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." "But that question--everything is involved in that question.