“But why? But why? That is what I don’t understand.”
“I would very much rather not answer that question.”
“But that question—everything is involved in that question. I must know why you are here. If you are not in the employ of the Government, in whose employ are you?”
“If I tell you,” said Jennie with some hesitation, “will you keep what I say a secret?”
“Yes, yes, yes!” cried the scientist impatiently.
“Well, I am in the service of a London daily newspaper.”
“I see, I see; and they have sent you here to publish broadcast over the world all you can find out of my doings. I knew you were a spy the moment I saw you. I should never have let you in.”
“My dear sir, the London paper is not even aware of your existence. They have not sent me to you at all. They have sent me to learn, if possible, the cause of the explosion I spoke of. I took some of the débris to Herr Feltz to analyze it, and he said he had never seen gold, iron, feldspar, and all that, reduced to such fine, impalpable grains as was the case with the sample I left with him. I then asked him who in Vienna knew most about explosives, and he gave me your address. That is why I am here.”
“But the explosion—you have not told me when and where it occurred!”
“That, as I have said, is a Government secret.”