‘We have to remind you,’ said the letter, in continuation of paragraphs which had contained simply demands for the money, ’that the title-deeds were delivered to you on receipt by us of authority to that effect from the Messrs Longestaffe, father and son, on the understanding that the purchase-money was to be paid to us by you.  We are informed that the property has been since mortgaged by you.  We do not state this as a fact.  But the information, whether true or untrue, forces upon us the necessity of demanding that you should at once pay to us the purchase-money,—­L80,000,—­or else return to us the title-deeds of the estate.’

This letter, which was signed Slow and Bideawhile, declared positively that the title-deeds had been given up on authority received by them from both the...