The Venus Statue
Wednesday, March 27th, 2019“I wonder where the entrance to the sub cellar is?” said Dr. Arbuthnot Smythe, looking around the vast basement.
“What a beautiful statue of Venus, look there between the two pillars at the far end wall,” exclaimed Dr. Smythe, as his assistant Pascal’s flashlight illuminated it briefly.
“Really impressive, Dr. Smythe. The room is full of statues and artworks, but I see no trap door anywhere,” said Pascal, continuing to search the poorly lit space with his flashlight.
“Wagner T. Buckfuller’s granddaughter, Isabel, said his will indicates that her inheritance is located in a sub cellar with access through a trap door,” said Dr. Smythe.
“Wait, I see a tablet on the wall over there with some writing,” shouted Pascal, running over to a far wall.
Dr. Arbuthnot Smythe quickly followed to have a look at the tablet hanging in a blue frame.
“It seems like gibberish, said Dr. Smythe, “must be a code.”
Pascal pulled out a notebook, “Let me have it, Dr. Smythe.”
“TPNTT-HUIRE-ESPAA-SHPPT-TVLDT-AEEOO-TNAOO
-UUNRP-ESPUE-BLTNN-AEUDT-SFREH-ETNRE”
“That really is a mouthful,” exclaimed Pascal.
“Columnar code with a keyword, obviously,” replied Dr. Smythe.
“I wonder what the keyword could be, some particular fondness of Wagner T. Buckfuller’s?” said Pascal.
“When we discover it, the task will be an easy one,” said Dr. Smythe.
“Let’s have a chat with Isabel. Knowing her grandfather’s idiosyncrasies, perhaps she can give us a clue.”
Can you work out what the coded tablet text says in order to help Dr. Smythe and Pascal locate Isabel’s inheritance?