An image of the Egyptian Mercury (29) brought to mind my recent solution of the Riddle of the Great Sphinx. The old Antiquary was surely the man to whom I should open my heart.
"Are you interested in Egypt?" I began. "I have just arrived from Cairo, and, to be plain, have made a stupendous discovery—I have solved the Riddle of the Great Sphinx!" And I gave him an account of my discovery in detail.
The Antiquary seemed to drink in my last words, and in another moment had dragged me to the back of the shop.
"Man!" he gasped, "do you know what you have done? By this solution you have the chance of solving another and greater mystery!"
Leading me to a dark corner, the Antiquary lighted a taper and showed me a narrow door of oak strengthened with iron.
"What is this?" I asked. The Antiquary slipped a roll of parchment into my hand. I found on it this verse, engrossed in old English characters:
JVGUVAGUVFANEEBJCBEGNYQVZ
VAWRJRYYRQPNFXRGOEBHTUGSEBZSNE
UNFYNVASBEGUVEGRREPRAGHEVRF
XVATNEGUHEFFJBEQRFPNYVONE (30)
Though I carried the cryptogram back to America with me, it has to this day remained unsolved—and the Antiquary is dead!