“Yes, between the first and second windows, behind my portrait.”
Bournef took down the picture and said:
“I see nothing.”
“It’s all right. The lines of the safe are marked by the moldings of the central panel. In the middle you will see what looks like a rose, not of wood but of iron; and there are four others at the four corners of the panel. These four turn to the right, by successive notches, forming a word which is the key to the lock, the word Cora.”
“The first four letters of Coralie?” asked Bournef, following Essarès’ instructions as he spoke.
“No,” said Essarès Bey, “the first four letters of the Coran. Have you done that?”
After a moment, Bournef answered:
“Yes, I’ve finished. And the key?”
“There’s no key. The fifth letter of the word, the letter N, is the letter of the central rose.”
Bournef turned this fifth rose; and presently a click was heard.