“You see, I was right in my surmise. More than one-third of that heap is pure gold.”
“I should explain,” said the chemist, “that I have grouped the quartz, feldspar, and mica together, without giving the respective portions of each, because it is evident that the combination represents granite.”
“I understand,” said Jennie; “the walls and the roof are of granite.”
“I would further add,” continued the chemist, “that I have never met gold so finely divided as this is.”
“Have you the gold and other ingredients separated?”
“Yes, madame.”
“I shall take them with me, if you please.”
The chemist shortly after brought her the components, in little glass vials, labelled.
“Have you any idea, Herr Feltz, what explosive would reduce gold to such fine powder as this?”
“I have only a theoretical knowledge of explosives, and I know of nothing that would produce such results as we have here. Perhaps Professor Carl Seigfried could give you some information on that point. The science of detonation has been his life study, and he stands head and shoulders above his fellows in that department.”