, ta , unless t. a. are a person’s initials. There it goes again! What’s that? atte ⁠—why, it is the same message over again. Curious, Watson, very curious. Now he is off once more! at ⁠—why he is repeating it for the third time. attenta three times! How often will he repeat it? No, that seems to be the finish. He has withdrawn from the window. What do you make of it, Watson?”

“A cipher message, Holmes.”

My companion gave a sudden chuckle of comprehension. “And not a very obscure cipher, Watson,” said he. “Why, of course, it is Italian! The ‘ a ’ means that it is addressed to a woman. ‘Beware! Beware! Beware!’ How’s that, Watson?