'Certainly, sir. Here's the machine. You undo this catch, and then you—'
Albert was mounted on his latest hobby, and in a few minutes, although he could only use one arm, the phonograph, which stood on the table near the safe, was ready for its work of reproduction. Albert started it.
'Follow me, follow me!'
It began to sing the famous ditty in the famous voice of Miss Edna May.
'Stop that!' cried Hugo, and Albert stopped it.
The next two discs proved to be respectively a series of stories of Mr. R.G. Knowles and 'The Lost Chord,' played on a cornet. And these also were cut short. Then came a bundle of discs tied together. Hugo himself fixed the top one, and the machine, after whirring inarticulately, said in slow, clear tones:
'In case I should die before—'
Hugo arrested the action.
'Go,' he said, almost threateningly, to Albert and his wife. 'Mrs. Shawn, look after your husband's wound. It needs it. See the blood!'
'But—'