The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1878-10-12
THE PRESS.
IFraser's Magazine.l
The Private Secretary.


on one hand to invent, and on the other to
detect the medium used in secret correspon-
dence. As rule the decpherer had beaten
the cipher, and no known method was secure
of detection. If CONVENTIONAL signs merely
were used, the recurrence of the different
symbols gave key easy to follow out. Some
ingenious spirits corresponded by reference
to the pages and lines OF particular editions
of particular books-others by an agreed vo-
cabulary. But these last methods, although
they might preserve the secret, disclosed what
was often quite as dangerous, that there was
secret. ] am about to tell you of plan
which for long time was not only unde-
tected, but unsupported.
1t was at that time when the first Napoleon
had assembled his fleets and transports at
Brest, with the ostensible, and as is generally
believed the real, view of making descent
on England. The greatest precautions were
OBSERVED by the English government in regard
10 correspondence from France, and an
amount OF espionage was practiced at the
post office which LETT Sir James Graham's
subsequent performances in that line far be-
hind. The national excitement was intense,
and the political department was administered
with iron sway.
My uncle. Sir George Trevor, was, as the
world knew, high in the admiralty; and as it
was from him that heard this anecdote, its
Veraclty may DE depended upon.
The dispatches to and from the admiralty
were the subject Of the greatest vigilance and
the most stringent regulations. The clerks
were not permitted to send or receive letters
which were not submitted to the chief clerk
and it was believed that letters which were
addressed even to their private residences
were frequently opened at the post-office
AT the time speak of, the chief clerk was
an elderly man OF the name of Parker-a
rrJIzn cd IL I'D.
with the official tincture of Whitehall, taat it
had become second nature to him. He was
a genial and kindly soul, keen and energetic
In the affairs of his Office, and in all Others
mere child.
He had engaged as his private secretary
young fellowtof the name of Beaumont. who
was one of the most promising subordinates
in the establishment He was modest, I'M
assuming man, very good looking, with
countenance and air suggestive of depression
and melancholy. He was evidently of good
education, and probably we-born also, for
his manners were easy, and indicated good
breeding. He was native of jersey, and
had been introduced to the notice of the adj
miralty authorities by some influential mem
Der OF parliament. He was much liked in
the Office, and discharged his duties to perfec-
ton.
Que morning Parker presented himself be-
fore my uncle with visage pale with woe
and trembling with excitement.
why, what is the matter, Parker? Has
Bonaparte come? %
He may have, for uught I know" said
Parker. "Things are all wrong, Sir Georgew
What is wrong?"
The letters are wrong. There is spy
among us. have known it for long: now I
am quite sure but cannot find him OUT
Parker went on to explain that he had for
some time suspended that some one in the Of
ana uesfpRaImg99Rjcated private information
confirmed in his suspicious, he VAL an ever
baif1ed in his endeavors to detect the culprit.
but, Parker" said my uncle, show do
you come to be so sure that your secrets have
rlnspired?'
''By the funds, Sir George, They answer
to the news as surely as the bell down stairs
does to the bell-rope. l find them going IN
and down as ii they were sitting in the Of
hce," said Parker, personifying the stock ex-
change for the moment.
Have all the letters to the clerks been ex-
AHMED strictly?'
= Eyes, read them all myself"
'Fnd nothing in them ?'
IN ghty little. Some are from home some
from friends, and some of them from sweet
hearts," said Parker, twisting his face into a
grim smile, land rum things they say in
hem."
"And the young mems letters. Are they
UNI, too?"
''They are more careful like, as they know
am to see them; but Lord save YOU, sir.
they are all stuff; not ha'porth of harm in
hem."
81 This matter must be seen to- said nv
uncle; Il have had my own misgivings on
tue same subject Bring me all the letters
which come to, and are sent by, the clerks
for the next week. There is no reason whv
you should have all the rum things to YOUR
self.''
SO my uncle had the letters for a week. and
found them very much such as Parker had
described them. The suspicious SYMPTOMS
had increased, the Stock Exchange responded
more sensitively than ever; but not the sllgtt-
est ground for suspecting any one transpired.
My uncle was bewildered, and Parker was
rapidly verglng to INSANITY.
1T is certainly not the clerks" said nv
uncle. There is no treason there" said he
pushing back the letters of the day. "By
the way, how does young Beau mont get on !?
she seems nice creature, that sister of his.
to Judge by her letters'
HE is the best baud in the office, by a long
sight; and his sister is a very sweet, ladylike
creature. They are orphans, poor things, and
he supports her out of his salary. She called
at the office two months ago, and gave him
AOoNO W oOO uCl lOl d lew uluuU6S III NV room.
But he knew it was against rules, and has
not seen her here again."
But what are we to do?" said my uncle:
II think will speak to the FIRST IIord,''
So he spoke to the First Lord, who thought
the affair serious enough
ut must be In the letters" said he.
1T cannot be in the letters" said nv I'M
Gle.
GAS you please" said the chief: "but al
though you cannot find it there, perhaps an
other can. wonld try an expert.'
MY uncle had no faith in experts, or Bow
street runners, and mistrusted them. But he
could not refuse to try the experiment sno.
gested. SO the most experienced decipherer
IN London was summoned into council and to
him the letters of the day were secretly sub
mitted.
He read them all very carefully, looked at
them in the light, and looked at the light
through them. AT last he put them all aside.
executing one from Elinor Beaumont,
"Who is the lady that writes this ?'' said the
taciturn man OF skill at last.
"a very sweet young woman, "said Parker
smartly; SISTER of my private secretary.U
"Does she write often ?"
Yes, she is his only correspondent, and
writes about twice week."
"Where does she live?'
she lives in Jersey, Beaumont told me.
Their father was 10 business there.''
And does she always write about the same
kind of things--aunt's rheumatism, picnics.
squlre's tea parties and the like?'
much the same, excepting when she
speaks of Beaumont himself''
Hump said the expert.
"Well, sir" said my uncle who was rather
impatient OF the man of skilps pompositv.
land what may HUMP mean? Have the
young woman and her aunts rheumatism
done the mischief"
s'Hum! She dates from Fleet street p,
"Ahd why should she not date from Fleet
street, sir?" 0'
IL should be sorry to prevent her." said the
unmoved philosopher. "Has this correspon-
dence continued long?"
"Oh, yes-a couple of years orr Sc. gnot
nearly SO regularly as latey''
"For how long regularly"
"About Two months"
"That is, about the time when Won first
suspected the betrayal of confidence
"Really, my friend, if you can't see farther
into milestone than that, you may give up
the profession" said my uncle. "Take nv nv
word for it, the Beaumonts have nothing to
do with it. Rubbish"
Hump And with that the man of skill