As one examined into the affair it was clear that an entry had been gained to the passage by means of a duplicate or skeleton key to the street door of Signor Gracelli’s residence. Everything had worked in favour of the thieves. Although it was only early in September, Saturday night had been a very stormy one, with drenching rain. After a certain hour at night Bond Street is comparatively deserted, and on a pouring wet night it is remarkably quiet and lonely. The bad weather, of course, was a mere chance that the operators could not have calculated upon; but what they were clearly aware of and had taken into consideration was the absence of the signor and his daughters. For some weeks Signor Gracelli and his family had been in the habit of going away on Saturday about midday to stay until
