"I think this day has taught us that there are many unaccountable things in life, hasn't it, Governor?"
And the Governor, when once more seated alone at his desk, was forced to acknowledge to himself that it had.
Governor Beekman was still at his desk going over some papers when Phillips, some time later, came in and handed him a telegram, saying:
"It's in cipher, sir."
"Cipher!" said the other. "Why cipher? I have no code with anybody. Can you read it?"
"It says 'Coal gone to $6.50 retail.'" And passing it over, added: "It's signed, M. X. Y. Z."
"And you say that's a cipher?" asked the Governor.
"Yes. The X. Y. Z. means the X. Y. Z. Code, apparently," explained Phillips, glibly. "I have the A. B. C. and the X. Y. Z. in my desk. I translated it while you were busy. It means this: 'Court has affirmed Wilkinson conviction. Morehead.'"
Governor Beekman started with genuine anxiety.
"The deuce you say! I'm sorry, very sorry, to hear that," he said; but Phillips only smiled—a smile that the Governor did not see. "I can't understand why they affirm that conviction, I can't—I can't ..." he kept saying to himself. Then aloud to his secretary: "Get me a copy of that opinion, will you, Phillips? I want to see it, word for word."