Page:Curiosities of Olden Times.djvu/49

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 37