This is probably a long-shot because I can't supply much
information, but I was wondering if anyone can identify a novel by
Thackeray that contains a wonderful comic scene.
As I vaguely recall it, and I may be recalling it wrongly, the
young hero's father dies. The old man was a reprobate and probably
spent the money that should have gone to his son. He leaves a
letter for his son in which he explains why he had to spend the
money. The letter is filled with latin tags and high-flown language
and all sorts of dodges and excuses.
The punchline is when the narrator describes how the son, after
reading this 'terrible letter.....'.
That's all I recall, but I would enjoy reading the novel if only
for the sake of this scene.
