"Hello, is this Mrs. LeMar?" came from it.
"What is it?" whispered Halsey, as if fearful of being overheard.
"A telegraphone," replied Constance, shutting it off for a moment.
"A telegraphone? What is that?"
"A machine for registering telephone conversations, dictation, anything of the sort you wish. It was invented by Valdemar Poulsen, the Danish Edison. This is one of his new wire machines. The record is made by a new process, localized charges of magnetism on this wire. It is as permanent as the wire itself. There is only one thing that can destroy them—rubbing over the wire with this magnet. Listen."
She had started the machine again. Whose voice was it calling Bella? Constance was looking fixedly at Drummond. He shifted uneasily.
"How much is he in for now?" pursued the voice.
Halsey gasped. It was Drummond's own voice.
"Two hundred and fifty shares," replied Bella's voice.
"Good. Keep at him. Don't lose him. To-night I'll drop in."