The estate was so small and so heavily mortgaged that I knew I could not live on it.

The rents merely paid the interest.

I was no better off than before.

The cash was all that was saved out of an annuity." From his inner waistcoat pocket he produced a document and dropped it on the desk.
"There is the solicitor's statement, relative to the whole transaction.
And now I'll tell you the rest of it.

I've been a fool.