I have made a rough alphabetical cypher corresponding to the five fingers--like this, see," and he rippled with his fingers on the wooden table--"B A D, bad, a word we may frequently require." Syme poured himself out another glass of wine, and began to study the scheme.

He was abnormally quick with his brains at puzzles, and with his hands at conjuring, and it did not take him long to learn how he might convey simple messages by what would seem to be idle taps upon a table or knee.

But wine and companionship had always the effect of inspiring him to a farcical ingenuity, and the Professor soon found himself struggling with the too vast energy of the new language, as it passed through the heated brain of Syme.
"We must have several word-signs," said Syme seriously--"words that we are likely to want, fine shades of meaning.

My favourite word is 'coeval'.

What's yours ?" "Do stop playing the goat," said the Professor plaintively.