"Gennaro will be going in soon. Let us try this
machine now and see if it works. If the wires have been cut since
we put them up this morning Gennaro will have to take his chances
alone."
Kennedy reached over and with a light movement of his forefinger
touched a switch.
Instantly a babel of voices filled the store, all talking at
once, rapidly and loudly. Here and there we could distinguish a
snatch of conversation, a word, a phrase, now and then even a
whole sentence above the rest. There was the clink of glasses. I
could hear the rattle of dice on a bare table, and an oath. A
cork popped. Somebody scratched a match.
We sat bewildered, looking at Kennedy for an explanation.
"Imagine that you are sitting at a table in Albano's back room,"
was all he said. "This is what you would be hearing. This is my
'electric ear'--in other words the dictograph, used, I am told,
by the Secret Service of the United States. Wait, in a moment you
will hear Gennaro come in. Luigi and Vincenzo, translate what you
hear. My knowledge of Italian is pretty rusty."
"Can they hear us?" whispered Luigi in an awe-struck whisper.
Craig laughed. "No, not yet. But I have only to touch this other
switch, and I could produce an effect in that room that would
rival the famous writing on Belshazzar's wall--only it would be a
voice from the wall instead of writing.
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