Master Zacharius.
‘Why, I imagine that these watches have
faults, even vices. If these wantons do not preserve a regular conduct, it is
right that they should bear the consequences of their irregularity. It seems to
me that they have need of reforming a little!’
‘What do you call faults?’ asked Master
Zacharius, reddening at the sarcastic tone in which these words were uttered.
‘Have they not a right to be proud of their origin?’
‘Not too proud, not too proud,’ replied the
little old man. ‘They bear a celebrated name, and an illustrious signature is
graven on their cases, it is true, and theirs is the exclusive privilege of
being introduced among the noblest families; but for some time they have got
out of order, and you can do nothing in the matter, Master Zacharius; and the
stupidest apprentice in Geneva could prove it to you!’
‘To me, to me, – Master Zacharius!’ cried
the old man, with a flush of outraged pride.
‘To you, Master Zacharius, – you, who
cannot restore life to your watches!’
‘But it is because I have a fever, and so
have they also!’ replied the old man, as a cold sweat broke out upon him.
‘Very well, they will die with you, since
you cannot impart a little elasticity to their springs.’
‘Die! No, for you yourself have said it! I
cannot die, - I, the first watchmaker in the world; I, who, by means of these
pieces and diverse wheels, have been able to regulate the movement with
absolute precision! Have I not subjected time to exact laws, and can I not
dispose of it like a despot? Before a sublime genius had arranged these
wandering hours regularly, in what vast uncertainty was human destiny plunged?
At what certain moment could the acts of life be connected with each other? But
you, man or devil, whatever you may be, have never considered the magnificence
of my art, which calls every science to its aid! No, no! I, Master Zacharius,
cannot die, for, as I have regulated time, time would end with me! It would
return to the infinite, whence my genius has rescued it, and it would lose
itself irreparably in the abyss of nothingness! No, I can no more die than the
Creator of this universe, that submitted to His laws! I have become His equal,
and I have partaken of His power! If God has created eternity, Master Zacharius
has created time!’
The old watchmaker now resembled the fallen
angel, defiant in the presence of the Creator. The little old man gazed at him,
and even seemed to breathe into him this impious transport.
‘Well said, master,’ he replied. ‘Beelzebub
had less right than you to compare himself with God! Your glory must not
perish! 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! She is not the least beautiful of
watches; but she will end by stopping also -’
‘My daughter, – my Gerande! No!’
‘Well, return to your watches, Master
Zacharius. Adjust and readjust them. Get ready the marriage of your daughter
and your apprentice. Temper your springs with your best steel. Bless Aubert and
the pretty Gerande. But remember, your watches will never go, and Gerande will
not wed Aubert!’
Thereupon the little old man disappeared,
but not so quickly that Master Zacharius could not hear six o’clock strike in
his breast.
4-The Church of Saint Pierre
Meanwhile Master Zacharius became more
feeble in mind and body every day. An unusual excitement, indeed, impelled him
to continue his work more eagerly than ever, nor could his daughter entice him
from it.
His pride was still more aroused after the
crisis to which his strange visitor had hurried him so treacherously, and he
resolved
‘Why, I imagine that these watches have
faults, even vices. If these wantons do not preserve a regular conduct, it is
right that they should bear the consequences of their irregularity. It seems to
me that they have need of reforming a little!’
‘What do you call faults?’ asked Master
Zacharius, reddening at the sarcastic tone in which these words were uttered.
‘Have they not a right to be proud of their origin?’
‘Not too proud, not too proud,’ replied the
little old man. ‘They bear a celebrated name, and an illustrious signature is
graven on their cases, it is true, and theirs is the exclusive privilege of
being introduced among the noblest families; but for some time they have got
out of order, and you can do nothing in the matter, Master Zacharius; and the
stupidest apprentice in Geneva could prove it to you!’
‘To me, to me, – Master Zacharius!’ cried
the old man, with a flush of outraged pride.
‘To you, Master Zacharius, – you, who
cannot restore life to your watches!’
‘But it is because I have a fever, and so
have they also!’ replied the old man, as a cold sweat broke out upon him.
‘Very well, they will die with you, since
you cannot impart a little elasticity to their springs.’
‘Die! No, for you yourself have said it! I
cannot die, - I, the first watchmaker in the world; I, who, by means of these
pieces and diverse wheels, have been able to regulate the movement with
absolute precision! Have I not subjected time to exact laws, and can I not
dispose of it like a despot? Before a sublime genius had arranged these
wandering hours regularly, in what vast uncertainty was human destiny plunged?
At what certain moment could the acts of life be connected with each other? But
you, man or devil, whatever you may be, have never considered the magnificence
of my art, which calls every science to its aid! No, no! I, Master Zacharius,
cannot die, for, as I have regulated time, time would end with me! It would
return to the infinite, whence my genius has rescued it, and it would lose
itself irreparably in the abyss of nothingness! No, I can no more die than the
Creator of this universe, that submitted to His laws! I have become His equal,
and I have partaken of His power! If God has created eternity, Master Zacharius
has created time!’
The old watchmaker now resembled the fallen
angel, defiant in the presence of the Creator. The little old man gazed at him,
and even seemed to breathe into him this impious transport.
‘Well said, master,’ he replied. ‘Beelzebub
had less right than you to compare himself with God! Your glory must not
perish! 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! She is not the least beautiful of
watches; but she will end by stopping also -’
‘My daughter, – my Gerande! No!’
‘Well, return to your watches, Master
Zacharius. Adjust and readjust them. Get ready the marriage of your daughter
and your apprentice. Temper your springs with your best steel. Bless Aubert and
the pretty Gerande. But remember, your watches will never go, and Gerande will
not wed Aubert!’
Thereupon the little old man disappeared,
but not so quickly that Master Zacharius could not hear six o’clock strike in
his breast.
4-The Church of Saint Pierre
Meanwhile Master Zacharius became more
feeble in mind and body every day. An unusual excitement, indeed, impelled him
to continue his work more eagerly than ever, nor could his daughter entice him
from it.
His pride was still more aroused after the
crisis to which his strange visitor had hurried him so treacherously, and he
resolved
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