“Sit still. I want to show you a little drama I have written while you talked.”
De Medici moved swiftly to the telephone.
“Park View 0146,” he spoke into the mouthpiece.
Dr. Lytton glared at him.
“Mad,” whispered the scientist. De Medici smiled.
“Hello!” he exclaimed suddenly into the telephone. “Who is this?”
A pause and he continued: “Jane, this is Mr. De Medici calling. Miss Ballau is very ill at my apartment. We have the doctor here. She is dying. She told me to telephone you at once. She says she must see you, that you must come over at once.”
De Medici listened. No sound came from the other end of the wire. And then a scream drifted out of the receiver.
“Do you understand?” he shouted. “Come over at once.”
He waited a few moments for a sound. But the receiver remained silent against his ear.