His meditations were broken in upon by a voice hailing the island from the tow-path.
"Boland's Ait, ahoy!" sang the voice.
Bramwell rose and left the cottage by the door from the study. Abroad it was growing dark. "Philip has been gone a long time," he thought. "But this cannot be he, for he knows how to come over."
In the dusk he saw a man on the opposite side of the canal, with a canvas bag thrown over his shoulder. The man wore a peaked cap, and was in uniform.
"A newspaper for you, Mr. Bramwell," sang out the man.
Bramwell, in great surprise, hastened to the floating stage, and, seizing the chain, pulled the stage athwart the water.
He took the newspaper from the postman's hand. It was too dark to read the superscription.
He hastened back to the study, where the lamp was burning.
He examined the cover in the light of the lamp.
He could not recognise the writing. He had never seen it before.