Act
Eight
Scene
Three
Sub-Scene
Three
Egypt
in the puzzle?
Ptolemy
placed the telephone receiver on the handset. At the year, the telephone
technology shifted to the design of more efficient desktop telephones that
featured a handset with receiver and transmitter elements in one unit, making
the use of a telephone more convenient.
The
quality of the lines was erratic and the connection needed time for the
operator to get the call through. Then there was the sound quality. Vacuum
tubes were the first electronic devices used to amplify the sound. AT&T
brought and developed the devices, and had then connected Denver with the
separate West Coast network, with three vacuum-tube repeaters supplementing
many loading coils in July 1914. By 1920, all of the loading coils on this line
had been replaced by an additional nine repeaters, and with this change the
bandwidth doubled, and the sound quality improved.
“That
was Pompey.” Ptolemy frowned. “The line was bad but I heard him. Someone killed
Cicero. They knew who but would not do anything without Caesar’s approval.”
“How
is he doing?” Ptolemy asked. He was away from the palace and skirted the safe
houses on the boundaries. He was not keen to be there when Cleop was with
Caesar. It was not an issue of privacy but of envy. He was envious of his
half-sister who had seductively snared the Roman. At best, his relationship
with Pompey was mutual friends.
“Fine,
Pharoah.” Mardian replied. He was the Pharoah’s eye at Caesar there. He was to
ensure that Caesar was safe and withheld from the going on at Egypt.
“How
did he get the folder?” Pharoah asked.
“We
could not intercept it. It was delivered by an emissary of Rome.” Mardian told
the Pharoah. “I believed Lady Cleop read the contents.”
“A
marvel those peek holes.” Ptolemy smiled. He had used them himself on other
guests, and on occasion the family members. An untold incident may be a
contention to buy their support.
“And
you read it too.” Ptolemy looked at Mardian.
“Partly,
Pharoah. Lady Cleop shared with me some of the other contents.” Mardian
expression was unchanged from the stern look. “I thought you should know
first.”
“As
my staff, yes. I need to know. And now that I am also told by Pompey, I may
know more.” Ptolemy smiled. “It looked like our plans may be forwarded more
urgently. We need Rome’s support to win the next conflict.”
“I
heard rumours of the Sicilians are unhappy with us courting Rome.” Mardian
looked towards the Pharoah.
“They
will be and we need to work on the urgency of our plans.” Ptolemy smiled. “Let
my sister keep Caesar busy while we helped Pompey burn Rome down.”
“Pharoah,
on the news of Elliot Ness?” Mardian raised the query.
“Yes,
the Treasury Agent have proven himself to be a gnat here but he cannot be
removed just yet. If we do him, and the words get back to the Treasury, Egypt will
be swarmed by agents. We cannot afford that just yet.”
“The
agent is still in hiding at the beach front, with the three Romans. They are
cautious but we have never move on them yet.” Mardian reported then. “The opium
den had been relocated and Agent Dickson moved to a safe house. We will keep on
feeding him, and his reports are written by us. There are ……”
“I
trust you to do that, Mardian. Keep Treasury off our back.” Ptolemy looked to
the wall. “I have an idea. Why shall we not do a call on the Porto Ricos? They
owe me a favour. If they hit, and the trail leads to the Romans, we may step up
on the war. Get Pancho on the task.”
“Understood.
I shall get into it.” Mardian said.
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