas.
HOW MANY QUESTIONS DID YOU ANSWEH CORRECTLY? ALL 5 CORRECT: You are a SUPER-SQUEAKY INVESTIGATOR!
r*n i n i CTOWcr
aaas?5 LESS THAN 2 CORRECT: You are a GOOD INVESTIGATOR! Keep practicing to get super-squeaky!
Farewell until the next mystery! lewcyrwwW'
Don't miss any of my other fabumouse adventures!
#1 Lost Treasure oi the Emerald Eye
#2 The Curse o( the Cheese Pyramid
#3 Cat and
#8 Attack of the Bandit Cats
Too Food of My Far!
#5 Four Mice Deep ia the Jangle
#6 Paws Off, Cheddarfacel
#7 Red Pizzas for a Blue Count
#9 A Fahumoase Vacation for Geronimo
#10 All Because of a Cup of Coffee
#11 It's Halloween, You 'Fraidy Mousel
#12 Merry Christmas, Geronimo!
#14 The Temple of the Ruby of Fire
#15 The Mona Mousa Code
#lh A CheeseColored Camper
#17 Watch Your Whiskers, Stilton!
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#13 The of the
#18 Shipwreck on the Pirate Islands
#19 My Name Is Stilton, Geronimo Stilton
#23 Valentine's Day Disaster
#20 Surf's Up, Geronimo!
#21 The Wild, Wild West
#24 Field Trip to Niagara Falls
#25 The Search for Sunken Treasure
#22 The Secret
A Christmas Tale
of Cacklefur Castle
#27 The Christmas Toy Factory
liwo^Wtqiv
#32 Valley of the Giant Skeletons
#33 Geronimo and the Gold Medal Mystery
#34 Geronimo Stilton, Secret Agent
#35 A Very Merry Christmas
#36 Geronimo's Valentine
#37 The Race Across America
#38 A Fabumouse School Adventure