It was not the custom for Denboro residents to communicate with each other through the medium of the post.

They preferred to save the two cents stamp money, as a general thing.

Bills sometimes came by mail, but this was the tenth, not the first, of the month; and, besides, our bills were paid.
I reached into my pocket for my keys, unlocked the box and took out the letter.

The envelope was square, of an expensive quality, and eminently aristocratic.

It was postmarked Denboro, dated that morning, and addressed in a sharp, clear masculine hand unfamiliar to me, to "Roscoe Paine, Esq." The "Esq." would have settled it, if the handwriting had not.