Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1871-10-28
A CLOCK WONDER.

dressed man, past tue prime OF lie, rest
less and Disconnected in his movements,
but wearing in spite of his humble garb,
an air of faded respeatability and char
, aeter. He was decayed Spanish noble-
man, Don Mosen Chavarri by name, and
one thing noticeable about him was his
persistency in endeayoring to obtain an
audience Of the Emperor. Foiled in
every attempt, either through accident
or the suspicious OF the attendants, he
invariably received his rebuffs in silence
and withdrew-merely to renew his i'm
portunities. Repulsed to-day, to-mor-
row found him at his post. He haunted
the palace like a spectre. Even the
gamin soon grew familiar with the story
of his hopeless quest and he began to
be treated with that pitiful consideration
which is generally accorded to those of
unsound mind.
AT length, however, there came day,
when, in the Rue de Rivoli, as the EN-
peror was returning from a review, a
pistol-shot rang out from the corner of
the court, and the bullet, whistling
through the line of outriders, buried it.
self in panel Of the imperial carriage.
The police at once charged the crowd,
ann among the number arrested was our
friend the Spaniard.
AT the trial, there being no evidence
against him, he was acquitted, but warn
ed instantly to leave Paris Acting upon
this warning he disappeared, and for a
time all traces Of him we're lost 9.
1t was some two years after this occur-
renee that there began to circulate
among the quid nuncs Of the capital re-
ports of marvellous clock to be seen
in that city, which illustrated, by means
Of automatic figures, an episode in the
life of the Empetor, and was designed for
presentation to that parsonage.
1t was said to be the work Of famous
artisan, who had lately arrived incognito
from foreign parts, accompanied by a
young lady, his daughter, who in sup
posed fit Of eccentricity, had taken lodg
ngs in an humble and obscure quarter
of the Faubourg St. Antoine. The re-
port of the wonderful, almost supernatu-
raj performances of this piece of me-
chanism, and the mystery surrounding
its owner and inventor, gave rise, for a
short time and in certain circles, 10 no
small amount Of gossip.
This gradually died away, and the ar
tisan and his clock were alike forgotten,
when an event occurred which restored
them to more than their former promi-
nence, and entitled them to place in
history.
Fouche, one morning in his Office, re-
ceived letter from his secret agent in
Spain, which contained information of
most startling and important character.
Its perusal threw him into a state of
very unusual excitement, and its result
was an immediate descent of the police
upon the mysterious shop in the Eau
bourg st. Antoine with orders to arrest
the artisan and his daughter, secure the
premises and carefully guard all the
stock, tools, implements and other con-
tents from being touched or displaced
till further opportunity offered for a
thorough investigation.
The party detailed for duty having de-
parted, Fouche reseated himself and
waited, with i'll concealed anxiety, the
arrival of the prisoners.
After considerable lapse of time, the
officer charged with the arrest appeared
empty handed. His report was soon
made.
The lady in the case, the daughter,
had that morning at an early hour left
her house in the Faubourg, accompanied
by heavy black portmanteau. 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
shop an hour before the visit of the po-
lice, locking doors aud barring windows
behind him. He bore in his arms what
was apparently, according to the apple |
woman opposite, great square box, |
covered with oilskin. 1t seemed heavy. |
He sat down awhile on his doorstep, |
when caleche came by, into which he
put himself and box, with the assistance |
of the driver, and was driven off at a
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, nothing remained but
piece of furniture and a great many
scraps of brass and iron.
Fouohe reflected a moment, when his
face suddenly whitened Without a
word he dashed down the stairway TO
the street and sprang into a passing
fiacre. IIalM
ITO the Tuileries" he shouted
Double wages for double speed"
Arrived at the palace he hastily
alighted and demanded to be at once
shown into the presence of the Emperor.
Napoleon was in the boudoir in which
he frequently received private visitors,
and thither the ushers instantly con-
Quoted Fouche, who encountering some
delay in the ante-room, impatiently
pushed open the folding doors and en-
tered unannounced. The Emperor
greeted the intrusion at first with frown
Of displeasure, but instantly recognizing
his visitor, resumed his customary ex-
preston and nodded afably. tH4
Fouche took in the situation at a single
glance. tt .F
Besides Napoleon there were five per-
sons In the room. Four Of these were
officers of the palace-chamberlains and
armed valets-who frequently attended
when he gave audience, to prevent at
tempts at private assassination. The
fifth was a man habited in a common
workman's blouse standing apart from
the others, in respectful attitude, and
holding in his hand workman's red fez
cap. II needed but glance to assure
Fouohe that this person was none other
than the old familiar goblin of the
Tuileries-Don Mosen Chavarri. But
how metamorphosed His hair, formerly
gray was dyed TO glossy blackness;
his face was despoiled of its mustaehe
and pointed beard, and his once SMOOTH
hands were roughened as though BY ex-
posure and toll. At his side stood 3
large lacquer table. supporting an object
upon which Pouches attention was i'm
mediately fixed. This was seen at once
to be an exact model Of the church Of I
Notre Dame, wrought in metal in the
highest style of art, and serving evidently /
as the case for clock, since just above
the folding doors, which we're perfect !
limitations of those which barred the
principal entrance to Notre Dame, were
tyo disls, on one of which the hours and I
minutes were measured, while on the
other long sweeping hand marked the
seconds. Fouche, by natural impulse,
aN- a.. - L.r4 IL 4 I'll. d.