Page:The Diothas, or, A far look ahead (IA diothasorfarlook01macn).pdf/336

 to the effect that a telephone-call had sounded for me some hours before. On learning of my absence, the caller had requested the placing of a diuba. This useful piece of apparatus consisted of an ingeniously contrived sealed case, containing a phonographic registering apparatus, to which any private or confidential message might be safely confided. On breaking the seal, and setting the apparatus in motion, I first listened to a brief message from Hulmar. He gently reproached me with my excessive devotion to research. Deuro, it seems, had communicated with him soon after my departure.

"No discoveries, however interesting," he concluded, "could compensate for injury to your health. I will not say more on that subject at present, however. Reva bas a message that will effectually prevent any danger from that source for the present."

Hulmar had, seemingly, not communicated to Reva the alarming message he had received. Her tones breathed only joyous anticipation.

"Ialma has at last revealed the plan she would not that day reveal to Ulmene and me. You would never guess how good she has been. She put off her wedding-day for a week—you remember how it surprised us all—entirely on our account, yes, yours and mine. With Olav's consent,—what a good brother he is, and how glad I am he likes you!—Ialma has arranged to have her wedding at Falo (the later name of Buffalo), so that you may be present. I had resigned myself not to see you for a whole year, yet thought myself happy. But now"—

Then followed some directions and explanations. In the first place, I was to leave Salu that same evening, so