Curiosities of Cypher
7 = m, β = s, 9 = i, λ = o. To remind me i.i. ee. m. death ni.h; for m. death, I read my death, and i.i. ee., I guess to be, if I feel. So it stands thus:—'Note.—This is to remind me, if I feel my death nigh, that I had better——'"
I worked on now in silence; Fletcher, leaning his chin on his hands, sat opposite, staring into my face with breathless anxiety. Presently I exclaimed:
"Halves, Mat! I think you said halves!"
"I—I—I—I—my very dear fellow, I——"
"A very excellent man was your uncle; a most exemplary——"
"All right, I know that," said Fletcher, cutting me short. "Do read the paper; I have a spade and pick on my library table, all ready for work the moment I know where to begin."
"But, really, he was a man in a thousand, a man of such discretion, such foresight, so much——"
Down came Fletcher's hand on the desk.
"Do go on!" he cried; and I could see that he was swearing internally; he would have sworn ore rotundo, only that it would have been uncivil, and decidedly improper.
"Very well; you are prepared to hear all?"
"All! by Jove! by Jingo! prepared for everything."
"Then this is what I read," said I, taking up my own transcript:—
"Note.—This is to remind me, if I feel my death
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