"其他的就不用再詳述了??傊?,我從數(shù)字"7"的位置開始往上數(shù),繼續(xù)取出第五個詞,直到信的開頭。現(xiàn)在我將取出的密碼字寫成下面畫線的黑體字,你自己讀吧。" To those Concerned Tired of it all I seek the end, and am content. Ambition is dead; the grave yawns greedily at my feet, and with the labor of my own hands lost I greet death of my own will, by my own act. To my son I leave all, and you who maligned me, you who discouraged me, you may read this and know I punish you thus. It"s for him, my son, to forgive. I dared in life and dare dead your everlasting anger, not alone that you didn"t speak, but that you cherished secret, and my ears are locked forever against you. My vault is my resting place. On the brightest and dearest page of life I wrote (7) my love for him. Family ties, binding as the Bible itself, bade me give all to my son. Good-bye. I die. 波默羅伊·斯托克頓 哈奇慢慢地讀著:"I am dead at the hands of my son. You who read punish him. I dare not speak. Secret locked vault on page 7 family Bible. All ① . "啊,老天!"記者驚嘆地說。這一方面欽佩思考機器破解密碼的 ①譯文如下:我死在我兒子手上。讀到這封信的人要懲罰他。我不敢開口。秘密鎖在家庭圣經(jīng)第七頁中。就這樣。
能力,另一方面也在稱贊創(chuàng)造這密碼的人心思巧妙。"你瞧,如果按照文法規(guī)則將"in"這個詞放在"cherished"和"secret"兩詞之間,就會破壞讀密碼的順序了,因此這個詞才會被故 意拿掉。" "這足以將約翰·斯托克頓送上電椅了吧。"哈奇說。
"如果這份密碼不是偽造的,當(dāng)然是足夠了。"科學(xué)家不耐煩地說。
"偽造的!"哈奇倒抽一口氣,"這不是波默羅伊·斯托克頓先生 寫的嗎?" "不是。" "約翰·斯托克頓自己當(dāng)然不會寫了?" "沒錯。" "那么是誰寫的?" "德文小姐。" "德文小姐!"哈奇驚訝地重復(fù)一遍。"那么,是德文小姐殺死波 默羅伊·斯托克頓先生的了?" "不,他是自然死亡。" 哈奇的腦子一片混亂。無數(shù)的疑問一下子全涌出來。他目瞪口呆 地看著思考機器。
"讓我解釋給你聽吧。"思考機器說,"波默羅伊·斯托克頓先生是 死于自然因素--心臟病發(fā)。德文小姐發(fā)現(xiàn)他死了,于是寫了這封信, 放在他的口袋里,再在他的嘴里滴上一滴氫氰酸,并將裝氫氰酸的藥 瓶打破,離開工作室,鎖上房門,等到第二天讓仆人破門而入。