Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1885-12-18
"A professor Of this town. His name
Is Stephen Bathory"


easily found the three names by follow
ing Bathory to the Corsa Stallion and
Sandorf to the Hotel Delorme.
''You see, Toronthal, continued Sar.
cany, these are the names l have no
hesitation in giving you. You see l an
not playing with YOU"
"All that is very vague I" replied the
banker, who evidently wished to know
more before committing himself.
Wagner" said Sarcany.
Yes! To begin with, You have nc
material proof.
'And what is this then ?"
The copy of the message was placed in
Toronthal's hands. The banker ex.
amlned 1T, not without curiosity. But
its cryptographic words gave no sign OF
sense TO him, and there was nothing 70
prove that they were of the importance
that Sarcany asserted. If he had any
interest in the affair it was merely so far
as 1t affected his customer, Count San
dorf, and with him nothing could occur
to make him uneasy, unless il came to
pass that he desired TO draw out at short
notice the funds deposited in the bank
"Well,' said he mt length, my
opinion still is that it is very vague"
Nothing seems clearer to me, on the
contrary, answered Sarcany, whom the
bankers attitude in no way dlsmayed.
Have you been able to decipher this
letter 2"
"No, but i know how to do SO when
the time comes"
"And how 2"
81 have had something TO do with
such matters before, said Sarcauy,
land good many ciphered dispatches
have passed through my hands. From
careful examination of that one | see
that its key does not depend on IA num-
Der or conventional alphabet which
attributes to n letter different mean
ing to its real meaning. In this letter
an is an $, Il p is p; but the letters
are arranged in certain order, which
order can be discovered by grating "
Sarcany, as We know, was right That
was the system that had been used for
the correspondence. We also know that
it was the most indecipherable one that
could be found.
." Be 1T SO, said the banker, 81 do
not deny but what you are right; but
without the grating you cannot read the
message
Evidently"
And ow will you get the grating ?"
81 do not know yet, answered Sar-
cany; but rest assured l shall get it. 4"
Really Well, if l were in your
place, Sarcany, l should give myself q
good deal of trouble - do so !"
% shall take the trouble that is nee
essary."
10 what end ? l should content
myself with going to the police and
handing them The message
Twill do SO, replied Sarcany coldly.
"but not with these simple presump-
tons What / want before / speak are
material, undeniable proofs. | intend
to become master of this conspiracy
yes absolute master of it, to gain adj
vantages from which | ask you to share I.
And who knows even if it may not be
better to join the conspirators instead of
taking part against them"
Such language did not nstonish Tor
onthal. He well knew of what Sarcany
was capable. But if Sarcany did not
hesitate TO speak III this way, it was
because he, too, knew of what Toron-
thai was capable. His conscience was
elastic enough for anything. Sarcany
knew him of old, and suspected that the
bank had been in difficulties for some
time so that this conspiracy, surprised,
betrayed and made use of, might come
to its aid. Such was Sarcanys idea.
Toronthal, on the other hand, was
seeking to join in with his old broker.
That there did exist some conspiracy
against the Austrian Government and
that Sarcany had discovered the con-
spirators, he was inclined to admit.
This house of Ladislas Zathmar. with
the secret meetings, this ciphered COR
rospondence, the enormous sum held Mt
call by Sandorf all began 10 lock very
suspicious. Very likely Sarcany was
right. But the banker was anxious to do
the best he could for himself and sound
the matter 10 the bottom and would not
yet give III. So he contented himself
With saying:
"And when you have deciphered the
letter-if YOU ever do-you will find it
only refers to private affairs of no impor-
lance, and consequently there will be no
profit for you--or me -
"No |" said Sarcany. i'll tone OF the
deepest conviction. No ! / am on the
track of serious conspiracy, conducted
bv men of high rank, and l add. Silas
Toronthal, that you doubt it no more
than do.
We'll, what do you WANT" asked the
banker.
Sarcany rose, and, in lower tone,
looking straight at Toronthal, replied /:
What | want is this / want admis-
sion to Count Zathmar's house. on some
pretext yet to be found, SO that / can
gain his confidence. Once there, where
nobody knows me, shall get hold of the
grating and decipher this despatch, which
/ can then make use of to further our
interests.
"Our interests why do you want to
mix me up in the affair.""
Because it is we'll worth the trouble,
and Won will gain something out of it. "
And could not you do that 10y your
selt?"
mol have need of your help"
Explain.
"To attain my end want time and
while ] am waiting ] want money. l
have none"
Your credit is exhausted here, ysu
know :"
well, you will open another"
.Nbat oood will that do IN mo ?"