The States and Union. [volume] (Ashland, Ohio) 1868-1872, 1871-10-18

or displaced till further opportunity
offered for a thorough investiga-
tion.
The party detailed for the duty
having depar, ed, Fouche reseated
himself and waited, with ill-concealed
anxiety, the arrival of the prisoners.
After a considerable lapse of time
the officer charged with the arrest ap-
peared 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, accom-
panied by young lad who bore a
heavy black portmanteau. The two
had been traced to the gates of Mont
martre, beyond which point no clue to
movements could be obtained.
The old workman himself had left
the shop an hour before the visit of
the police, locking doors and barring
windows behind him. He bore in his
arms what was apparently, according
to the apple-woman opposite, a great
square box, covered with oilskin. 1t
seemed heavy. He sat down on his
doorstep, when a caleche came by, in
to which he put himself and the 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 fol-
lowing him, and another was guard
ing the shop in the Faubourg, where,
however, nothing remained but a
piece of furniture and a great many
scraps of brass and iron.
Fouche reflected a moment, when
his face suddenly whitened. Without
a word he dashed down the stairway
to the street and sprang into passing
fiacre.
'Te the Tuilerias 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 En-
peror. Napoleon was in the boudoir
in which he frequently received pri-
vate visitors, and thither the ushers
Instantly conducted Fouche, who, en-
countering some delay in the ante
room impatiently pushed open the
folding doors and entered unannounc-
ed. The Emperor greeted the intru-
sion at first with frown Of displ eas-
ure, but, instantly recognizing his
visitor, resumed his customary ex-
preston and nodded afably.
Fouche took in the situation at a
single glance.
BesiGes Napoleon there were five
persons in the room. Four of these
were officials of the palace chamber
lains and armed Wallets, who frequent
ly attended when he gave audience, to
prevent attempts at private assassina-
ton. The fifth was man habited in
q common workman's blouse, standing
apart from the others, at a respectful
distance; and holding in his hand
red fez cap. 1t needed but glance
to assure Fouche that this person was
the old familiar goblin of the Tuileries
Don Monsen Chavarri. But how
metamorphosed ! His hair, formerly
gray, was now dyed to an inky black
ness his face was despoiled of its
moustache and pointed beard and
his once smooth hands were rougheu-
ed as though by exposure and TOLL
at his side stood large lacquer ia
BILE, supporting an object upon which
Pouches attention was Immediately
fixed. This was seenat once to be an
exact model of the church of Notre
Dame, wrought in metal, in the high
est style of the art, and serving evi-
dently as the case for a clock, since
Just above the folding-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 few minutes of noon.
Immediately thereafter he started
with a nervous alarm as the clock
gave warning note as though about
to strike, then suddenly there was
clank Of complicated machinery, and
the great doors folded slowly inward,
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
futtered from the ceilings and ftaunt-
ed from the inches in the walls. The
aisles were carpeted with tapestry and
velvet, and the pillars were clustered
with gold and blazing with gems
On the opposite side of the great nave
two thrones were erected, the one be-
ing approached by flight of velvet
covered steps. and canopied with
cloth of gold and scarlet velvet sprink-
led with golden bees.
And now the great bell i'll the tow
ar struck one with aIheavy reverber-
atfng clang; there arose swell OF
briumphal music, and a mimic pro-
,ession, clad in gorgeous robes, mov-
I'd into view from one of the hidden
lisles. 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
mailer throne.
1t was the ceremony of the corona
ion performed by automatons.
Napoleon looked ON with unusual
interest. Confess. Fouche,' said he,
that this is as admirable in its way
Is the police system of Paris. There
: one mistake, however,, he contin.
led, The great doors of Notre Dame
we're not open on that occasion. The
hrone was built against them, and the
nly entrance was through the trans
'erse halls
TRUE, sirs, said the fictitious arti-
an, casting side glance at Fouche,
whose name he had just heard pro-
True, but your majesty
uill see that Ii Is a mist AXE nnaynida-