shadow of britain

Chapter 155 Wheatstone's Extra Gift
In the musical instrument store, Elder stared wide-eyed at the suitcase that Wheatstone was holding in his arms.

He frowned first, then bent down and put his ears on the suitcase. After listening for a while, Elder couldn't help covering his head and exclaiming: "Damn! Did you stuff someone in the suitcase? Besides, Arthur, why does this voice sound like you?"

Arthur was smoking a pipe, struck a match and lit it: "Because that's mine."

Elder held his face in his hands, and suddenly exclaimed: "What do you mean?! Arthur, is your soul locked in this box? Then is this guy standing in front of me a human or a devil? ?”

Arthur took a drag on his cigarette, and blew out a smoke ring leisurely: "What do you think? What's the difference between these two?"

The red devil, who was looking at the musical instruments on the wall, heard this and couldn't help but smirk and replied: "There is really no difference, both are enemies of God. It's just that the devil didn't defeat God, but humans Just won."

Arthur glanced at the red devil, and then at the phonograph in front of him: "So, is this new invention a metaphor for man's victory over nature?"

The Red Devil just smiled: "Arthur, that's not what I'm talking about."

Arthur didn't continue to talk to him, but turned his head to look at Elder, who was yelling, and Wheatstone, who was frightened by Elder's startled performance, and dared not speak.

He took out a brand new pipe from his pocket, carefully pressed the tobacco, and stuffed it into Wheatstone's mouth with white lips and sweaty temples.

Afterwards, he hooked Wheatstone's shoulder and said, "Come on, my friend, take a sip first, and then explain the principle of the phonograph to this gentleman from Oxford. After all, I am far inferior to you in the study of acoustics." .”

Wheatstone tremblingly held up the pipe, and then took a deep breath, but this not only failed to restore his composure, but choked him up against the counter and coughed continuously, as if he had tuberculosis and would die soon up.

But Arthur didn't give him a chance to escape. He took out the flintlock pistol from the holster covered under his coat, put his index finger in the trigger guard and twirled it, and then he heard a snap and slapped the pistol on the counter. superior.

Arthur held Wheatstone's wrist expressionlessly, and pressed his palm against the cold barrel: "Come on, Mr. Wheatstone, touch this, it will give you the courage to speak. "

As soon as Wheatstone's sweaty hand touched the musket, his whole body trembled like an electric shock.

In just a moment, Wheatstone straightened his back, then calmly pushed his glasses, and spoke to Elder seriously and rigorously.

"Sir, the main working principle of my phonograph is based on the principle of vibration and rotation. First of all, when recording, the sound wave is converted into the vibration energy of the metal needle, and the metal needle is used to engrave the sound wave on the tinfoil-wrapped wax cylinder, and when playing, you need to turn it upside down..."

At the beginning, Wheatstone was still a little uncomfortable, but as the principles of the speech deepened, he seemed to have forgotten the existence of the people around him, and began to describe the various structures of the phonograph and the problems that emerged during the product development process. Questions and what improvements he intends to make in the future.

But Elder became more and more confused as he listened. This scientific insulator knew neither acoustics nor mechanics, but as a British gentleman who was determined to capture the hearts of noble ladies through science, Elder still insisted on the principle of "aspirations do not come at a young age." , Ignorance is not an idiot's spirit of learning, raised his hand and asked.

"Mr. Wheatstone, may I ask..."

But before he finished speaking, Wheatstone yelled suddenly: "Shut up!"

This gentleman with a gentle appearance subconsciously picked up the musket on the counter, put it on Elder's chin, stared and roared: "Don't ask questions now, talk too much, I'll kill you with a fucking shot!"

Elder was so shocked that he was sweating. He showed a look of asking for help to Arthur, but all he got was a hat-off from the other side who was helpless.

Seeing this, Elder took a deep breath, showed a signature smile, and used his melancholy eyebrows and eyes to send a message to Wheatstone—you are awesome, you continue.

Wheatstone finally calmed down, and after an unknown period of time, he finally introduced all the principles of acoustics and the structure of the phonograph.

As soon as he closed his mouth, he lay down on the counter as if he had collapsed, panting heavily.

Arthur leaned against the edge of the counter, smiled and applauded, and affirmed: "Mr. Wheatstone, aren't you doing well? You see, speaking is not a particularly difficult thing. You just gave a speech What kind of feelings did you experience?"

Wheatstone closed his eyes, covering his beating heart, his mind was a little dazed: "I... I'm just a little scared... Then, I suddenly got a little angry, I hate speeches, but you insist I was forced to do this, so I was very angry...after...after that I talked so many things in a daze."

Arthur nodded slightly and said: "Congratulations! You have grasped the essence of the speech. A successful speech requires emotions. Fear is an emotion that can be used, and anger is of course an emotion that can be used. For the audience As far as you are concerned, all you have to do is to convey your emotions. Infect yourself first, only then can the audience feel you.”

After finishing speaking, Arthur said to Elder, who was beside him with a look of rejoicing as if he was alive after a catastrophe, and wiped his sweat with a handkerchief: "Did you feel the fear of Mr. Wheatstone just now?"

Elder stared and said, "Nonsense! Who can't be afraid of being held by a gun?"

"Then do you feel Mr. Wheatstone's anger?"

Elder hit the counter with his fist, emphatically: "Can you not be angry if you are held against a gun for no reason?"

Arthur smiled and held Wheatstone's hand: "Congratulations, Mr. Wheatstone. Although the phonograph still has many defects, at least you have completed the special training in speech."

"Is...really?" Wheatstone asked instead: "But... I may be able to face a few audiences, but if it is the scale of the Royal Society lecture hall..."

Arthur shook his fingers slightly when he heard the words: "Mr. Wheatstone, have you forgotten what I said? When you feel scared, touch this thing."

He pushed the flintlock pistol in front of the case towards Wheatstone.

Wheatstone stared blankly at the gun and scratched his head: "Mr. Hastings, what do you mean?"

Arthur said: "Although I think the current version of the phonograph is just like what you said, there are still many defects for the time being, such as the wear of the tinfoil wax plate, and the need to be as far away as possible when recording vocals. Get as close as possible, otherwise the sound will be no louder than mosquitoes.

But in any case, these defects also point out the direction for future improvement. I believe that with your wisdom, you can easily solve these problems step by step.So, for the sake of this great new invention, I will temporarily lend you this gun.

If you're scared of giving a speech to the Royal Society, or if you're caught by them again, this is the gun for you.Although there are no bullets in this gun, it will surely bring you enough courage.

Or to take a step back, if it doesn't give you courage, at least it can make other people feel intimidated, don't you think, isn't that true? "

Although Wheatstone was shy and shy, he had no problem with his intelligence. He knew what Arthur meant immediately.

The balsam pear face just now was gone, and Wheatstone's face was full of an expression like the bright sunshine that London might not see once a year.

He enthusiastically said, "Come on, Mr. Hastings, I almost forgot to tell you. Although the phonograph is not very effective at recording human voices, if it is recording a piano piece, there is no problem at all.

Thanks to the mechanical transmission and sound amplitude problems you mentioned to me before, in my spare time, I made another piano that can be connected to a phonograph needle. As long as it is the music played on that piano, all can be played. Recorded on a gramophone turntable.

I wonder if you can play the piano?Look at you, if you have time today, why not try your hand at playing a song?It doesn't take much time to engrave a turntable, and after the engraving is finished, let's see if you can... that is what... just let me go magnanimously.

I beg you, don't take me to the Sunday banquet, okay?Of course, the final choice is in your hands, but if you choose not to bring me, in addition to the gramophone and turntable, I can also present an exclusive custom-made violin. "

Arthur pinched his chin, looked at Wheatstone with interest, and asked, "Is this a bribe?"

"Bribe? No, no, no! What are you thinking?" Wheatstone quickly waved his hand in denial, "Why did you forget! This is friendship. You gave me a pistol as a gift in return. Isn't it reasonable for me to give you a violin?"

Arthur thought for a while, then smiled and said: "Okay, Charles, take me to see the piano that can record records first, and I will think about the rest."

When Wheatstone heard this, his hanging heart finally fell to the ground. He hurriedly gave way to the back room, and said with a smile, "Arthur, this way please."

(End of this chapter)