To make it
clearer, we could send a navy against such a city as New York or
Liverpool, and explode every mine in front of us as we went; and
meanwhile our mines are impervious.
"Another word, and I have finished. Five gentlemen, whom I imagine are
present now, have witnessed a test of this cap, by direct command of
their home governments. For the benefit of the others of you a simple
test has been arranged for to-night. This cap on the table is charged;
its inventor is at his wireless instrument, fifteen miles away. At three
o'clock he will turn on the current that will explode it." Four of the
eleven men looked at their watches. "It is now seventeen minutes past
two. I am instructed, for the purposes of the test, to place this cap
anywhere you may select--in this house or outside of it, in a box,
sealed, or under water. The purpose is merely to demonstrate its
efficacy; to prove to your complete satisfaction that it can be exploded
under practically any conditions."
His entire manner underwent a change; he drew a chair up to the table,
and stood for an instant with his hand resting on the back.
"The compact is written in three languages--English, French and
Italian.
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