Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1883-03-21

the seconds. Fouche, by a;natural i'm
pulse, noticed the time indicated by the
dials. It lacked q few minutes of noon.
Immediately thereafter he started
with nervous alarm as the clock gave a
warning note as though about to strike :;
then suddenly there was q clank of com
plicated machinery, and the great doors
folded slowly inward, exposing the
whole gorgeous interior to view. The
mimic church was decorated as though
for some great fete. Banners and hang
ings of the richest material and most
costly workmanship futtered from the
ceilings and Haunted 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 sides Of
the great nave two thrones were erect
ed, the one being approached by u
flight of velvet-covered steps, and cano-
pied with cloth of gold and scarlet and
velvet sprinkled with golden bees.
And now the great bell in the tower
struck once with heavy, reverberating
clang there arose swell of triumph;J
music, and mimic procession, clad III
gorgeous robes. moved into view from
one of the hidden aisles. At the head
of this cortege walked an old man wear
ing triple crown, who, as the bell
tolled for the second time, assembled the
steps of the smaller throne. It was the
coronation performed by automatons.
Napoleon looked on with unusual in
terest. Confess, Fouche," said he,
"that this is as admirable in it's way as
! the police svstem in Paris. There is
one mistakt. however" he continued /;
"the great 'ors of Notre Dame were
not open on at occasion. The throne
was built q INST them, and the ONLY
entrance wa through the transverse
halls"
"True, sire, said the fictitious artisan,
casting a side glance at Fouche. whose
name he had just heard pronounced.
"True, but your Majesty will see that
it is mistake unavoidable here. Like
the rest of the world, we have been
obliged to sacrifice truth in order to Sc
cure effect"
The Emperor smiled and remained
silent. Meanwhile Fouche was revolv-
ing a dilemma in his mind with the "a
pidity of one accustomed to act in a
| dangerous crisis. There are situations
in which slight vantage in the hands
OF dangerous man may set at naught
the strength of thousands, and in which
the most extraordinary means must he
employed to secure what are apparently
tritiing results. Fouche adopted the
course which seemed at first most spec /
ily practicable, since the consideration
OF first Importance was, In this instance,
time.
'Your Majesty said he, advancing
and speaking rapidly, "may I request
your immediate attendance in your cabi-
net for matter of the utmost conse-
quence-a matter which will not permit
of moments delay?"
The Emperor turned in surprise, and
frowned. Chavarri looked up sullenly
and silently, and made a suspicious
movement toward his clock.
"Your Majesty" said he, loudly and
more rapidly than before, "Lady Isa-
dore Chavarri has just been arrested near
the Cemetery of Montmartre, charged
with capital crime. She has already
been tried by q special tribunal and
condemned to death. come to implore
your Majesty to grant her pardon"
AS he spoke he fixed an intent, search
ing gaze upon the Spaniard. This time
the bolt had struck. The old man.
tawny face was taking on q sickly hue,
and his limbs trembled.
"This is a most unusual proceeding, >
said the Emperor, in amazement. "Whc
is this lady, and what is the nature Of
her crime?"
Fouche, bent double with suspense,
still keeping his eye riveted upon the
tawny, changing face, spoke almost i'm
ploringly:
You have trusted me before, sire.
beseech you, trust me now Ask me
no questions, but write the pardon"
There was an instant of silence, broken
only by the ticking and low music oil
the clock. The second hand was meas
uring off the sixtieth minute with rapid,
steady sweep. Almost unconsciously
Fouche drew a pistol from his pocket,
cooked it unobserved, and, with face
as that of a corpse, was raising it to fire,
with cry to the Emperor on his lips,
when Chavarri, whose mind seemed
torn by contending emotions, bent sud.
denly over his mechanism, touched q
spring concealed in the rear of the tower,
and instantly the whole complicated ma.
chinery Of the clock stopped with sud
den metallic clang. The music ceased,
the automatons paused, standing like
statues, each in his place, the mimic
Emperor stretched out his hand for the
crown of the Caesars. and the great bell
in the tower poised midway in its swing
for the twelfth and final stroke.
"Parbleul" muttered Fouche, pocket
ing the pistol, and wiping the perspi
ration from his brow. "Allow me, mon.
sieur," he said, advancing to the table,
"to inspect this wonderful specimen of
art"
cit is so delicate, monsieur" said
Chavarri, hurriedly, still keeping his
finger on the secret spring, and warning
Fouche off with his unengaged hand
"Here is the pardon" said the En-,
peror, afixing his signature to a paper
as he spoke. 81 hold you, Fouche
responsible for results. Well, what
next ?''
"Our worthy friends clock is broken
it appears" said Fouche.
Broken, sire," said the Spaniard
"and with it the plans of a lifetime
And, he added, casting down his eyes
and speaking in querulous, broker