"What does Central want me for?" Barlow asked when the guard was beyond earshot.
"The organization is going to hibernate. You're to pass the word along. 'Stay away from headquarters.'"
"Why?"
"Dodson must have managed to get agents into our organization. The New Orleans headquarters was raided during a meeting."
"Did they get them all?" he asked quickly.
She nodded. He said nothing, but his hands closed slowly. They both knew the seriousness of the loss, but still her eyes clung to his face. Director Dodson knew the facts of life.
Suddenly her gaze went over his shoulder and her eyes widened with fright. She turned with a stifled scream and fled. Barlow stared after her with puzzled eyes.
"—me she didn't like," said a rueful voice behind him. "I beg your pardon. I guess it's—"
Barlow turned quickly, but saw nothing. Then, as though someone had switched on a light, there was a violet haze in front of him. And in the middle of the haze was the figure of a man. Then the man and the queer haze disappeared as though the light had been turned off.
A moment later it had returned. "—leave you so abruptly," the figure said, and vanished. A second later it reappeared and said, "I'm sorry I had to—"