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Updated: May 19, 2025
Ah, Louis Berghem did well to perfect the art of diamond-cutting, which has enabled me to polish and pierce the hardest stones!" Master Zacharius was holding several small watch pieces of cut crystal, and of exquisite workmanship. The wheels, pivots, and case of the watch were of the same material, and he had employed remarkable skill in this very difficult task.
Aubert dared not answer that he was full of hope for the future, and of deep devotion to Gerande. Master Zacharius would have that day called him his son-in-law, and thus refuted the sad prophecy, which still buzzed in his ears, "Gerande will not wed Aubert." By this plan the watchmaker at last succeeded in entirely despoiling himself.
The legend went that, on winter nights, Satan came to lead his diabolical dances on the slope of the deep gorges in which the shadow of these ruins was engulfed. But Master Zacharius was not dismayed by their sinister aspect. He reached the postern. No one forbade him to pass. A spacious and gloomy court presented itself to his eyes; no one forbade him to cross it.
One winter's night the old servant Scholastique served the supper, which, according to old custom, she and the young mechanic shared with their master. Master Zacharius did not eat, though the food carefully prepared for him was offered him in a handsome blue and white dish.
Several long and narrow windows, like loopholes, shivered beneath the bursts of the tempest. Master Zacharius, on reaching the middle of this hall, uttered a cry of joy. On an iron support, fastened to the wall, stood the clock in which now resided his entire life.
At this moment the clock of Saint Pierre struck half-past eleven. Master Zacharius turned quickly towards this ancient clock which still spoke. It seemed to him as if its face was gazing steadily at him; the figures of the hours shone as if they had been engraved in lines of fire, and the hands shot forth electric sparks from their sharp points. The mass ended.
One day Gerande perceived this monster looking at her with a hideous smile. She clung to her father with a frightened motion. "What is the matter, my Gerande?" asked Master Zacharius. "I do not know," replied the young girl. "But thou art changed, my child. Art thou going to fall ill in thy turn? Ah, well," he added, with a sad smile, "then I must take care of thee, and I will do it tenderly."
Gerande went to her accustomed bench, and kneeled with profound and simple reverence. Master Zacharius remained standing upright beside her. The ceremonies continued with the majestic solemnity of that faithful age, but the old man had no faith.
"Here is the key of the clock," replied the horrible man. Master Zacharius seized the long key, which resembled an uncoiled snake, and ran to the clock, which he hastened to wind up with fantastic rapidity. The creaking of the spring jarred upon the nerves. The old watchmaker wound and wound the key, without stopping a moment, and it seemed as if the movement were beyond his control.
So your servant here desires to give you the method of controlling these rebellious watches." "What is it? what is it?" cried Master Zacharius. "You shall know on the day after that on which you have given me your daughter's hand." "My Gerande?" "Herself!" "My daughter's heart is not free," replied Master Zacharius, who seemed neither astonished nor shocked at the strange demand. "Bah!
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