The invitation was handed to me, but the seal—the very wax one applies to secure a missive, the tampering of which used to be a hanging matter, or at least an indictable one, though that is quite beside the point, save for the distinct fact that mine had arrived entirely breached, which may very well still constitute an offence against the Crown, and in any event certainly was one at the time, legally speaking.

"Beggin' yer pardon, guv'nor. Couldn't 'elp meself, see—looked proper intriguin'."