The Confidential Clerk
by Ts. Eliot

A British financier believes himself to be the father of an illegitimate son and daughter.

His wife is convinced that she, too, has a son somewhere, farmed out to foster parents when his father embarrassingly permitted himself to be killed by a rhinoceros on a big game hunt before their marriage could take place.

Both are partly right.

Sir Claude Mulhammer's daughter is actually his, but the son whom he expects to carry on his business turns out to be the child of the sister of his former love.

As for Lady Elizabeth Mulhammer, she also eventually discovers the whereabouts of her progeny.

Sir Claude had always secretly wanted to be a ceramist, a molder of pottery, but went into finance when he realized that he could only be a second-rate one.

As for the supposed son, he is a frustrated organist, who finds a happier solution for his desires than did Sir Claude.