the smithy code?

LONDON —­ It took the lawyers-cum-cryptographers from the Olswang law firm here most of Wednesday and Thursday, and a good many hints from Justice Peter Smith, to crack the secret coded message the judge playfully concealed in his ruling in the recent “Da Vinci Code” copyright case.

The answer to the puzzle Justice Smith called the “Smithy Code” was a simple phrase, an homage to Admiral John Arbuthnot Fisher, known as Jackie, credited with modernizing the British Navy in the early 20th century. The phrase, confirmed by the judge, was: “Jackie Fisher who are you Dreadnought.”

brought to you by the player/coach