In a quarter of an hour I had reduced the numerals to letters, subtracted my love’s name, and deciphered it—yes, the fatal message stood revealed.
Chapter Thirty Two.
Weston Expresses Certain Fears.
On reference to the checker-board which my friend had sent me, I found that the word “Lolita” read 31. 34. 31. 24. 44. 11.
These numbers I began to subtract from the first six numbers of the secret message, but the letters represented by the remaining numbers were a mere unintelligible jumble. At last, however, after considerable thought, I tried taking the numbers down the columns:—namely 63. 49. 46. 68. Subtracted by the keyword there remained 32. 15. 15. 44., which I found on reference to my checker-board was the word “meet.”
At last the secret was mine! Very soon I had deciphered the numerals into this message:—
“Meet me in the avenue on Monday. Fear nothing. Marie betrayed to police.—Lol.”
Lolita herself had therefore enticed the unfortunate young man to his doom.