Page:Krakatit (1925).pdf/134



sat down and lit a very fat cigar, after which he reflected for a time. “Tchah!” he said at last. “So it exploded with you also. When was that? The date?”

“I can’t say now.”

“The day of the week?”

“I don’t know. I think two days after Sunday.”

“Tuesday then. And at what time?”

“About some time after ten in the evening.”

“Correct.” Mr. Carson thoughtfully blew out some smoke.

“With us it exploded as you were pleased to express it, ‘by itself’  on Tuesday at ten thirty-five. Did you notice anything at the time?”

“No. I was asleep.”

“Aha! It also explodes on Fridays, about half-past ten. On Tuesdays and Fridays. We tested it,” he explained in answer to Prokop’s fascinated look. “We left a milligram of Krakatit lying exposed and watched it day and night. It exploded on Tuesday and Friday at half-past ten. Seven times. Once also on a Monday at ten twenty-nine. So.”

Prokop was inwardly horrified.

“A sort of blue spark appears on it,” added Mr. Carson, absorbed, “and then it explodes.”