“Of course the will which Wright had written was useless. For this we were rather sorry, as it provided handsomely for us all. Still, we have no need to grumble, for the gentleman who succeeded to the estate as heir-at-law – there being no will – treated us all very well. In fact, we’re his servants to this day, and we’ve no notion of seeking fresh places. Thank you, ma’am; I knew you would like my tale.” VII. The Mysterious Thief “Now, Miss Bell,” said my uncle to me one day, “I have a nice little job for you. A certain Mr Flowers, of Kite-street, City, has had no fewer than five different thefts from his house within three months. The thief seems to go very cunningly about his work, for so far he has proved absolutely undetectable, although the police have had the matter in hand from the first.” “And of what nature are the things that have been stolen?” I asked. “Well, their variety would be amusing, were it not so perplexing,” said Mr Bell. “The first thing that was missed was a small scrip-box, containing a recently executed will, and some important trust deeds. Mr Flowers, I should mention, is a solicitor, who resides in rooms over the premises on which he carries on his business. Of course, he was in a great state about losing such responsible property. But not the slightest clue to the perpetrators of the theft could be discovered. “‘If it had been my own property that had been stolen I would not have minded so much,’ said Mr Flowers. ‘But trust deeds! it is too dreadful.’ “Various theories were promulgated as to the nature and motives of the thief, the most feasible one being that someone, hearing that a relative had made a will, had conceived that it was inimical to his interests, and had resolved to steal it from the solicitor with whom he believed it to have been deposited. As, however, the abstracted will was that of an old lady who had no relations or friends who could have expected her money, even this theory suffered from objections. “In a few weeks it was exploded altogether, for a second robbery took place at the house of Mr Flowers. This time it was the greater part of the silver plate that was missing. Experts were all agreed that the thief knew the whole of the interior arrangements of the establishment. Clerks and servants were all subjected to rigid cross-questioning and watching, but came out of the ordeal with flying colours. Mr Flowers, in fact, considered them all above suspicion. But it was natural that, for a time, the detectives should hardly be of his opinion.