[Jennie Baxter, Journalist by Robert Barr (writer)]@TWC D-Link bookJennie Baxter, Journalist CHAPTER XV 10/17
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.
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