The letter they wrote that night was posted the day after and the following Friday morning Harry received a fourth and final letter from his brother, this one postmarked September 13th 1944.

It was the longest and in Harry's eyes most patronizing one yet and he was so angry after reading it, that he didn't reply and therefore the brief contact by mail came to a halt, but that wasn't to be the end of their interactions in this period of time.

Dear Harry,

I received your letter and although it proved amusing it was also unfortunately needlessly irritating.

I don't intend, under any condition to quarrel with you by letter, but really you know I find it pitiful – the fuss and the threats you make. You seem pleased at the opportunity.

The phrase ""to expect means – to take for granted – or to anticipate that something would happen, and this obviously would and could be expected from you and that obviously is your brotherly consideration.

I am not going into a treatise on letter writing here but I am quite satisfied with my style. I give credit that the letter was passed on to me and not ignore the kindness completely.

Letter continues on second page:

As regards the reaction – obviously it is to be more discreet.

And now to get the whole position of our relationship in a correct perspective – it is true factually that we are brothers of the same mother, but also you must understand and accept that the following is fact:-

1) You are a name with whom I am attached, so I am told – on a passport. A boy, quite a nice boy who sometimes comes round to see me. I feel quite friendly towards him but we do not have much to do with each other.

2) Your relations are not my relations. I say -yours – because I have and feel no connection with them (except a certain amount of friendliness of course)

3) The old man, the great old man, whom I loved in my way, the grandfather appreciated the position. He understood that the break has to be complete as the younger brother has to start in a new life. He has to become the son of his parents and nothing less, and make a new life among his new relations.

Letter continues on third page:

And now after all these years that has come to be the position and a fact. Were it not, it would be a failure and not fair to Mum and Dad. I am their son. I feel that. I could not be more so were I born of them.

That my dear Harry is the position and must be accepted, and to this end you have a duty, as a brother, to be very discreet. There can be no quarrel between us on this account. There can be no other relationship between us except distant friendliness. I took it for granted always that you had the sense to understand and that I would never have the painful duty to explain it to you.

There is very little news. During the last week we have been working very hard trying to get the house in decent order but so much has been destroyed or damaged that it is a very hard and long job. The weather has not been too good here, but I spent quite a pleasant weekend. I am not feeling too well yet.

Hoping this finds you well and with nothing further to add, I am with best wishes yours, Cyril

Steaming mad, Harry stewed over the fourth letter for another week as he wasn't planning another visit back to London until Friday the 22nd. Interestingly enough just before he did go back he received a short note from the Ostermans inviting him to tea for a second time in the middle of next week. This was particularly curious as he knew for a fact that Betsy never came down in the week (although she sometimes on rare occasions stayed down after a weekend) and wasn't due for another visit until the first weekend in October.

Recently Harry and Sylvia had been getting on extremely well – always happy in her company, he had started to feel they were closer than ever and now he began to confide in her some more and now he wanted to discuss the letters with her. Giving her the gist of the first three and downplaying mention of Betsy Polker, he showed her the last one over tea and cream buns on Sunday the 24th a few hours before he was due to get the train back to Brighton.

SYLVIA SAYS

Harry took Sylvia through the letter bit by bit and this is what she said:

On 'I received your letter and although it proved amusing, it was also unfortunately irritating.' – 

'This is extremely ignorant, bombastic and oblivious of your feelings.'

On 'I don't intend, under any circumstances to quarrel with you by letter, but really you know I find it pitiful – the fuss and the threats you make. You seem pleased at the opportunity.' – 

'This shows that this person doesn't have an emotional bone in his body – where there's no sense, there's no feeling!'

On 'The phrase "to expect" means – to take for granted or to anticipate that something would happen, and this obviously would and could be expected from you and that obviously is your brotherly consideration.' – 

'This is nonsense. You have been extremely loyal to him and kept his sordid secret since you were a boy. If anyone lacks loyalty and is to blame, its Cyril – he's a man now and he has a mind of his own ... supposedly.'

On 'I am not going into a treatise on letter writing here but I am quite satisfied with my style. I give credit that the letter was passed on to me and not ignore the kindness completely. As regards the reaction – obviously it is to be more discreet.' – 

'What style? This is gibberish nonsense with a few big words thrown in to make himself sound superior but I think it's had the reverse effect.'

On 'And now to get the whole position of our relationship in a correct perspective – it is true factually that we are brothers of the same mother, but also you must understand and accept that the following is fact: - You are a name with whom I am attached, so I am told – on a passport. A boy, quite a nice boy who sometimes comes round to see me. I feel quite friendly towards him but we do not have much to do with each other.' – 

'So I am told!!? I was already starting to think someone dropped him on his head as a baby but that confirms it. Has he got memory loss then?? At least he still remembers you 'nice boy' – he could have written back saying he had no idea who you were, with that selective amnesia of his!'

On 'Your relations are not my relations. I say -yours – because I have and feel no connection with them (except a certain amount of friendliness of course).' – 

'What you told me Harry, about your Aunts and uncles, I think had it not been for those relations you both might have been killed by the Nazis right now. He should be eternally grateful they cared enough to pay to bring you both here!'

On 'The old man, the great old man, whom I loved in my way, the grandfather appreciated the position. He understood that the break has to be complete as the younger brother has to start in a new life. He has to become the son of his parents and nothing less, and make a new life among his new relations.' – 

'He's not worthy of even mentioning your grandfather's name and I agree, he should stuff his love and yes, you're not wrong – he's a fake!'

On 'And now after all these years that has come to be the position and a fact. Were it not, it would be a failure and not fair to Mum and Dad. I am their son. I feel that. I could not be more so were I born of them.' – 

'This is extremely one sided. Where does fair to you come into this?'

On 'That my dear Harry is the position and must be accepted, and to this end you have a duty, as a brother, to be very discreet. There can be no quarrel between us on this account. There can be no other relationship between us except distant friendliness. I took it for granted always that you had the sense to understand and that I would never have the painful duty to explain it to you.' – 

'So he gets to dictate the terms? Why would you even want this idiot as your brother? Really Harry, it's getting very tiresome even discussing him. Let's just enjoy the next few hours together until your train comes ... yes I know it's upsetting, but you are the better man.'

A few hours later, Harry was on the train back to Brighton, feeling much better for Sylvia's wise words but deep inside him there still lay the simmering ashes of resentment which were to spark up again a few days later.