| a | = | the |
| French ship | = | market |
| sailed from New York | = | price |
| sailed from Boston | = | quotation |
| to-day | = | is |
| for Marseilles | = | any even number |
| for Bordeaux | = | any number with a fraction |
With such a code, a German spy in New York could cable a seemingly harmless message to a friend in Holland, such as:
“The market price is 110.”
That would mean, of course:
“A French ship sailed from New York to-day for Marseilles.”
Whereas a very slight change in wording:
“The market quotation is 110¾.”
would mean:
“A French ship sailed from Boston to-day for Bordeaux.”