26. From sirensbane: "Darn this newfangled contraption!"
"Come, Holmes," I called. "I've finished assembling our gramophone at last."
"And it's time to christen it?" Holmes said. He was in a genial mood, having just solved a string of interesting cases.
"Certainly. What shall we play?"
"It is your gramophone, Watson. The choice is yours."
"Vivaldi it is," I said, carefully slipping on the disc. The opening notes started up, and I poured us a drink to enjoy while we listened.
After a while, Holmes remarked, "I do believe I prefer the concert hall. One can hear the notes resounding off the walls, and see how they impact one's fellow concertgoers as well as the performers."
"True," I agreed. "But nevertheless, it is a marvelous invention. You must agree."
"The technology is impressive in its way," he admitted.
"I expected more resistance from you," I teased. "I expected to hear you say, 'darn this newfangled contraption!'"
"Not yet," Holmes said. "Time marches on, dear Watson. We must march with it, and hope it does us good."