“YOU MUST EAT OF THE FRUITS OF THE TREE OF SCIENCE.” Aubert and Gerande looked at each other stupefied. These were no longer the pious sayings of the Catholic watchmaker. The breath of Satan must have passed over it. But Zacharius paid no attention to this, and resumed— “Dost thou hear, my Gerande? I live, I still live! Listen to my breathing,—see the blood circulating in my veins! No, thou wouldst not kill thy father, and thou wilt accept this man for thy husband, so that I may become immortal, and at last attain the power of God!” At these blasphemous words old Scholastique crossed herself, and Pittonaccio laughed aloud with joy. “And then, Gerande, thou wilt be happy with him. See this man,—he is Time! Thy existence will be regulated with absolute precision. Gerande, since I gave thee life, give life to thy father!” [Illustration: “See this man,—he is Time!”] “Gerande,” murmured Aubert, “I am thy betrothed.” “He is my father!” replied Gerande, fainting. “She is thine!” said Master Zacharius. “Pittonaccio, them wilt keep thy promise!” “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. He wound more and more quickly, with strange contortions, until he fell from sheer weariness. “There, it is wound up for a century!” he cried. Aubert rushed from the hall as if he were mad. After long wandering, he found the outlet of the hateful château, and hastened into the open air. He returned to the hermitage of Notre-Dame-du-Sex, and talked so despairingly to the holy recluse, that the latter consented to return with him to the château of Andernatt. If, during these hours of anguish, Gerande had not wept, it was because her tears were exhausted. Master Zacharius had not left the hall. He ran every moment to listen to the regular beating of the old clock. Meanwhile the clock had struck, and to Scholastique’s great terror, these words had appeared on the silver face:— “MAN OUGHT TO BECOME THE EQUAL OF GOD.” The old man had not only not been shocked by these impious maxims, but read them deliriously, and flattered himself with thoughts of pride, whilst Pittonaccio kept close by him. The marriage-contract was to be signed at midnight. Gerande, almost unconscious, saw or heard nothing. The silence was only broken by the old man’s words, and the chuckling of Pittonaccio. Eleven o’clock struck. Master Zacharius shuddered, and read in a loud voice:— “MAN SHOULD BE THE SLAVE OF SCIENCE, AND SACRIFICE TO IT RELATIVES AND FAMILY.” “Yes!” he cried, “there is nothing but science in this world!”