The Carbon advocate. [volume] (Lehighton, Pa.) 1872-1924, 1889-10-05
THE CIPHER.

During my soJourn in Dion, l was on
intimate terms with an eccentric indi-
vidual named Eustache Loriot, a man of
some forty years of age, fresh, ruddy,
fair compleXioned, rather stout, of me-
dium height, large head, with forehead
un6uly prominent, Socratic nose and
china blue eyes.
He was deputy judge of the tribunal,
but his duties leaving him considerable
leisure, and being possessed of an inde-
pendent fortune, he had early abandoned
himself to passion for bric-a-brac His
collection comprised little of every
thing-rare books, medals, old china.
He was, moreover, a member of an an
tiquarian society, to which he addressed
enthusiastic and prolix memoirs on each
of his discoveries
Like many collectors, he displayed a
childish simplicity and credulity on the
subject of his antiquities. Apropos of a
fragment of china or piece of old iron,
| his imagination suggested to him mar
velous histories, which he ended by be-
lieving in as firmly as in the articles of
| faith.
He had found, for example, in sec
ond hand shop, a shapeless mask of
forged iron, pierced with three holes for
the eyes and mouth, and he was per-
fectly convinced that he possessed the
| Identical iron mask that had served to
conceal the features of the mysterious
prisoner of Saint Marguerite and the
Bastile. He had very nearly quarreled
with me for venturing to insinuate,
mildly, that according to authentic ac-
counts the famous iron mask was of
black velvet, and that, moreover, had it
| been of iron, it was not likely that in
the Seventeenth centup-that epoch of
skilled workmanship-there would not
| have been found for prisoner of i'm
portance something less heavy and less
uncomfortable than this lump of iron.
| Although married, Eustache Loliot
was childless. His wife was pretty
brunette of 2S years, well made, lively,
with pair of dangerous dark eyes. and
a light down on the upper lip
Elegant, pleasure loving, she found life
extremely dull in the silent house in the
Quarter des Grangettes, where her hus-
band accumulated his treasures, and
| where no visitors were received except
ing few old antiquarians and a young
lawyer, friend Of Loriot's, and, like
| him, an amateur in rare books. This
celebrated advocate, Frederic Simonnet
by name, was not more than 80 years of
| age, and passed for the head of the
Dijon bar.
He often came to borrow from Loriots
library, and the evening on which 1 had
the pleasure of making his acquaintance
he had just brought back fine copy of
"Daphnis and Chloe" bound in red
| morocco.
"See," said Loriot, proudly, handing
the book to me, "here is rare book
that came from the library of NJ. des
Armoises, a gentleman of Lorraine, who
was imprisoned during the Terror, con-
| demned to death, and whose mistress,
laundress, aided him to escape on the
morning of the day fixed for his execu-
| ton. l secured this book for almost
nothing at the sale of the effects of the
daughter of the very woman who saved
| Des Armoises."
l took the book, and while turning the
leaves remarked q singular circumstance.
Here and there, from page topage, whole
| lines were underscored with minute dots
or hyphens, some in red ink, others in
yellow ink, and having the appearance
of age.
"Ah, this is curious" l murmured;
"have you noticed this popularity in
your copy?" 1 asked of Loriot, showing
him the marked pages. At the same
time, l raised my head and was struck
| by the uneasy, troubled expression of
the lawyers couutenance. l turned to-
ward Nine. Loriot and was astonished
to see her pretty face reflect, as in a
mirror, the confusion in Frederic Simon
nets.
Loriot had perceived nothing. His
near sighted eyes fixed on the volume,
he was turning the pages, murmuring:
Eyes, it is very strange, and what is
strangest of all is that it had escaped me
until now. And you, Simonnet, had you
remarked it,"
81? No" responded the lawyer, red
dening slightly; 81 attached no import
ance to it,
During this time the young wife had
not uttered word, but was bending over
the fire, stirring it nervously.
"No Importance" cried Loriot, firing
up; ''for my part 1 think there is an his
torical enigma there, mysterious Ian
guage to which l shall discover the key
you shall see, you shall seel"
And he rubbed his hands.
Some eight days after l met Loriot,
and, with characteristic impetuosity, he
seized me by the arm.
my friend" he said, 81 am on the
track, and before long l shall discover
the keyi Here is what have found SO
far" (at the same time drawing the copy
Of "Daphnis and Chloe" from his pocket.
I'm the first place." he continued, in
opening the volume, ''notice that the
dots are always in yellow ink and the
hyphens always in red ink. They seem
to answer each other. Now, it is evident
to me that Des Armoises kept this book
In his prison, and his mistress, visiting
him there, sometimes took away and
sometimes returned the volume, so that
with the aid of cipher the two lovers
used it as a means of correspondence.
Hal is not that an ingenious explanations
Only have not yet discovered the key
to the cipher, but with patience | shall
find itr'
"Will you lend me the book for cou-
pie of days?' | responded. Il have stud
led cipher language little and might be
able to help you"