News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1882-04-06
HIS EMINENCE'S WATCH.
WHITE MAGIC BEFORE THE POPE AND TIE
CARDINALS.

The following is Count Edmond de
GriEsy's account of his performance be-
fore the Pope and cardinals at Rome
On the day prior to the performance, l
was In the shop Of one of the first watch
makers of Rome, when a servant came
m to ask if his Eminence, the Cardinal
de IS watch was repaired.
cit will not be ready till this even
ing" the matchmaker replied, 'tand i
will do myself the honor of carrying it
to your master"
When the servant retired, the trades
man said to me:
'"This is a handsome and capital
watch. The cardinal to whom it be-
longs values it at more than 10000
francs; for, as he ordered it himself of
the celebrated Breguet, he fancies 1t
must be unique of its kind. Strangely
enough, though, only two days ago a
young scamp belonging to this city
offered me a precisely similar watch,
made by the same artist, for 1000
francs"
While the matchmaker was talking
tome had already formed PLAN,
"Do You think, said to him, s'that
this person is still inclined to dispose of
his watch p
Certainly" the matchmaker reptile
"This young prodigal, who has spent
all his fortune, is now reduced to sell his
family jewels; hence the 1000 francs
viii be welcome"
is he to be found p
Nothing easier; in gamLIine-house
he never quits"
Well, then, sir, I am anxious to
purchase the watch; but it must be to-
day. Have the kindness, then, to buy
it for me. After that you will engrave
on it his Eminence's arms, so that the
two watches may be perfectly similar,
and on your discretion the profit you
make by the transaction will depend"
The matchmaker knew me, and prob
ably suspected the use I intended to
make of the watch; but he was assured
of my discretion, as the honor of my
success would depend on it. Hence, he
said:
81 only require quarter of an hour
to go to thu gambling house, and am
confident your offer will be accepted"
The quarter of an hour had not
elapsed ere my negotiator returned with
the ehronometer in his hand.
"Here it is ~ he said, with an air of
triumph. my man gave me the watch
without even counting the money. To
night all will be ready"
In fact, the same evening, the watch
maker brought me the two chronome-
tiers and handed me one. On compar-
ing them it was impossible to detect
the slightest difference.
The next day proceeded to the Pom
tiffs palace, and at SIX o'clock, upon a
signal given by the Holy Father, 1
stepped on the stage. 1 had never ap-
peared before such an imposing assem-
bly,. Plus VII, seated in a large arm
chair on a dais, occupied the fore
ground near him were seated the car
dinals, and behind them were the differ
ent prelstes and dignitaries OF the
Church.
"If any gentleman among you,"
said, "has watch Of rather large size
(this was the peculiarly OF the Cardi-
nal's) and would kindly lend it to me,
should prefer it IS better suited to the
experiment. I need not say will take
the greatest care of it; L only wish to
prove its superiority, if it possess it, or,
on the other hand, to marvelously i'm
prove 1t"
All eyes were naturally turned on the
Cardinal, who, it was known, set great
value on the exaggerated size of his
chronometer. He asserted, with some
show of reason, perhaps, that the works
acted more freely in large case. How
ever, he hesitated to lend me his be-
loved watch, till Plus VII said to him
cardinal, I fancy your watch will
suit exactly oblige me by handing it
to NJ. de Grissy."
His Eminence assented, though not
without numberless precautions and
when / had the chronemeter in my
hands, 1 drew the attention of the Pope
and Cardinals to it, while pretending
to admire the works and handsome
chasing.
A" Well, then, we will select this chro-
nometer," said, putting a stop to the
conversation I had purposely started.
"I have Their, gentlemen, to prove to
you it's solidity and excellent qualities.
Now for the first trial.
And I let the watch fall to the ground.
A cry Of terror rose on all sides, while
the cardinal. pale and trembling, bound
ed from bis seat, saying with ll-sup-
pressed wrath:
"You are playing very sorry Jest,
SIR =
rBns. monseigneur," I said, With the !