Thegoodpeopleoftheboroughhadscarcelyachance，however，togettheireyesthoroughlyopen，when，justasitwantedhalfaminuteofnoon，therascalbounced，asIsay，rightintothemidstofthem；

　　gaveachassezhere，andabalancezthere；andthen，afterapirouetteandapas-de-zephyr，pigeon-wingedhimselfrightupintothebelfryoftheHouseoftheTownCouncil，wherethewonder-strickenbelfry-mansatsmokinginastateofdignityanddismay。Butthelittlechapseizedhimatoncebythenose；gaveitaswingandapull；clappedthebigchapeaude-brasuponhishead；

　　knockeditdownoverhiseyesandmouth；andthen，liftingupthebigfiddle，beathimwithitsolongandsosoundly，thatwhatwiththebelfry-manbeingsofat，andthefiddlebeingsohollow，youwouldhaveswornthattherewasaregimentofdouble-bassdrummersallbeatingthedevil’stattooupinthebelfryofthesteepleofVondervotteimittiss。

　　Thereisnoknowingtowhatdesperateactofvengeancethisunprincipledattackmighthavearousedtheinhabitants，butfortheimportantfactthatitnowwantedonlyhalfasecondofnoon。Thebellwasabouttostrike，anditwasamatterofabsoluteandpre-eminentnecessitythateverybodyshouldlookwellathiswatch。

　　Itwasevident，however，thatjustatthismomentthefellowinthesteeplewasdoingsomethingthathehadnobusinesstodowiththeclock。Butasitnowbegantostrike，nobodyhadanytimetoattendtohismanoeuvres，fortheyhadalltocountthestrokesofthebellasitsounded。

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