As it happens, an alphabet of sixteen letters is perfectly suited to translation into a binary cypher, for only four binary digits – or four stitches of embroidery – are required to represent a single letter. The Qwghlmian language is almost unbelievably pithy – one of these people can say with a few grunts, gags, and stutters what would take a Frenchman several sentences – and little known outside of that God-cursed place. Both of which made it perfectly suited to the purposes of the Countess, who need communicate, in this case, only with herself. In sum, the Qwghlmian language need not be encyphered, for it is already a nearly perfect cypher to begin with.