Well, it only bears out what I thought before.Gregory treated my wife at home, after he saw the damage his office treatments had done.I guess he was capable of making a complete job out of it--covering up his carelessness by getting rid of the woman who was such a damning piece of evidence against his professional skill."Never a shade passed Craig's face as he listened to this tirade.
"Excuse me a moment," was all he said, opening the door to leave the room."I have just one more fact to disclose.I will be back directly."Kennedy was gone several minutes, during which Close and Lawrence fell to whispering behind their, hands, with the assurance of those who believed that this was only Kennedy's method of admitting a defeat.Gregory and Asche exchanged a few words similarly, and it was plain that Asche was endeavouring to put a better interpretation on something than Gregory himself dared hope.
As Kennedy re-entered, Close was buttoning up his coat preparatory to leaving, and Lawrence was lighting a fresh cigar.
In his hand Kennedy held a notebook."My stenographer writes a very legible shorthand; at least I find it so--from long practice, I suppose.As I glance over her notes I find many facts which will interest you later--at the trial.But--ah, here at the end--let me read:
"'Well, he's very clever, but he has nothing against me, has he?'
"'No, not unless he can produce the agent who bought the radium for you.'
"'But he can't do that.No one could ever have recognised you on your flying trip to London disguised as a diamond merchant who had just learned that he could make his faulty diamonds good by applications of radium and who wanted a good stock of the stuff.'
"'Still, we'll have to drop the suit against Gregory after all, in spite of what I said.That part is hopelessly spoiled.'
"'Yes, I suppose so.Oh, well, I'm free now.She can hardly help but consent to a divorce now, and a quiet settlement.She brought it on herself--we tried every other way to do it, but she--she was too good to fall into it.She forced us to it.'
"'Yes, you'll get a good divorce now.But can't we shut up this man Kennedy? Even if he can't prove anything against us, the mere rumour of such a thing coming to the ears of Mrs.Tulkington would be unpleasant.'
"'Go as far as you like, Lawrence.You know what the marriage will mean to me.It will settle my debts to you and all the rest.'
"'I'll see what I can do, Close.He'll be back in a moment.'"Close's face was livid."It's a pack of lies!" he shouted, advancing toward Kennedy, "a pack of lies! You are a fakir and a blackmailer.I'll have you in jail for this, by God--and you too, Gregory.""One moment, please," said Kennedy calmly."Mr.Lawrence, will you be so kind as to reach behind your chair? What do you find?"Lawrence lifted up the plain black box and with it he pulled up the wires which I had so carefully concealed in the cracks of the floor.
"That," said Kennedy, "is a little instrument called the microphone.Its chief merit lies in the fact that it will magnify a sound sixteen hundred times, and carry it to any given point where you wish to place the receiver.Originally this device was invented for the aid of the deaf, but I see no reason why it should not be used to aid the law.One needn't eavesdrop at the keyhole with this little instrument about.Inside that box there is nothing but a series of plugs from which wires, much finer than a thread, are stretched taut.Yet a fly walking near it will make a noise as loud as a draft-horse.If the microphone is placed in any part of the room, especially if near the persons talking--even if they are talking in a whisper--a whisper such as occurred several times during the evening and particularly while I was in the next room getting the notes made by my stenographer--a whisper, I say, is like shouting your guilt from the housetops.
"You two men, Close and Lawrence, may consider yourselves under arrest for conspiracy and whatever other indictments will lie against such creatures as you.The police will be here in a moment.No, Close, violence won't do now.The doors are locked--and see, we are four to two."
