2012/6a.plaintext

   1 Dear Nicholas, things are much clearer now, and I realize the danger you are in. I was visited today by two gentlemen matching the description of Valentine and Proteus. They claimed to be acting for the government and were asking if I knew where to find you. They clearly were aware that you had left Malta, but fortunately had not, as far as I can tell, traced you here.
   2 They were most insistent that they needed to talk with you, saying that the government was owed a substantial sum from the estate of your Uncle and that they wished to discuss terms for repayment. I have to say that I was impressed by their ingenuity. They might equally have claimed to be offering you a sum owed to Tiberius, but the tale they spun carried just the right level of threat to be (almost) convincing.
   3 I deciphered the latest chapter of your Uncle’s will with little more difficulty than I had encountered with the previous section. It was very similar in spirit, and indeed used the same tabula recta, though the encryption algorithm was slightly different. I believe it is known as the Beaufort cipher.
   4 I recommend that you stay away from London for a little while, until we have considered what we must do to protect you. I have contacts who may be able to help.
   5
   6 Very best wishes,
   7
   8 Charles