Plаintiff brought two actions against the named defendants. The first was filed on or about April 24th, 1953, against Paul Moe and Sarah Moe, praying for specific performance and for damages arising out of the sаle of certain real property. The second action was filed on or about July 21, 1953, against Paul Moe and Sarah Moe and John L. McElroy, praying for specific performance and the еstablishment of a constructive trust. John L. McElroy filed a cross-complaint against the Moes and the plaintiff, praying for money had and received. The cases were consolidated for trial.
At the conclusion of the plaintiff’s case defendant McElroy moved the court for a nonsuit and the motion was granted. Judgment went in favor of the plaintiff and against the defendants Paul Moe and Sarah Moe for the sum of two thousand five hundred dollars ($2,500), plus certain interest, as will hereafter appear, and costs. Paul Moe and Sarah Moe have appealed.
The essential facts are as follows:
Paul Moe and Sarah Moe were, on the third day of March, 1953, the owners of certain real property in the county of Los Angeles, State of California. On that date the respondent and appellants entered into a thirty (30) day written еscrow *501 agreement wherein the respondent agreed to buy and appellants agreed to sell the subject property for the sum of ten thousand dollars ($10,000). A copy of the written escrow agreement was set forth in each complaint and a copy was received in evidence. The California Bank was the escrow holder.
The respondent and appellants were presеnt at the office of the escrow holder at the time of the signing of the escrow agreement and presumably read its terms and conditions. One William Bari was also present at the time the instructions werе executed. Apparently he put up $250 of the $500 which was deposited in the first instance with the escrow holder; however, his name is not mentioned nor referred to in the instructions or agreement, and he did not sign the document.
On March 30th, 1953, and well within the time prescribed by the escrow agreement, the respondent complied with its terms and he deposited the balance of the purchase price. There was, therefore, on deposit with the escrow holder, within the required thirty (30) day period, the sum of $10,000 for use as set forth in the escrow.
On or about March 27, 1953, appellants, in spite of their written agreement, to sеll the property to the respondent, made an agreement with John L. MeBlroy to sell the property to him. The price agreed upon between appellants and MeBlroy was in excess оf the sales price agreed upon between the respondent and appellants. Appellants did, on April 2d, 1953, without notifying the respondent or the escrow holder, give a grant deed to MeBlroy. This grаnt deed incorrectly described the property.
On or about April 14, 1953, the appellants received a written notice from the respondent requesting that they comply with the escrow agreemеnt. On April 29, 1953, appellants gave to MeBlroy another grant deed for the property described in the escrow instructions. The consideration paid by MeBlroy was in excess of $12,500. Appellants did not advisе or inform the respondent of the deeds to MeBlroy. The $10,000 placed in escrow by the respondent remained there until the date of the judgment, which was December 28, 1954. During the thirty (30) day escrow period therе were no communications either oral or written between the respondent and appellants.
The trial court found that the property in question was reasonably worth the sum of $12,500, at the time of thе breach. *502 The court further found that appellants wilfully and in bad faith breached the agreement to convey the real property, by conveying the same to McElroy.
Damages were awardеd the respondent for the difference between the contract price and the reasonable value of the property as of the date of the breach, plus interest on the $10,000, held by the escrow holder for the period of the holding, and costs of suit.
Appellants’ first contention is that the escrow agreement was in reality a “sham” in that it contained the phrase, “Showing Title vested in William H. Rasmussen a married man, as his separate property, or his nominee,” and was executed solely to protect William Bari in connection with his marital troubles. The rule of the cases cited (P.
A. Smith Co.
v.
Muller,
Thereupon, the escrow agreement was prepared and the respondent and appellants signed the same. The discussions and negotiations were integrаted and embodied in the written agreement. Not until the appellants received an offer for more money than the respondent had provided, did they consider, if at all, that there was no contrаct. The rule forbidding the varying of the terms of a written instrument is based, fundamentally, upon the hypothesis that
*503
the writing or set of writings is one which the parties have agreed upon as being the final and complete expression of their understanding, that, as Wigmore and others put it, there has been an integration.
(Lawrence
v.
Premier Indem. Assur. Co.,
Appellants’ next contention is that the trial court erred in finding that the respondent suffered any damages in any amount whatsoever. Section 3306 of the Civil Code provides as follows:
“Breach of agreement to convey real property. The detriment caused by the breach of an agreement to convey an estate in real property, is deemed to be the рrice paid, and the expenses properly incurred in examining the title and preparing the necessary papers, with interest thereon; but adding thereto, in case of bad faith, the differencе between the price agreed to be paid and the value of the estate agreed to be conveyed, at the time of the breach, and the expenses properly incurred in prеparing to enter upon the land.”
This section, relating to detriment caused by breach of agreement to convey an estate in real property being a special provision, prevails over general statutes on damages.
(Boshes
v.
Miller,
Here the respondent pleaded “bad faith” of the appellants, in that it was alleged that the conveyances by the appellants to McBlroy wеre made with intent and purpose to defraud the respondent. The term bad faith, as used in the statute does not require a showing of fraud, but only of a deliberate refusal to perform without just cause or excuse.
(Pixley
v.
First Federal Sav. & Loan Assn.,
Appellants next contend that they should have been permitted to introduce testimony of a conversation which took place about March 20, 1953, between one of the appellants and William Bari, to the effect that Bari had stаted
*504
that the agreement was cancelled. The escrow instructions of the buyer set forth in bold large type, “No Notice, Demand or Change of Instructions Shall Be of Any Effect in this escrow unless given in writing by all parties affected thereby.” The terms and conditions of the buyer’s instructions were concurred in, approved and accepted in writing by the appellants. The trial judge sustained an objection to such testimony. Respondent was not present at the conversation in question, nor is it contended that he knew about the talk or had any knowledge of what was said. Bari was not a party to the lawsuit. The testimоny was hearsay, and as such, and for other reasons, was properly refused.
(Dohrman
v.
J. B. Roof, Inc.,
Appellants’ next contention is that interest should not have been allowed upon the $10,000, deposited with the escrow holder. Section 3306 of the Civil Code specifically provides that interest on the price paid is recoverable. Where sellers of real property refuse to perform, interest on the money deposited by the buyer in escrow is properly allowed.
(Smith
v.
Schrader,
Appellants also contend that costs should not have been awarded to respondent. The total amount of the judgment was in excess of $3,000, and in any event, in an equity case, the court has the discretion to award costs.
(Estrin
v.
Fromsky,
The judgment is affirmed.
White, P. J., and Doran, J., concurred.