A Tell-Tale Clock.

Auckland Star, Volume XXVI, Issue 5477, 7 February 1885, Page 5

A Tell-Tale Clock.

Ax amusing story reaches us from Paris. On Friday last a lady, having paid her hotol bill, sent away her boxes on a cab and sallied forth on foot, No sooner had she departed than the landlord discovered that the clock had disappeared from tho mantelpioco of tho room which his late lodger had boon occupying, though ho remombored to have seen it there subsequent to her trunks beins despatched. Convinced that she must be" the thief, ho rushed out in hot pursuit, and overtaking her, charged her with the robbery and gave her into custody, tho lady meanwhile protesting loudly against the indignity offered her, and vowing vengeance against tho traducer. She was, however, taken before the jitije d'instrucfion, to whom she resumed her torrent of indignant denial with the extraordinary volubility peculiar to the daughters of Gaul. Hor indignation was at its height when, lo ! twelve o'clock rang forth in elenr tones from the region of mndame's dross improver. The expression of consternation depicted upon the fair pilferer'? countenance, together with the appDsitcnoi-s of thtj quaint phenomenon, were too much for the gravity of the officials, who burst into a fit of uncontrollable laughter. Five minutes later a female warder returned the telltale timepiece to its rightful owner. Will Mr Oscar Wilde still in»ist upon "tho utter uselessness of that hideous monstrosity—tho bustle ?"