“And what do you expect to learn from the analysis at the chemist’s, Jennie?”
“I expect to learn something that will startle the Director of Police.”
“And what is that? Jennie, don’t keep me on tenterhooks in this provoking way. How can you act so? I shall write to Lord Donal and tell him that you are here in Vienna, if you don’t mind.”
“Well, under such a terrible threat as that, I suppose I must divulge all my suspicions. But I really don’t know anything yet; I merely suspect. The weight of that dust, when I picked up a handful of it, seemed to indicate that the gold is still there in the rubbish heap.”
“You don’t mean to say so! Then there has been no robbery at all?”
“There may have been a robbery planned, but I do not think any thief got a portion of the gold. The chances are that they entirely underestimated the force of the explosive they were using, for, unless I am very much mistaken, they were dealing with something a hundred times more powerful than dynamite.”
“And will the chemical analysis show what explosive was used?”
“No; it will only show of what the débris is composed. It will settle the question whether or not the gold is in that dust-heap. If it is, then I think the Government will owe me some thanks, because the Director of Police talked of carting the rubbish away and dumping it out of sight somewhere. If the Government gets back its gold, I suppose the question of who fired the mine is merely of academic interest.”
“The carriage is waiting, your Highness,” was the announcement made to the Princess, who at once jumped up, and said,—
“I’ll be ready in five minutes. I’m as anxious now as you are to hear what the chemist has to say; but I thought you told me he wouldn’t have the analysis ready until four o’clock to-morrow. What is the use of going there to-night?”.