The Serpent and the Scorpion Read Online Free PDF Page B

mother’s family was related, after all, to the tsarina’s family). She was also proficient in translating ancient Greek and Latin. Ursula always thought Lady Winterton would have made an excellent scholar, but her family disapproved of university education.
    “And Sully,” Winifred continued, “I seem to recall you got interested in ciphers at Somerville. . . .”
    Ursula had studied political history at Somerville College at Oxford, and in her second year had become interested in Mary, Queen of Scots, and the secret code she had used to communicate with her conspirators in the plot to incite rebellion and assassinate Queen Elizabeth I.
    “I was only dabbling!” Ursula protested. “I’d hardly call it anything more than that!”
    “Well, it’s better than nothing,” Winifred retorted.
    Ursula rubbed her eyes. “I do remember asking my father once, and he told me about the Vigenère cipher. I can’t say I remember much more about it—except that it remained indecipherable until the middle of last century.”
    “Your father knew about ciphers?” Lady Winterton asked.
    “A little, I suppose. He was certainly concerned about the potential for industrial espionage, but as far as I’m aware he never actually employed a cipher in his business communications.”
    “Given some of your recent problems with his mills and factories, maybe you should think about doing so yourself,” Lady Winterton observed.
    “Perhaps,” Ursula conceded. “But I have learned one thing from all that I’ve read—almost every cipher to date has been broken. Freddie”—she turned back to face Winifred—“what makes you think we could come up with anything better?”
    A curl of smoke rose from Winifred’s pipe. “It’s worth at least trying. I still have contacts with some other groups who have explored similar issues.”
    “You mean anarchists and Bolsheviks?” Lady Winterton interjected with distaste.
    Winifred merely shrugged. “You needn’t worry, I won’t drag you into any of that sort of thing.”
    “I should hope not,” Lady Winterton retorted. “Some of us have reputations to keep.”
    Winifred’s eyes narrowed, but Ursula intervened quickly.
    “Now is hardly the time,” she chided. “We need to work together, not create more divisions.” Ursula was fully aware that the WSPU contained many different social elements, often in conflict over the degree of militancy, the power of the Pankhursts, and not least, the influence of socialism. Winifred was a strong supporter of Sylvia Pankhurst’s desire to ally female suffrage with other social equity issues. Lady Winterton, however, was true to her own class. She wanted the vote, but she didn’t subscribe to any socialist ideals.
    “Will you at least work with me?” Winifred asked after a pause. “See if we can try to develop a more secure means of communicating with our sisters? It could make the difference between future success and failure.”
    “Of course,” Ursula replied without hesitation. “You know I’ll help you, Freddie, any way that I can.”
    Lady Winterton seemed reticent, but eventually she too nodded. “I won’t be able to do anything for a while,” Ursula reminded Winifred. “I’m not back from Egypt until April.”
    Winifred pulled out a small notebook and pencil from her skirt pocket and began to write. “That reminds me, here is the name of someone who may be useful to contact—Mrs. Mahfouz. She has started a nascent movement to push for universal suffrage. She’s also married to an Egyptian nationalist, so she believes Britain must first withdraw from Egypt. She has written some pieces for the Women’s Press, so I think it would be useful to speak to her.”
    “Thank you,” Ursula said as she folded the piece of paper. “I will definitely try to contact her.”
    “She may be able to share the nationalists’ experience with keeping communications secret,” Winifred agreed before flicking open the fob watch she wore tucked