Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1871-09-30
A CLOCK WONDER,

but wearing, in spite Of his humble garb, an air
OF faded respectability and character. He Was
decayed Spanish nobleman, Don Mensen Cha
Narri by name, and one thing noticeable about
MIN was his persistency in endeavoring to OBJ
tain an audience of the Emperor. Fooled in
every attempt, either through accident or the
suspicious OF the attendants, he invariably re-
eelyed his rebufs In silence and withdrew
merely TO renew his opportunities. Repulsed
to-day, tomorrow found him at his post He
haunted the palace like a spectre. Even the
gamins soon grew familiar with the story of his
hopeless quest, and he began in time 70 be treated
with that sort OF pitiful consideration which IA
usually accorded to those of unsound mind.
~ length, however, there came day, when,
m tne Rue de Rivoli, as the Emperor was return
Ing nom a review, pistol-shot rang ont from
the corner Of the court, and the bullet whistIin9
through the line Of outriders, buried itself in
once charged the crowd, and among the mum
Der arrested was our friend the Spaniard
At the trial, there being no evidence against
MN, ne was acquitted, but warned to instantly
leave Paris. Acting upon the warning he dis
were lost
that there began 10 circulate among the ouid
sHes of the capital reports of marvellous clock
10 be seen in that city, which illustrated, by
means OF automatic figures, an episode in the
life of the Emperor, and was DESIGNED for nra
sentation TO that parsonage.
IL was said TO be the work Of famous artisan
VINO had lately arrived, incognito from forei0n
parts, accompanied by a young lady, his dauSR-
Ter, who in supposed fit OF eccentricity had Ia
Ken lodgings IN an humble and obscure quarter
OF the Eaub0urg ST Antoine. The reports Of
me wonderful, almost supernatural performan-
ees of this piece OF mechanism, and the mystery
surrounding its owner and inventor gave rise
1or short time and in certain circles to no small
amount of gossip.
This gradually died away, and the artisan and
his clock were alike forgotten, when an event
occurred which restored them to more than their
In history.
FOuehe, one morning in his Office. received a
ieiter from his secret agent in Spain, which con-
tanned Information of a most startling ana inn
portant character. Its perusual threw him into
a state of very unusual excitement and its re-
suit was an immediate descent of the police
uponthe mysterious shop in the Faubourg St
Antoine, with orders to arrest the artisan and
his daughter, secure the premises, and carefnIIy
guard an the stock, tools, implements aud other
contents from being touched or displaced till
Iarther opportunity offered for q thorough in
yestigatiOn.
The party detailed for the duty having de-
parted, Fouche reseated himself and waited
prisoners.
After considerable lapse of time the osncer
Eia geu win the arrest appeared
The lady In the case, the daughter, had that
morning at an early hour left her house in the
bore a heavy black portmantea1. The two had
been traced TO the gates OF Montmartre, beyond
which point no clue to their movements could
be obtained.
The old workman himself had left the shon AN
hour before the visit Of the police, locking doors
and barring windows behind him. He bore in
bus arms what was apparently, according to the
aPPlew0man opposite, great square box, Gov
cred with oilskin. 1t seemed heavy. He sat
down awhile on his doorstep, when a caIeche
came by, into which he put himself and box,
with the assistance of the driver, and was driven
on at rapid pace. The caleche was brown.
The driver was In green livery A gendarme
was following him, and another was guarding
the shop IN the Faubourg, where, however moth
ing re mained buta piece of furniture and a great
many scraps of brass and iron.
Fouehe reflected moment, when his face
suddenly whitened. Without a word he dashed
down the stairway to the street and sprsng into
passing facre.
Ito the Tuileries!" he shouted. "Doubls
wages for double speed"
Arrived at the palace he hastily allighted and
demanded 10 be at once shown into the presence
OF the Emperor. Napoleon was in the boudoir
and thither the ushers instantly Conducted
Fouche, who, encounteriDg some delay in the
ante-room, impatiently pushed open the folding
peror greeted the intrusion at first with a frovn
OF dispeasure, but, instantly recognising his
visitor, resumed his customary expression and
nodded affably.
FOuehe took in the situation at single glancs.
Besides Napoleon there were five persons in
the room. -Four Of these were officials of thu
palace-ehamberlsins and armed valets-who
frequently attended when he gave audience to
prevent attempts at private assassination. The
NTH was man hsbited In q common workman's
blouse standing apart from the others in a re-
spectful attitude, and holding in his hand A
workman's red tez cap. II needed but q glance
70 assure Fouche that this person As none other
than the old familiar goblin Of the Tuileries-
Don Monsen Chayarn. But how metamor-
phosed! his hair, formerly gray, was dyed TO a
glossy blacHDeSs; his face was despoiled of it,
moustaehe and pointed beard, and his once
smooth hands were roughened az through nv err
pOsure and toll. At his side stood a large lac
quer table, supporting an object upon which
Pouches attention was Immediately fixed. This
was seen at once tosn exact model Of the church
Of the Notre Dame, wrought in metal, in the
highest style OF the art, and serving evidently as
the case for clock, since Just above the folding
doors, which were perfect limitations OF those
Dame, were two disls, on one of which the hours
and minutes were measured, while on the other
a long sweeping hand described the seconds.
Fouche, by a natural impulse, noticed the time
indicated by the disls. II lacked few minutes
of noon.
lmns 1iately thereafter he started with a
nervous alarm "a the clock gave a warning note
as though about 90 strike-then suddenly there
great doors folded slowly inward, exposing the
whole OF the gorgeous interior to view.
The mimic church was decorated as though
for some great fete- Banners and hangings of
the richest material and most costly workman-
ship tiuttered from the ceilings, and Haunted
from the inches in the walls. The aisl,
and the pillars were clustered with gold and
blazing with gems. On the opposite sides 9th,
great nave two thrones were erected, the one
being approached by a ii ght OF velvet-coyered
steps and canopied with cloth of gold and scarlet
velvet sprinkled with golden bees.
And now the great bell in the tower struck
one with heavy, reverberating clsng, there
arose swell of triumphal music, and o mimic
procession, clad in gorgeous robes, moved into
view from one Of the hidden aisles- At the
head OF this cortege walked an old man wearing
triple crown, who, as the bell tOiled for the
second time, assembled the steps OF the smaller
throne.
1t was the ceremony Of the coronation Der
formed by automatons.
Napoleon looked on with unusual interest.
" Confess, Fouche, said no, "that this Is e ADJ
mirable In its way as the police system Of Paris
There Is one mistake, however," he continued
" The great doors Of Notre Dame were not open
on that occasion The throne was built against
them, and the only entrance was through the
True, SIRE" said the ncttiou. artisan. cast
had Just heard pronounced. "True, bot your
majesty win see that Il IL 0 mistake unavoidable
here. Like the rest OF the world, We have bean
obliged TO sacrifice truth In order 70 secure e.
fect.n
The Emperor smiled, and remained sflent
Meanwhile, Fouche was revolving q dilemma
IN his mind with the rapidly Of one accustomed
70 act I'm dangerous crises. There are situations
in which q slight vantage In the hands sf adam
eerous man may set al naught the strength Of