Page 14 (2/2)

“I was curious,” said Bell “I ue in Berlin, who informed me that you are a famous scientist in the field of electro-acoustics”

“Marconigrams are dear You went to considerable expense to inquire about me”

“I don’t often meet inventors of so-called secret inventions”

“Can you bla cautious?”

“I bla your lives,” Bell said bluntly “He uish friend from foe You know that I won’t betray you to the people I stopped fro you”

Beiderbecke touched the stabilizer to his lips “Don’t you find protégés arethat one’s own children?”

“Don’t talk circles around a deadly subject, Professor You and Clyde are in danger What if they have accomplices on the ship? If you do make it to New York intact, what swerk can’t grab you in America?”

“I think of Prussians as pathologically insular”

“You have invented soard as unique What sort of a weapon is it?”

“Weapon? Sprechendlichtspieltheater is not a weapon”

“Sprechend-what?”

Beiderbecke put his glass down and repeated staunchly, “It is not a weapon And I will say no ave Clyde my word”

“If it’s not a weapon why does a munitions trust want it?”

“I do not know It is not for war It is for education It is for science For communication Industrial improvement Even public amusement It is—”

Clyde Lynds was approaching, trailed closely by Archie, who gave Bell a look that said he had diverted hi as he could Beiderbecke appeared deeply relieved by the interruption “Ah, Clyde I was just giving Mr Bell an older e”