Detective and mystery stories; Women journalists -- Fiction
“Could you give me until this hour to-morrow?”
“That will do very nicely,” replied Jennie, looking up at the Director
of Police, who nodded his head.
With that the two took their leave, and once more the Director of Police
politely handed the girl into his carriage, and they drove to the Palace
Steinheimer. Here she again thanked him cordially for his attentions
during the day. The Director answered, with equal suavity, that his duty
had on this occasion been a pleasure, and asked her permission to call
at the same hour the next afternoon and take her to the chemist. To this
Jennie assented, and cheerily bade him good-evening. The Princess was
waiting for her, wild with curiosity to know what had happened.
“Oh, Jennie!” she cried, “who fired the mine, and who robbed the
Government?”
Jennie laughed merrily as she replied,--
“Dear Princess, what a compliment you are paying me! Do you think that
in one afternoon I am able to solve a mystery that has defied the
combined talents of all the best detectives in Austria? I wish the
Director of Police had such faith in me as you have.”
“And hasn’t he, Jennie?”
“Indeed he has not. He watched me every moment he was with me, as if he
feared I would disappear into thin air, as the treasure had done.”
“The horrid man. I shall have my husband speak to him, and rid you of
this annoyance.”
“Oh, no, Princess, you mustn’t do anything of the kind. I don’t mind it
in the least; in fact, it rather amuses me. One would think he had some
suspicion that I stole the money myself.”
“A single word from the Prince will stop all that, you know.”
“Yes, I know. But I really want to help the Director; he is so utterly
stupid.”
“Now, Jennie, take off your hat and sit down here, and tell me every
incident of the afternoon. Don’t you see I am just consumed with
curiosity? I know you have discovered something. What is it?”
“I will not take off my hat, because I am going out again directly; but,
if you love me, get me a cup of that delicious tea of yours.”
“I shall order it at once, but dinner will be served shortly. You are
surely not going out alone to-night?”
“I really must. Do not forget that I have been used to taking care of
myself in a bigger city than Vienna is, and I shall be quite safe. You
will please excuse my absence from the dinner-table to-night.”
“Nonsense, Jennie! You cannot be allowed to roam round Vienna in that
Bohemian way.”
“Then, Princess, I must go to an hotel, for this roaming round is
strictly necessary, and I don’t want to bring the Palace Steinheimer
into disrepute.”
“Jennie, I’ll tell you what we will do; we’ll both bring it into
disrepute. The Prince is dining at his club to-night with some friends,
so I shall order the carriage, and you and I will roam round together.
You will let me come, won’t you? Where are you going?”
“I am going to the Graubenstrasse to see Herr Feltz.”
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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