shadow of britain

Chapter 171
Arthur held the phonograph, stood on the stage with a smile, and introduced to the gentlemen and ladies who were too surprised to speak.

"This is, as you can see and hear, a gramophone. As the name suggests, it is used to record sound on the record that is now spinning on the machine, and of course it can also record A good sound is played out.

The piece you are listening to now is the Paganini etude "Bell" that I recorded in the musical instrument shop of the inventor of the phonograph, Mr. Charles Wheatstone, through a special recording piano that can be connected to the phonograph. .

Of course, limited by the size of the record, the current recording range of the phonograph is only about 4 to 5 minutes, and the mainspring has to be re-wound after listening to it for a while.However, I believe that Mr. Wheatstone's ingenuity will solve these problems sooner or later. "

Elder, who had known this new invention for a long time, echoed with a smirk: "That's right, regarding these problems, Mr. Wheatstone can't even say that he can't solve them."

After finishing speaking, he stretched out his index finger and thumb to Arthur, making a pistol look.

The guests in the audience were all amazed by this invention, they exclaimed.

"My God! What is the principle of this thing? Recording human voices, I always thought that only God can do this kind of thing! Could it be that the old man finally shared the mysteries of the world with us?"

"What the hell is that Mr. Charles Wheatstone, and why have I never heard his name before?"

"Mr. Hastings, is he the young scientist you recently discovered? Just like Sir David discovered Faraday, and Mr. Faraday discovered you?"

"Britain has become more and more beautiful because of natural philosophy researchers like you and Mr. Faraday who are willing to make a name for others. Thank you, Mr. Hastings, and thank God. I hope he will always bless you in the future to you!"

"By the way, where is that Mr. Wheatstone's music store? How much does it cost to buy such a gramophone and records?"

As soon as the words came out, all the gentlemen and ladies present were immediately aroused to buy.

The gramophone itself was a novelty, and if they added a piano adaptation of Paganini's masterpiece "La Campanella", they would have to buy one for themselves no matter how much money it cost.

As long as he can get such a machine ahead of others, it is not simply a matter of being able to listen to music at any time, but also a proof of his enthusiasm for new science and technology.

Go back to your own banquet salon and let it go, why not shock a large group of your friends?

And the shock of my friends also means fashion, which means that our family is more fashionable than others!

For these gentlemen and ladies who are active in the social circle, nothing can satisfy their vanity more than the envious eyes of others.

At this time, most of the ladies and gentlemen were concentrating on consulting Arthur on where to buy and the price, but some guests who were obsessed with music discovered the blind spots hidden in Arthur's words just now.

Mrs. Codrington sweated on her forehead: "Wait, Mr. Hastings, you just said that this gramophone can only record for five minutes at most?"

Arthur nodded slightly. He thought that Mrs. Codrington was dissatisfied with the recording time, so he euphemistically defended the phonograph: "This is indeed the case at present, but a lot of songs can be recorded in 5 minutes."

Mrs. Codrington quickly waved her hand: "No, no, you misunderstood me. I am not questioning this great new invention. I... I... God, what am I thinking. Mr. Hastings , I really shouldn't doubt you!
To be honest, when I just heard you play that etude, I discovered that this "Clock" is a considerable simplification of Mr. Paganini's "La Campanella".At the time, I thought it was because the original song was too difficult, so you were forced to reduce some of the rapidly changing registers of "La Campanella".

Looking at it now, it turns out that you shortened the text to accommodate this phonograph! "

And Mr. Mochelles, who was standing beside Arthur, also discovered the subtlety after being reminded by Mrs. Codrington.

He was so amazed by the new invention that he forgot the most important point.

"This..." Mocheles looked a little complicated, and he asked cautiously: "Mr. Hastings, can you make it more difficult?"

Arthur thought about the price of the song "The Clock" from the devil, and smiled reluctantly: "In fact, there is not much room for improvement."

"You can actually mention it?!"

Following Mr. Mochelles' roar, many guests slapped their foreheads as if they had made an appointment. There was only a crisp sound, which almost shattered the window glass of the ballroom.

After thinking for a while, Moseles couldn't help but finally said: "Mr. Hastings, I wonder if you are interested in joining the London Philharmonic Association? We are currently preparing to build the association's third symphony orchestra. I sincerely extend my sincere thanks to you. Sending out an invitation, would you like to be its pianist and band conductor?"

Arthur heard the words and refused without thinking: "Mr. Mochelles, you really overestimated me. As I said before, I am a beginner, and the only pieces I can play so far are these First adaptation of "The Bell" from "La Campanella."

Although Arthur said so, Mocheles didn't buy him.

"Mr. Hastings, don't be humble. Even if you are a beginner, if you can play this piece of "The Bell" now, then even if you don't improve at all in the future, you are fully capable of learning most of the pianos currently on the market. song."

As soon as Mr. Mochelles finished speaking, Mrs. Cowper, who had been standing in the audience smiling, also spoke.

"Mr. Hastings, I think Mr. Mochelles is right. Or take a step back, even if you only know this piece of music in your life, I would like to bring my friends to your concert Although Mr. Paganini's skills are superb, he is an Apennine musician after all. Compared with the two, I still want to support you who are born in Britain."

General Codlington also joked to his wife on the side after hearing the words: "I don't want to wear the Paganini hat you bought for me, but if it is a hat with Hastings' name embroidered on it, I can consider it. "

After finishing speaking, General Codrington held his wife's hand, pointed to the Paganini silver chain on her wrist, and asked humorously: "By the way, Anna, maybe you also have to consider getting new jewelry. "

General Kirkland also booed with his wine glass: "Mr. Hastings, look, there are more than ten guests tonight. If you want, you can put our tickets into your pocket now." Of course, General Sidney Smith probably won't, he'll have to go back to Paris in a while."

General Smith's cheeks were dizzy with alcohol, he was a little drunk: "Nonsense! Kirkland! Whether I go back to Paris or not depends on Mr. Hastings' face. As long as he doesn't send the Scotland Yard police to throw me away In debtors' prison, I'd still like to attend his recital."

Hearing this, Kirkland finally confirmed that General Smith was really drunk, and he mocked the old general who had been bullying him in the lounge before the banquet began.

"It doesn't matter, General Smith, even if you go to the debtor's prison, it's the same as squatting inside and listening to the gramophone."

When everyone heard this, they couldn't help laughing.

Before the laughter stopped, Elder, who had been bullied by Kirkland before, spoke sullenly again after the praying mantis stalked the cicada and the oriole.

"General Kirkland, what you said just now may have been recorded on the phonograph. Later, General Smith went to the debtor's prison. Do you really want to play this passage to him?"

Kirkland raised his eyebrows in fright, and he hurriedly said to Arthur: "Mr. Hastings, don't you really record this passage? Please, for the sake of our friendship today, hurry up Cut this part out."

Arthur nodded quite seriously: "About this, I have to check carefully. I almost forgot to tell you before that every record has two sides. .”

The guests were surprised: "Can this thing record two things at the same time?"

"Both sides, 5 minutes on one side, 10 minutes on both sides."

"It seems that this phonograph is better than I imagined. It can already record a lot of songs in 10 minutes."

"General Kirkland, I think you should stop talking nonsense in the future, and waste such a good thing for nothing."

Amidst their discussions, Arthur lifted the needle, turned the record over, and played it from the beginning.

The ladies and gentlemen held their breath, and after a noise, there was a rustling of pages turning from the brass horn of the gramophone.

Immediately afterwards, Arthur's gentle voice sounded on the gramophone: "The Count of Monte Cristo, Chapter 1, the ship to Marseilles. On February 24, [-], the watchman on the watchtower of the wind shelter issued a message to the people. signal to the people that the barque Pharaoh has arrived in the port of Marseilles. She sailed from Smyrna, via Trieste and Naples..."

　Thanks to the leader of 'Lovely and charming villain Professor M' for the reward.

　　
　
(End of this chapter)