“And that proves?” asked Manoel, without divining the deduction that could be drawn from the combination.
“That simply proves that the basis of the document is a number. It shows à priori that each letter is modified in virtue of the ciphers of the number and according to the place which it occupies.”
“And why?”
“Because in no language will you find words with three consecutive repetitions of the letter h.”
Manoel was struck with the argument; he thought about it, and, in short, had no reply to make.
“And had I made the observation sooner,” continued the magistrate, “I might have spared myself a good deal of trouble and a headache which extends from my occiput to my sinciput.”
“But, sir,” asked Manoel, who felt the little hope vanishing on which he had hitherto rested, “what do you mean by a cipher?”
“Tell me a number.”
“Any number you like.”
“Give me an example and you will understand the explanation better.”