It is the tale of an orphan left to the care of his misogynistic uncle - a retired Lt Col of the Indian Army, who suffered a Disappointment in his youth. The uncle spends his time soliciting money from credulous females by sending outrageously fraudulent begging letters and then disbursing the money collected, in a perfectly proper manner.

Major General John Hay Beith, CBE (17 April 1876 22 September 1952), was a British schoolmaster and soldier, but he is best remembered as a novelist, playwright, essayist and historian who wrote under the pen name Ian Hay. (Wikipedia)