"Maria is very well. She sends her love and desires me
to say she trusts you are spending an enjoyable time with
your relations."
"I should have written to you before, but something has happened
which has upset me more than I can express. A few nights after
you left, the house was burgled, the thief gaining admission
by climbing over the back wall and dropping into the yard;
after which he cut a pane of glass with a diamond out of the
parlour window, thus enabling himself to put in his arm,
undo the fastening of the window, and effect an entrance