that the Princess ran away and presently reappeared with her wraps on. The two drove to the shop of Herr Feltz in the Graubenstrasse, and were told that the chemist could not be seen in any circumstances. He had left orders that he was not to be disturbed.
"Disobey those orders and take in my card," said the Princess.
A glance at the card dissolved the man's doubts, and he departed to seek his master.
"He is working at the analysis now, I'll warrant," whispered the Princess to her companion. In a short time Herr Feltz himself appeared. He greeted the Princess with most deferential respect, but seemed astonished to find in her company the young woman who had called on him a few hours previously with the Director of the Police.
"I wanted to ask you," said Jennie, "to finish your analysis somewhat earlier than four o'clock to-morrow. I suppose it can be done?"
The man of science smiled and looked at her for a moment, but did not reply. "You will oblige my friend, I hope," said the Princess.
"I should be delighted to oblige any friend of your Highness," answered the chemist slowly, "but, unfortunately, in this instance I have orders from an authority not to be disputed."
"What orders?" demanded the Princess.
"I promised the analysis at four o'clock to-morrow, and at that hour it will be ready for the young lady. I am ordered not to show the analysis to anyone before that time."
"Those orders came from the Director of Police, I suppose?" The chemist bowed low, but did not speak.
"I understand how it is, Jennie; he came here immediately after seeing you home. I suppose he visited you again within the hour after he left with this young lady—is that the case, Herr Feltz?"
"Your Highness distresses me by asking questions that I am under pledge not to answer."
"Is the analysis completed?"
"That is another question which I sincerely hope your Highness will not press."
"Very well, Herr Feltz, I shall ask you a question or two of which you will not be so frightened. I have told my friend here that you would do anything for me, but I see I have been mistaken."
The chemist made a deprecatory motion of his hands, spreading them out and bowing. It was plainly apparent that his seeming discourtesy caused him deep regret. He was about to speak, but the Princess went impetuously on.
"Is the Director of Police a friend of yours, Herr Feltz? I don't mean merely an official friend, but a personal friend?"
"I am under many obligations to him, your Highness, and besides that, like any other citizen of Vienna, I am compelled to obey him when he commands."
"What I want to learn," continued the Princess, her anger visibly rising at this unexpected opposition, "is whether you wish the man well or not?"
"I certainly wish him well, your Highness."
"In that case know that if my friend leaves this shop without seeing the analysis of the material she brought to you, the Director of Police will be dismissed from his office to-morrow. If you doubt my influence with my husband to have that done, just try the experiment of sending us away unsatisfied."
The old man bowed his white head.
"Your Highness," he said, "I shall take the responsibility of refusing to obey the orders of the Director of Police. Excuse me for a moment."
He retired into his den, and presently emerged with a sheet of paper in his hand.
"It must be understood," he said, addressing Jennie, "that the analysis is but roughly made. I intended to devote the night to a more minute scrutiny."
"All I want at the present moment," said Jennie, "is a rough analysis."
"There it is," said the chemist, handing her the paper. She read,——
Calcium 29
Iron 4
Quartz ]
Feldspar ] 27
Mica ]
Gold 36-1/2
Traces of other substances 3-1/2
———-
Total 100
Jennie's eyes sparkled as she looked at the figures before her. She handed the paper to the Princess saying,—
"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."
"Can you give me his address?"
The chemist wrote the address on a sheet of paper and handed it to the young woman.
"Do you happen to know whether Professor Seigfried or his assistants have been called in during this investigation?"
"What investigation, madame?"
"The investigation of the recent terrible explosion."
"I have heard of no explosion," replied the chemist, evidently bewildered.
Then Jennie remembered that, while the particulars of the disaster in the Treasury were known to the world at large outside of Austria, no knowledge of the catastrophe had got abroad in Vienna.
"The Professor," continued the chemist, noticing Jennie's hesitation, "is not a very practical man. He is deeply learned, and has made some great discoveries in pure science, but he has done little towards applying his knowledge to any everyday useful purpose. If you meet him, you will find him a dreamer and a theorist. But if you once succeed in interesting him in any matter, he will prosecute it to the very end, quite regardless of the time he spends or the calls of duty elsewhere."
"Then he is just the man I wish to see," said Jennie decisively, and with that they took leave of the chemist and once more entered the carriage.
"I want to drive to another place," said Jennie, "before it gets too late."
"Good gracious!" cried the Princess, "you surely do not intend to call on Professor Seigfried to-night?"
"No; but I want to drive to the office of the Director of Police."
"Oh, that won't take us long," said the Princess, giving the necessary order. The coachman took them to the night entrance of the central police station by the Hohenstaufengasse, and, leaving the Princess in the carriage, Jennie went in alone to speak with the officer in charge.
"I wish to see the Director of Police," she said.
"He will not be here until to-morrow morning. He is at home. Is it anything important?"
"Yes. Where is his residence?"
"If you will have the kindness to inform me what your business is, madame, we will have pleasure in attending to it without disturbing Herr Director."
"I