“Oh, my God—my God!” cried the old man, covering his face with his hands, swaying from side to side in his chair like a man tortured with agony and remorse. At last he lifted a face that had grown more pinched and yellow within the last few minutes.
“I can tell you nothing,” he said, moistening his parched lips.
“You mean that you will tell me nothing, for I see plainly that you know everything.”
“I knew nothing of any explosion until you spoke of it. What have I to do with the Treasury or the Government?”
“That is just what I want to know.”
“It is absurd. I am no conspirator, but a man of learning.”
“Then you have nothing to fear, Herr Seigfried. If you are innocent, why are you so loth to give me any assistance in this matter?”
“It has nothing to do with me. I am a scientist—I am a scientist. All I wish is to be left alone with my studies. I have nothing to do with governments or newspapers, or anything belonging to them.”
Jennie sat tracing a pattern on the dusty floor with the point of her parasol. She spoke very quietly:—
“The pencilled line which you drew on the map of Vienna passed through the Treasury building; the centre of the circle was this garret. Why did you draw that pencilled semi-circle? Why were you anxious that I should not see you had done so? Why did you destroy the map?”