Page:The Master of Mysteries (1912).djvu/262

 Astro's look was cryptic. "My dear Mrs. Burbank," he replied, "such a nervous force as yours is intensely dynamic; it effects a disturbance of the ether, and to one sensitive to such vibration the message-impression is as plain as the ringing of a bell."

Valeska smiled and folded her hands.

"But now what am I to tell my husband?" Mrs. Burbank exclaimed. "If he knows everything he'll want to kill Colonel Trevellian!"

"The colonel will take himself out of harm's way, I'm sure," said Astro. "He has had his warning. There is only one possible way that I know of plausibly explaining your absence."

Valeska looked up swiftly, as if to anticipate his explanation.

"What can I say?" Mrs. Burbank said doubtfully.

"The truth—a woman's last resort." And Astro favored her with a rather cynical smile.