I have slain no one; I have prompted none
to slay; I have handled a tool of wonderful efficacy without
malignant intentions, but without caution. Ample will be the
punishment of my temerity, if my conduct has contributed to this
evil." He paused.
I likewise was silent. I struggled to command myself so far as to
listen to the tale which he should tell. Observing this, he
continued:--
"You are not apprised of the existence of a power which I possess.
I know not by what name to call it.[1] It enables me to mimic
exactly the voice of another, and to modify the sound so that it
shall appear to come from what quarter and be uttered at what
distance I please.
"I know not that everyone possesses this power. Perhaps, though a
casual position of my organs in my youth showed me that I possessed
it, it is an art which may be taught to all. Would to God I had
died unknowing of the secret! It has produced nothing but
degradation and calamity."
[1] Biloquium, or ventrilocution. Sound is varied according to the
variations of direction and distance. The art of the ventriloquist
consists in modifying his voice according to all these variations,
without changing his place.
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