chappe

M. Chappe, the inventor of the semaphore, tried about the year 1790 to introduce a synchronous electric telegraph, and failed.

This gave 64 different signs, but was defective in the same point as that of Chappe.

Observer, after an interval of ten minutes: Are you ready, Chappe?

It was as though Chappe had indeed something to say and meant to say it.

Chappe washed his hands, so to say, of Robert and his doings.