Book Two

Chapter IV.

Treating of the Disarrangement of Order,
and the Modes depending thereon.

We must begin with the first Mode of hidden writing, which arises from the principle of Order. For we very properly, keeping the letter still intact as respects both its identity and its power, make concealment as dependent upon Order the subject of our first inquiry and discussion. When I say Order, I understand thereby the Order of Collocation, in accordance with which letters are written for the purpose of forming words and sentences; in the matter of which Order the common practice is well known to all. That our inquiry, however, may in the case of these and the following Cardinal Modes be carried on in the right way, we must observe three principles, which are found present together in each and every one of these Modes. The first of these principles I shall call the directive principle; the second, the executive principle; the third, the completive principle; see Piccolomini, De Motu Animal., c.2. The first shapes our material remotely; the second, approximately; the third, proximately. The first issues orders, the second executes, the third renders assistance. Each of the three has its own unchanging rule and law. That of the first is that we should depart as far as possible from the common practice; that of the second, that we should advance by trickery, wile and deceit; that of the third, that we should put our work through to completion not in hap-hazard fashion, but everywhere systematically. I am advised, then, by the directive principle that I must depart, by the Disarrangement of the Accustomed Order, from this present way of writing.

            This Disarrangement is Apparent, or Real, or Mixed.  Apparent Disarrangement of the Order of Letters takes place when through Inversion we depart from the customary way of writing. Real Disarrangement takes place when, abiding by the customary way of writing we separate the letters from one another and scatter them about in different sequence. Mixed Disarrangement takes place when we abide by Order and yet break its continuity by Non-significant letters. These three rivulets from the stream of Disarrangement, like so many Executive Principles, constitute three kinds of trickery, wile and deceit, whereby we must here make our advance. And these three kinds of trickery, wile and deceit are later fettered by the completive principle, or proximate cause, with system and fixed rules of art and each one, being confined strictly within its own limits, is enabled to present itself to us in its highest perfection and true nature. This true nature known, the secret brightens upon us by Inverted Order, by Separated Order, or by Order under Obsession, as it were, of other letters,—the secret which would otherwise have remained hidden and concealed.

            Now the Modes corresponding to these kinds of trickery, wile and deceit are named by our approximate principle. Thus, classifying as above, I will say that the Modes of our general division, Disarrangement are these three: (1) Inverted Writing; (2) The Scattering, or Strewing, of Letters; (3) The Superinduction of Non-significant Letters. Later, in accordance with the advice of the proximate completive principle, these Modes are in their various subdivisions more specifically defined by descriptive epithets. This will be seen presently in the case of each Mode individually; for I now proceed to unfold the Modes singly and in order.