Suddenly the door was flung open and the governor appeared.  With a motion of his hand he signed for Joyce to withdraw, and the villain went out, leaving the precious document in my hands.  Major Van der Wycke used to do the rounds in a somewhat erratic fashion, and for this once I thanked his eccentricity.  When he went he desired the sergeant to accompany him, and for the time being I was at liberty to copy the mysterious message.