“But you stated you are not in the Government employ, therefore it can be no breach of confidence if you let me have full particulars.”
“I suppose not. Very well, then, the explosion occurred after midnight on the seventeenth in the vault of the Treasury.”
The old man, in spite of the prohibition, rose uncertainly to his feet.
Jennie sprang up and said menacingly, “Stay where you are!”
“I am not going to touch you. If you are so suspicious of every move I make, then go yourself and bring me what I want. There is a map of Vienna pinned against the wall yonder. Bring it to me.”
Jennie proceeded in the direction indicated. It was an ordinary map of the city of Vienna, and as Jennie took it down she noticed that across the southern part of the city a semi-circular line in pencil had been drawn. Examining it more closely, she saw that the stationary part of the compass had been placed on the spot where stood the building which contained the Professor’s studio. She paid closer attention to the pencil mark and observed that it passed through the Treasury building.
“Don’t look at that map!” shrieked the Professor, beating the air with his hands. “I asked you to bring it to me. Can’t you do a simple action like that without spying about?”
Jennie rapidly unfastened the paper from the wall and brought it to him. The scientist scrutinized it closely, adjusting his glasses the better to see, then deliberately tore the map into fragments, numerous and minute. He rose—and this time Jennie made no protest—went to the window, opened it, and flung the fluttering bits of paper out into the air, the strong wind carrying them far over the roofs of Vienna. Closing the casement, he came back to his chair.
“Was—was anyone hurt at this explosion?” he asked presently.
“Yes, four men were killed instantly, a dozen were seriously injured and are now in hospital.”