TheCodeBreakers
preceding signs must correspond to "princesa de Gales." The
breach was opened, and before three o'clock in the next morning I
was in possession of eighty-three signs, representing the letters of
the alphabet, and of thirty-three monosyllables, signifying words.
The key is far from being complete, but there remain no longer
unconquerable difficulties .... [This cipher] of the Duke de Estrada
is the most difficult, and at the same time the most important of
all, as a greater number of undeciphered despatches are written in
it than in any other kind of cipher. . . .
The question may be asked, whether my decipherings are
trustworthy? I answer with full confidence in the affirmative. I have
more reason than one for doing so. After I had deciphered the
despatches, I found, in some instances, that they were only
ciphered copies of drafts in plain writing. Thus I had an
opportunity of comparing my interpretations with the originals,
and found that in all essential points
annaabi.ee 
