The Infernal Device & Others: A Professor Moriarty Omnibus by Michael Kurland Page A

legs of this chair to make me lower than you. It is all stage setting. Reading me the file to intimidate me with your wealth of sterile facts. I'm sorry, but I'm not impressed. If you have a job for me, tell me what it is, and let's get on with it."
     
                  Zyverbine moved his foot, and the door in the far wall popped open. "Bring another chair," he directed the brown-suited man who appeared in the doorway. "You're right," he told Moriarty. "We of the Okhrana spend much of our time trying to intimidate everyone we deal with, including one another. It is all ridiculousness, is it not?"
     
                  Moriarty sat himself in the new chair, which was of normal height. He fixed his gaze on Zyverbine and remained silent until they were once again alone in the room. Then he said, "What do you want me to do?"
     
                  "Bear with me for another moment," Zyverbine replied, lacing his fingers together under his chin. "I have a few questions for you. We have, as you say, paid your way here for this interview. Surely we have the right to ask a few questions."
     
                  A scraping sound came from the balcony. Moriarty did not look up. "Proceed," he said.
     
                  Zyverbine nodded. "What do you know of explosives?" he asked.
     
                  Moriarty considered. "Of the chemistry," he said, "I know what is known. Of the history, I know very little. Of the utilization, I have a complete knowledge in some specialized areas."
     
                  "Such as?"
     
                  "I can blow open a safe without harming its contents," Moriarty said. "But I could not, without further research, destroy a building or a bridge. I am more familiar with the use of nitroglycerine than nitrocellulose or picric acid."
     
                  "What do you know of submersible boats?"
     
                  "I presume you mean warships, rather than diving bells or similar apparatus?"
     
                  "That is correct."
     
                  "The Turks are testing one."
     
                  "Yes."
     
                  "It is of American design. "
     
                  " Yes."
     
                  "I know little further."
     
                  "Are you familiar with the scientific principles of operation? "
     
                  " Certainly."
     
                  "Ah!"
     
                  "Zyverbine!" a harsh voice called from the balcony above Moriarty. "Sprosy yevo ob anarkhistakh!"
     
                  "What do you know of politics?" Zyverbine asked, without looking up or acknowledging the voice.
     
                  "As little as possible," Moriarty said. "The subject does not interest me."
     
                  "Do you not feel that any one form of government is superior to another?"
     
                  "I have never seen it demonstrated to be so," Moriarty said.
     
                  "Do you believe that sovereigns rule by the will of God or the sufferance of the people?" Zyverbine asked.
     
                  Moriarty thought about this for a moment. "We are of different religions," he said finally.
     
                  "I am not asking about the fine points of dogma," Zyverbine replied. "Whether you are Orthodox, Roman, or a Protester is of no importance for the subject of this conversation."
     
                  "I am an atheist," Moriarty said.
     
                  This remark was greeted by an extended silence from Zyverbine and the unseen one above.
     
                  "Ateyst!" the unseen one said finally, "Bezbozhnik!" Zyverbine looked up. He and the unseen one had a brief, intense conversation. Then there was the sound of a door slamming on the