In the end, I accepted the spurious letter for
delivery to the French Ambassador."
"Good!" Harleston applauded. "You're learning the method of diplomacy
very rapidly; fire with fire, ruse with ruse, deceit with
deceit--anything for the object in hand."
"It went against me to do it," she admitted, "but I'll pay them in their
own coin--or something to that effect. Of course, I've no intention of
delivering the letter to the French Embassy. I'll deliver it to you
instead."
"Delightful!" Harleston exclaimed. "You're a bully diplomat. However,
I'm not so sure that Spencer ever imagined her letter would reach the
Marquis. She's playing for something else, though what is by no means
clear. Let us have a look at the letter; maybe it will help."
She stood beside him as he cut the envelope and he took out the single
sheet of paper--on which was an assortment of letters, set down
separately and without relation to words.
"What is it," said she, "a scrambled alphabet?"
"Looks like it!" he smiled. "As a matter of fact, however, it's in the
Blocked-Out Square cipher--like the original lett--"
"Then they could read the original?" she cut in.
"Not unless they have its particular key-word--"
"Oh, yes; I remember now," said she.
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