Chapter Twenty Nine.
Reveals the Bondage.
On his return home Hubert sat at his table, and very carefully broke open the stolen envelope.
To his surprise, he found that it merely contained several pieces of tracing linen upon which were many lines, angles, and numbers, all of which were quite unintelligible.
There were four small sheets, each about twelve inches square and as far as he could make out, they related to certain plans—or else they were plans in themselves. The scale seemed very small; therefore, after a long examination, he came to the conclusion that they must form the key to other plans, and had been reduced purposely, so that they could not be used without considerable preparation.
If they formed a key, this, no doubt, would be done in order that no improper use might be made of them.
The four pieces of tracing linen were practically covered with cabalistic signs and numbers, short lines, long lines, and all sorts of carefully ruled angles at various degrees. Yet there was nothing whatever upon them to show what they were.
There, during the night, beneath his shaded reading-lamp he strove to puzzle out their import.