The author, Saki, was born at the height of British imperialism. As a child, he travelled with his parents all over Europe, and may have come in contact with people like Mr. Nuttel or the Sappletons. In this time period, the wealthy class played host to strangers, or acquaintances of friends who were introduced into their homes with a letter, especially at their palatial country estates.
So the practice that Mr. Nuttel uses as an invitation into the Sappleton home is the key to understanding the time period that the story is written in, and also having some knowledge of Saki's background and favorite subjects of his writing.
"Saki is most widely known as a satirist of the English ruling classes, and his best known short story is "The Open Window."
"The formal nature of Nuttel's visit is typical of the wealthy classes of the Edwardian age. His use of a letter of introduction so as to meet people in his new community was a common practice among the upper class of the time."
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