The Bequest — Ronald Griffin

Young orphaned Tom Luke a companion to Squire Montford, discovered on the elders' death that he was the squire's illegitimate grandson, through a love-match between the squires son David and Mary (a maid) Tom's late mother. David absconded to a remote farm in Sussex where Tom was eventually to learn of his early death and he being the squire's only son thought he was sole benefactor to the Montford estates. To Tom's dismay the squire's London solicitor having died suddenly had already transferred the Montford deeds to the squire's great nephew Rev.Charles Mackay of Fife Scotland, who claimed to be rightful heir to the estates. So did Tom Luke through his coincidental and strange escapades finally make claim to his inheritance or did the Rev. Charles Mackay have prior claim. The novel evolves around other characters of incomprehensible male and female relationships adding certain piquancy and drama to the plot.