“That is not true, the man who caused the explosion sent you here. You are his minion. What do you expect to find out from me?”
“I expect to learn what explosive was used to produce the result that seemed to have such a remarkable effect on you.”
“Why do you say that? It had no effect on me. My heart is weak. I am subject to such attacks, and I ward them off with brandy. Some day they will kill me. Then you won’t learn any secrets from a dead man, will you?”
“I hope, Professor Seigfried, that you have many years yet to live, and I must further add that I did not expect such a reception as I have received from a man of science, as I was told you were. If you have no information to give to me, very well, that ends it; all you have to do is to say so.”
“Who sent you here?”
“No one, as I have repeated once or twice. If anyone had, I would give him my opinion of the errand when I got back. You refuse, then, to tell me anything about the explosive that powdered the gold?”
“Refuse? Of course I refuse! What did you expect? I suppose the man who sent you here thought, because you were an engaging young woman and I an old dotard, I would gabble to you the results of a life’s work. Oh, no, no, no; but I am not an old dotard. I have many years to live yet.”
“I hope so. Well, I must bid you good morning. I shall go to someone else.”
The old man showed his teeth in a forbidding grin.
“It is useless. Your bottle is broken, and the material it contained is dissipated. Not a trace of it is left.”