The silver dial, volume 3 (of 3)

"The silver dial, volume 3 (of 3)" by Mary C. Rowsell is a historical novel written in the late 19th century. Centred on the creation of Strasbourg Cathedral’s astronomical clock, it follows the blind mathematician-horologist Conrad Dasipodius as civic favor shifts, religious factions bristle, and rivalries threaten his work. Around him gather Burgomaster Niklaus von Steinbach’s household—steadfast Sabina, brilliant Radegund, and volatile Otto—alongside Bishop John, the Habrecht brothers, Dr. Bruno Wolkenberg, and the scheming Syndic Hackernagel. Expect artisanal craft, city politics, and tangled affections under the shadow of sabotage. The opening of this final volume finds Dasipodius reinstated and rapidly restoring order at the Dial, intent on finishing the Horologe by St. Laurence’s day while Bishop John quietly flags the risk of foul play. As Kaspar Habrecht’s carved cock is mounted and Radegund’s paintings advance, Hackernagel’s public standing collapses and Otto drifts, prompting a tense, intimate supper at the Burgomaster’s: Sabina’s silent devotion and Dasipodius’s guarded warmth flare for a moment before Radegund’s abrupt entrance snuffs it out. The narrative then shifts to Hackernagel’s manipulations—pressing Otto to disable the clock’s crowing cock to wound the Habrechts—only for Otto to reject the scheme and physically subdue him, forcing a promise. The stage is set for a completed masterpiece beset by personal grievances and a very real threat of sabotage.

The silver dial, volume 3 (of 3), by Mary C. Rowsell. Republished by OpenStories from Project Gutenberg eBook #76372.