“No, no, no!” screamed the Professor, springing between her and the table. “Touch anything but that--anything but that. Do not disturb it an inch--there is danger--death not only to you and me, but perhaps to the whole city. Keep away from it!” “Very well, then,” said Jennie, stepping back in spite of her endeavour to maintain her self-control; “open the door. Open both doors and leave them so. After that, if you remain seated in your chair, I shall not touch the machine, nor shall I leave until I make the explanations you require, and you have answered some questions that I shall ask. But I must have a clear way to the stair, in case you should become excited again.” “I’ll unlock the doors; I’ll unlock both doors,” replied the old man tremulously, fumbling about in his pockets for his keys. “But keep away from that machine, unless you want to bring swift destruction on us all.” With an eagerness that retarded his speed, the Professor, constantly looking over his shoulder at his visitor, unlocked the first door, then hastily he flung open the second, and tottered back to his chair, where he collapsed on the tiger skin, trembling and exhausted. “We may be overheard,” he whined. “One can never tell who may sneak quietly up the stair. I am surrounded by spies trying to find out what I am doing.” “Wait a moment,” said Jennie. She went quickly to the outer door, found that it closed with a spring latch, opened and shut it two or three times until she was perfectly familiar with its workings, then she closed it, drew the inner door nearly shut, and sat down. “There,” she said, “we are quite safe from interruption, Professor Seigfried; but I must request you not to move from your chair.” “I have no intention of doing so,” murmured the old man. “Who sent you? You said you would tell me. I think you owe me an explanation.” “I think you owe me one,” replied the girl. “As I told you before, no one sent me. I came here entirely of my own accord, and I shall endeavour to make clear to you exactly why I came. Some time ago there occurred in this city a terrific explosion--” “Where? When?” exclaimed the old man, placing his hands on the arms of his chair, as if he would rise to his feet. “Sit where you are,” commanded Jennie firmly, “and I shall tell you all I can about it. The Government, for reasons of its own, desires to keep the fact of this explosion a secret, and thus very few people outside of official circles know anything about it. I am trying to discover the cause of that disaster.” “Are you--are you working on behalf of the Government?” asked the old man eagerly, a tremor of fear in his quavering voice. “No. I am conducting my investigations quite independently of the Government.” “But why? But why? That is what I don’t understand.” “I would very much rather not answer that question.”