"No! it is not imperfect," said the gentler voice of Marguerite. All eyes were turned toward the spot whence that voice proceeded. Marguerite nearly fainted to find herself the object of so much attention. "Keep your courage," whispered Carl. "Tell them that Dumiger will soon be free, and the works put in motion. I will tell them for you," he exclaimed, and he began to speak, when the mysterious stranger stepped forth. "Stay," he said, "let me touch the works of this clock--the secret is mine." He forced his way through the crowd, looked carefully over the machinery, opened a secret spring, arranged two small wheels, on which the accurate movement of the whole machinery depended, and immediately it was all in motion. The proceeding was watched with intense interest by all. The stranger's eye gleamed with delight, for he was anxious, with the true spirit of Hamburg jealousy, that the people of Dantzic should feel the value of what they were about to lose. It was indeed a marvelous piece of workmanship: the planets all revolved in their regular order, figures of exquisite workmanship appeared and disappeared to mark the seconds, and the dial plate was of elaborate beauty. The people for some time stood entranced in wonder. At last they exclaimed, as with one voice-- "It is a work worthy of Dantzic--and Dumiger has won! Dumiger forever'." If Marguerite had nearly fainted from fear, she was now pale with delight. "Dumiger, Dumiger forever!" again shouted the crowd; "where is the laurel? where is the triumph? Greatest amongst his citizens, Dumiger has won!" But at that moment the stranger came forward with a paper in his hand. The Count's face, which had been overspread with anger and shame at these shouts, was again lit up with hope, for after Dumiger's his son's was evidently the best. "You mistake, my friends," said this man: "Dumiger is not a citizen of Dantzic, but of Hamburg, and the clock belongs to that noblest of free cities." "Madman! fool!" burst from the astonished crowd; "we all know Dumiger, his family are eminent in the list of our freemen--you are mad! Grand Master, proclaim that Dumiger has won the prize, that Dumiger is great." Joy thrilled through Marguerite's frame. The Grand Master rose, and his voice trembled with anxiety and secret pleasure as he spoke. "It is too true," he said; "the clock is sold to Hamburg, and Dumiger has lost his rights of citizenship here by becoming a freeman of that town. The prize, therefore, in accordance with the decision of the council, is adjudged to the second--to my son." Then the anger of the people rose, wild and savage; in one moment, like the bursting of a thunder-cloud, the whole aspect of the place had changed. "Show us the deed!" they exclaimed. The stranger took it and held it up. There was no mistaking it; it was headed by the arms of Hamburg, and signed by Dumiger. The storm of indignation had subsided for a moment, but only as it seemed to gain additional strength.