About this story
Over steak and kidneys he admits only that a lady's dropped emerald necklace, and her moneylender husband's suspicion, sent him abroad. Back at the Albany you find young cricketer Teddy Garland alone with Raffles's chequebook, practicing a forged signature to meet a seven-hundred-pound debt to that same lender — due at noon, exactly when Teddy is due at the wicket.
How it opens
Raffles cabled you to meet the 7.31 after vanishing for a full fortnight.
On Wednesday evening he emerged from the Carlsbad train a cadaverous version of himself.
No questions, Bunny, until British beef has restored my faith in civilization.
WaiterYour steaks, kidneys, fried potatoes, and bitter are ready, gentlemen.
Tell me whether illness or business took you to Carlsbad.
A lady dropped an emerald necklace, and her husband's suspicion invited correction.