“The cypher!... Have you ever been a schoolboy, or were you born a lieutenant in the German Army?” Franz von Kreuzenach admitted that he had once been a boy--to the amusement of his brother officers. Had he ever read stories of adventure, fairy tales, romances, or did he spend his childhood in the study of Nietzsche, Haegel, Schopenhauer, Kant, Goethe, von Bemhardi, Karl Marx------- When she strung off these names--so incongruous in association--even the President permitted a slight smile to twist his thin hard mouth. Franz von Kreuzenach said that he had read some fairy tales and stories of adventure. Might he ask the _gnadiges Fraulein_---- “Yes,” said the President, “what has this to do with your case, Fràulein? I desire to give you full liberty in your defence, but this is entirely irrelevant to the evidence.” “It is my case!” cried Miss O’Connor. “Listen to the next question, Herr President. It is the key of my defence.” Her next question caused laughter in court. “I ask the Herr Lieutenant whether, as a boy, or a young man, he has read the romances of the French writer, Jules Verne?” Franz von Kreuzenach looked abashed, and blushed like a schoolboy. His eyes fell before the challenging look of the Irish girl. “I have read some novels by Jules Verne, in German translations.” “Oh, in German translations--of course!” said Miss O’Connor. “German boys do not learn French very well.” “Keep to the case,” said the President. “In heaven’s name, Fraulein, what has this to do with your defence?” She raised her hand, for patience, and said, “Herr President, my innocence will soon be clear.” She demanded of the witness for the prosecution whether he had ever read the novel by Jules Verne called “The Cryptogram.” He said that he had read it only a few days ago. He had discovered it in her room. Eileen O’Connor turned round eagerly to the President. “I demand the production of that book.” An orderly was sent to the lieutenant’s rooms to fetch it. It was clear that the President of the Court made a black mark against Franz von Kreuzenach for not having mentioned its discovery to the Court. As yet, however, he could not see the bearing of it on the case. Then, with the book in her hand, Eileen O’Connor turned to the famous cryptogram, showed how it corresponded exactly with her own cypher, proved that the pieces of paper found in her rooms were copies of the Jules Verne cypher in the handwriting of her pupils. “You see, Herr President!” she cried eagerly. The President admitted that this was proved, but, as he asked, leaning forward in his chair, for what purpose had they copied out that cypher? Cyphers were dangerous things to write in time of war. Deadly things. Why did these ladies want to learn the cypher?