The Clock and the Key

?” he asked presently. “May I assume

sume that.” I smiled

to be precise. In the meanwhile, it seems the Doge had regained the confiden

artist by reason of the mystery of the wonderful casket and the more wonderful gems. And people are saying (though I myself have not seen it) that he hath left a clock that is a greater marvel than the lost casket itself, which only the je

spies day and night, and none might converse with him without their being present. For days

e on him. And because he was so great an artist, not even the Doge dared to deprive Venice of any wonder that he might make, though he had sworn that Giovanni should never again breathe the fresh air of the Piazza. So they

to come to him with all haste, for he had somewhat to say to him, and to show him. The Doge went straightway to his house. For he thought he was to

king him courteously by the hand, led him to

s a prisoner in the piombi. But the third and most hideous of all was the Doge himself, such a miracle of ugliness and horror that to look on it would make a man shudder. But because he wished to hear what Giovanni had to say, the Doge spoke Giovanni f

t inquiring of the goldsmith if he had anything to tell him. And each time that the question was asked the goldsmith laughed boisterously, and said, “Though I did tell thee, thou hast not ears to hear.” This answer he made several times, till at last the Doge

on. He lifted his staff, and furiously smote off the three figures of the clock, and in doing so the clock fell v

he house. And as he fled, the goldsmith called after him very bitterly: “Did I not say thou wert a fool? For, though the casket were lost, did I not make a greater marvel? But thou can

my oath, though I knew the secret place of the casket, yet shouldst thou never know.” But when they reached the house of Giovanni they found both his son and himself lying dead, side by side, and by the look of their faces

walking about the room. Now I sat at the table opposite him, my hands stretched out limply before 81me. I stared at him as the Guest must hav

sper, as if I were saying something

e a clue to the D’Este jewels? I see. Da Sestos was the thief, and when he saw that he was never to feast his eyes on the glori

stretched them out as if I

ated St. Hila

laughing loudly, “are you and I the tw

ette daintily, “I begin to think I have made no mistake in choosing you

about this extraordin

ned face. There was something of the actor about St. Hilary; he loved an appreciative