The Tiffin tribune. (Tiffin, Ohio) 1868-1887, 1871-11-09


shown into the presence Of the EmPe
-R or. Napoleon was in the bOudOir
. which he frequently received privat
visitors. and thither the ushers il
stantly conducted FOuche, who bein
:. delayed in the ante-roOm some tim
. impatiently pushed open the fOldini
doors ond entered unanOunced tn
, Emperor greeted the intrusion {
y first with a frown of displeasure, bu
instantly recognizing his visitor, II
- sumed his customary expression an
l. nodded affably.
- Fouche took in the situation in
single glance.
Besides Napoleon there were tiy
8, persons in the room. Four of thes
were officials of the palace-chambeT
Z lains and armed Wallets, who frequent
! " attended when be gave audience, t
a prevent attempts at private assassi
7, nations. The fifth was a man habite'
. in a common wOTkman's blouse
standing apart from the Others, at
: respectful distance, and holding in hi
hand a red fez cap. 1t needed but :
glance to assure FOuche that his per
son was the old familiar goblin of tht
Tuileries-Don MOnsen Chavarri
But how metamOrphosed! His hair
formerly gray, was now dyed to al
inky blackness; his face was despoil
ed Of its mOustache ndpainsed beard
and his once smooth hands werl
TOughened es though by exposure anC
toll At his side stood large lacquer
table, supporting an object upon which
Pouches attention was Immediately
fixed. This was seen at once to be al
exact model of the church OF NOtrC
Dame, wroughtin metal, in the highest
style of the art, and serving evidently
as the case for aclOck, since Just above
the foIding-dOors, which were perfect
limitations of those which barred the
principal entrance of NOtre Dame
were two dials, 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, noted the time
indicated by the dials. 1t lacked q
few minutes of noon.
Immediately thereafter he started
with a nervous alarm as the clock
gave a warning note as though about
to strike, then suddenly there was Q
clank of complicated machinery, and
the 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 materials
and the most costly workmanship
huttered from the ceilings and Haunt
ed from the inches in the walls. The
aisles were carpeted with tapestry and
velvet, and the pillars were clustered
with gold and blazing gems. On the
opposite side of the nave two thrones
were erected, the one being approach
ed by a flight Of velvet covered steps,
and canOpied with cloth of gold and
scarlet velvet sprinkled with golden
| bees.
| And now the great bell in the tow
er struck one with a heavy, rever-
berating clang; there arose a swell of
| triumphal music, and a mimic pro-
cession, clad in gorgeous robes, NOV
| ed into view from one of the hidden
aisles. At the head of this cOrtege
walked an old man, wearing a triple
crown, who, as the bell tolled for the
second time, ascended the steps of the
smaller throne.
1t was the ceremony of the corona
ton performed by autOmatOns.
Napoleon looked on with unusual
interest. "Confess FOuche," said he,
"that this is as admirable in its way
as the police system of Paris. There
is one mistake, however," he contin-
ued; "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
transverse halls"
''True sirs," said the fictitious arti-
san, casting a side glance at Fouche,
whose name he had just heard pro-
nounced. "True, but your majesty
will see that it is a mistake unsvOida-
BILE here. Like the rest of the world,
we have been obliged to sacrifice
truth in order to secure effect"
The Emperor smiled, and remained
silent.
Meanwhile, Fouche was revolving a
dilemma in his mind with the rapid
ity of one accustomed to act in dam
gerous crises. There are situations
in which slight advantage in the
hands of dangerous man may set at
naught the strength OF thousands, and
in which the most extraordinary
means must be employed TO secure
what are apparently trifiing results.
Fouche adopted the course which
seemed at first most speedily practic-
able, since the consideration of first
Importance was in this instance time.
"Your Majesty" said he, advanc-
ing, and speaking rapidly, "may I re-
quest your immediate attendance in
your cabinet to a matter which will
not admit of moments delay?"
The Emperor turned in surprise and
frowned. Chavarri looked up sullen-
ly and silently, and made a suspicious
movement toward his clock. With
the rapidity of thought, Fouche
changed his plans.
"YOur Majesty" said he, loudly
and more rapidly than before, "the
lady Isidore Chavarri has just been ar
rested near the cemetery of Montma-
tire, charged with a capital crime.
She has already been tried by a spec
ial tribunal and condemned TO death. !
1 come to implore your Majesty to
grant her pardon"
As he spoke he fixed a painful, !
searching gaze upon tho Spaniard.
This time the bolt had struck. The
old mans tawny face was taking
sickly hue and his limbs trembled.
"This is a most unusual proceed !
ing" said the Emperor, in amaze
ment. "WhO is this lady, and what
is the nature Of her crime?n
FORche, bent double with suspense,
still keeping his eye riveted upon the
tawny, changing face, spoke almost
implOrIngly:
"You have trusted me before, sire. |
I beseech you, trust me now. Ask me I
no questions, but write the pardon
quickly"
There was an instant of silence, bro
ken only by the ticking and low, fair |
music Of the clock. The second hand |
was measuring off the sixtieth min |
ute with rapid, steady sweep. Al
most uneonsciously, Fouche drew a |
pistol from his pocket, cooked it un- I
observed, and, with face as that of a 4
corpse, was raising himself to fire
with cry to the Emperor on his lips 4
when Chavarri, whose mind SEEM
ed torn by contending emotions; bent 1
over his mechanism, tOuCSS
ed a spring concealed in the rear on
the tower, and instantly the whole |
complicated machinery of the little |
clock stopped with sudden metallic /
clang. The music ceased, the auta- |
nations paused, standing like statues,
each in his place. the mimic Empe- |
ror stretching out his hand for the |
crown of the CJesars, and the great |
bell in the tower paused midway in |
his swing for the twelfth and final |
stroke.
''ParbIieu 81 muttered FOuche, ,pOck- |
citing the pistol, and wiping the pres
piration from his brow. "Allow me, |
Monsieur" he said, advancing to the /
table, "to inspect this wonderful spec
linen of art"
at is so delicate, Monsieur" said |
Charvarri, hurriedly, still keeping his |
finger on the secret spring and wav-
ing Fouche off with his unengaged /
hand.
"Here is the pardon" said the En-
peror, affixing his signature to the
paper as he spoke. 81 hold you,
Fouche, responsible for results. Well,
what next?r
"Our worthy friends clock is bro
ken, it appears" said Fouche, awk- /
wardIy.
'Broken, sire" said the Spaniard, |
'tand with it the plans OF a lifetime. /
And" he added, casting down his eyes /
and Snaa king in a oT7prfllOus broken i