The Eureka sentinel. [volume] (Eureka, Nev.) 1902-current, 1913-05-17
A G~oldsmith's Trickery.

""HE next extract from our dia-
rist is two years later. De-
cember. 1901, to be precise.
In the meanwhile it seems
the doge had regained the confidence
of the republic.
This day was erected a tablet in
the frari to Giovanni da Sestos, who
died some six weeks since. He was
an Incompatible artist in gold and
precious stones, the greatest that Ven
ice has known, but famous ever be-
yond his just merits as an artist by
reason of the mystery of the wonder
full casket and the more wonderful
gems. And people are saying Though
| myself have not seen it, that he hath
left a clock that is a greater marvel
than the lost casket itself. which only
the jeweler and his son beside the
doge) set eyes on before it was stolen.
And certain ones who have seen this
clock before it was broken) declare
that the clock of our piazza, though
infinitely larger, is but a puerile thing
compared to it..
"'When first imprisoned in his W
house Giovanni utterly d~espaired, for
he was watched by spies day and
night. and none might converse with
him without their being present. For
days he did not move, but sat, moody
and sullen. gazing at nothing with his
terrible, burning eyes.
$50 he lived for many weeks. Then
one day he leaped to his feet and
shouted aloud for his tools. Though
his adored casket had been stolen
from him. he swOre he would make
something more marvellous than that
before death came on him. Two years
the father and son labored at this
clock until it was quite finished.
"'!And when it IA finished Giovan-
nj sent his son to that doge who had
had since imprisoned him, be%seeching
him to come TO him with all haste. for
he had somewhat to say to him and to
show him. The doge went straight
way to his house.
"'Giovanni met him with all cere-
mony and. taking him c~ourteously by
the hand. led him to his workshop,
where stood the wonderful clock.
"'When the doge saw this clock he
was filed with anger, for the three
bronze figures reclining about the face
of the clock were hideous images Of
Giovanni's most bitter foes. Two of
them were IL rival goldsmith and the
taller who had fed him when he was
Il prisoner in the piombi. But the third
and most hideous of all was the doge
himself. such Il miracle of ugliness and
horror that to look Oh 1t would make Il
man shudder. But because he wished
To hear what Giovanni had to say the
doge spoke Giovanni fair and declared
himself delighted with his ingenuity.
For they say though. as | have writ
ten before. neither have | seen the
clock nor have | known any that havel
that at every hour Il door opened. and
some story out of the history of Ven
ice was acted.
And rs each hour went by the
doge became wearied of watching the
antics of the clock as the hours struck.
But Giovanni compelled him to be pa
tient and besought him TO see the an
tics of the figures of all of the twelve
hours. Between each hour the dose
kept mquiring of the goldsmith if he
had anything TO tell him. and each
time that the question was asked the
goldsmith laughed hoisterously and
said. Though ! did tell thee thou hast
not ears to hear" This answer he
made several times. till at last the
doGe. seeing at last that he was being
ridiculed. arose in anger aud cried.
'for the last time. Messer Giovanni.