TheCodeBreakers
men who tower above their numerous many-sided contemporaries. And
another great Renaissance scholar, John Symonds, declared that "He
presents the spirit of the 15th century at its very best."
Among his friends was the pontifical secretary, Leonardo Dato, one of
the learned men of his age, who during that memorable stroll in the
Vatican gardens brought the conversation around to cryptology. "You've
always been interested in these secrets of nature," Dato said. "What do
you think of these decipherers? Have you tried your hand at it, as much
as you know how to?"
Alberti smiled. He knew that Date's duties included ciphers (it was
before the curia had a separate cipher secretary). "You're the head of the
papel secretariat," he teased. "Could it be that you had to use these
things a few times in matters of great importance to His Holiness?"
"That's why I brought it up," Dato replied candidly. "And because of
the post I have, I want to be able to do it myself without having to use
annaabi.ee 
