Port Tobacco times, and Charles County advertiser. (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1845-1898, 1872-09-20

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Quoted Fouche, who encountering some
delay in the anteroom, impatiently
pulled open the folding doors and en-
tered unannounced. The Emperor
greeted the intrusion at first with a
frown of displeasure, but instantly re-
cognizing his visitor, resumed his Gus
tomary expression and nodded afably.
Fouche took in the situation at a
single glance.
Besides Napoleon, there were five
persons in the room. Four of these
were officials of the palace chamber
lains and armed valets-who frequent
ly attended when he gave audience, to
prevent attempts at private assassina7.
ton. The fifth was man habited in
a common workman's blouse, standing
apart from the others in respectful
attitude, and holding in his hand a
workman's red fez cap. 1t needed but
a single glance to assure Fouche that
this person was no other than the old
familiar goblin of the Tuileries-Don
Monsen Chavarri. But how metamor-
Iphosed! His hair, formerly gray, was
dyed to a glossy blackness; his face
was despoiled of it's moustache and
pointed beard, and his once smooth
hands were roughened as though by ex-
posure and toll. At his side stood a
large lacquer table, supporting an OBJ
ject which Fouche saw at once to be
an 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 a clock, since
Just above the efolding doors, which were
perfect limitations of those which barred
the principal entrance to 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, noticed the time
indicated by the dials. 1t lacked a
few minutes of noon.
Immediately Hereafter he started
with nervous d ts(lrm as the clock gave
a warning note to strike-then sudden
/ ly there was 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 material
and most costly workmanship f1utter-
ed from the ceilings and flaunted 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 oppo-
site side of the great nave two thrones
were erected, one being approached by
a fight of velvet covered steps, and can
opied with cloth of gold and scarlet
velvet sprinkled with bees.
And now the great bell in the tower
struck one with heavy, reverberating
clang, a swell of triumphal music arose,
and a mimic procession, clad in gorge
GUS robes, moved into view from one
of the hidden aisles. At the head of
this cottage walked an old man, wear
ing triple crown, who, as the bell
tolled for the second time, ascended the
steps of the smaller throne.
1t was the ceremony of the coronation
performed by automatons.
Napoleon looked on with unusual
interest. "Confess Fouche," he said,
''that this is as admirable in it's way as
the police system in Paris. There is
one mistake, however," be 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 tranverse
halls"
"True, sir" said he fictitious arti-
zan, casting side glance at Fouche,
whose name he had just heard pronoun-
ced. '"True, but your Majesty will see
that it is great mistake unavoidable
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 rapidity
Of one accustomed to act in dangerous
crises. There are situations in which
a slight vantage in the hands of dam
gerous man may set at naught the
strength of thousands, and in which
the most extraordinary means must be
employed to secure apparently trifing
results. Fouche adopted the course
which seemed at first most speedily
practicable, since the consideration of
first Importance was in this instance
time.
"Your Majesty" said he, advanc-
ing, and speaking rapidly, ''may l re-
quest your cabinet to a matter of the
utmost importance-a matter of which
will not admit of moments delay 90
The Emperor turned in surprise and
frowned. Chavarri looked up sullen-
ly and silently, and made suspicious
movement toward the 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 arrest
ed near the Cemetry of Montmartre,
charged with capital crime. She has
] already been tried by a special tribunal