I believe I need trouble you with no preamble as to my
reasons when I tell you that I have resolved to abandon
immediately any title that I may have to the possession of
Orley Farm, and to make over the property at once, in any
way that may be most efficacious, to my half-brother,
Mr. Joseph Mason, of Groby Park. I so strongly feel the
necessity of doing this at once, without even a day's
delay, that I shall take my mother to lodgings in London
to-morrow, and shall then decide on what steps it may be
best that we shall take. My mother will be in possession
of about L200 a year, subject to such deduction as the
cost of the trial may make from it.

I hope that you will not think that I intrude upon you
too far when I ask you to communicate with my brother's
lawyers on the subject of this surrender. I do not know
how else to do it; and of course you will understand that
I wish to screen my mother's name as much as may be in my
power with due regard to honesty. I hope I need not insist
on the fact,--for it is a fact,--that nothing will change
my purpose as to this. If I cannot have it done through
you, I must myself go to Mr. Round. I am, moreover, aware
that in accordance with strict justice my brother should
have upon me a claim for the proceeds of the estate since
the date of our father's death. If he wishes it I will
give him such claim, making myself his debtor by any
form that may be legal. He must, however, in such case
be made to understand that his claim will be against a
beggar; but, nevertheless, it may suit his views to have
such a claim upon me. I cannot think that, under the
circumstances, I should be justified in calling on my
mother to surrender her small income; but should you be of
a different opinion, it shall be done.

I write thus to you at once as I think that not a day
should be lost. I will trouble you with another line from
London, to let you know what is our immediate address.

Pray believe me to be
Yours, faithfully and obliged,

LUCIUS MASON.

T. Furnival, Esq.,
Old Square, Lincoln's Inn Fields.

As soon as he had completed this letter, which was sufficiently good
for its purpose, and clearly explained what was the writer's will on
the subject of it, he wrote another, which I do not think was equally
efficacious. The second was addressed to Miss Furnival, and be