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pher? You see, it will be apt to tell against him. He knew that Brotherhood had made a promise, and was threatening to break it. So that the police will attach importance to a document which tells him that he will perish if he goes back upon his faith."

"Yes, if they find out about it. But do you suppose the police have read that cipher? I very much doubt it."

"Aren't you going to tell them about it?"

"I don't think so. I know what you'll say, you'll say that one should always tell the truth. But it isn't an easy thing, telling the truth. I know what the truth is⁠—namely that Davenant is innocent. I know, therefore, that this post card was a side-issue, irrelevant to the true explanation. If I show the police the meaning of the cipher, it will fortify them in what I know to be a false impression. Therefore, aren't I serving the best interests of truth if I sit on the cipher and say nothing about it?"

"I wonder," said Gordon.