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“It was last Wednesday when matters came to a head. I had planned to do some shopping in the afternoon, and then take tea with a friend, as it was the servants’ half-day. I took a brooch out of my jewellery case before I left, and placed the case back in the drawer of my dressing-table. When I returned home and went to replace the brooch in the case, I noticed that the contents had been somewhat disturbed, and was horrified to find that a valuable emerald ring which had been in there had vanished. I searched the case and drawer thoroughly, thinking that perhaps it had fallen out, but could not find it anywhere. The ring has great sentimental value to me, as it belonged to my mother, and I was terribly distraught when Cecil arrived home.

“He saw at once that something was wrong, and went dreadfully pale when I told him about the ring. However, he did his best to console me, saying that he was sure I had merely misplaced it, and that it would come to light soon. It was then that a terrible thought struck me. I remembered the empty box where the cufflinks should have been, and the missing watch. Could there be some connection with my missing ring?

“I asked Cecil if he had taken the watch to be repaired, and he seemed very surprised that I should ask. His surprise gave me all the answer I needed, and I told him what I had found. It seemed obvious to me that a thief had been at work, and I urged Cecil to call in the police. A policeman came out to the house the next day, and we soon discovered that other items were missing, such as a tie-pin and a gold snuff-box.”

Our client paused for breath. Holmes, who had been listening carefully to her tale, said, “Your husband has been working long hours for some time, you said. For how long, exactly?”

Mrs Forrester looked somewhat surprised at the question. “Really, Mr Holmes, I cannot see what that has to do with the matter.”

“Nevertheless, Mrs Forrester, I repeat the question. The smallest matter may have a bearing upon the case.”

“Well, it began in June, as far as I can remember.”

“And has continued until the present time?”

“Yes.”

“Have the hours remained unchanged?”

“No–no, he began working even later towards the end of August.” Mrs Forrester had appeared puzzled by the line of questioning, but now understanding broke over her face. “I believe I see the reasoning behind your questions, Mr Holmes. You think that someone has been watching the house from outside, someone who has noted the long hours my husband works and knows when the house will be empty.”

“Possibly,” said my friend in a noncommittal voice. “I cannot theorize before I have all my data. The items that have gone missing thus far – cufflinks, a watch, a tie-pin, a snuff-box – all have belonged to your husband?”

“All except my ring, Mr Holmes.”

“Quite so. Has anything else been missed?”

“No.”

“Yet you must have many more items of value. Has none of your other jewellery vanished?”

“No, Mr Holmes. I am sure I would have noticed.”

Holmes stretched in his chair. “Surely the official force found no difficulty in seeing to the bottom of this affair, for if you will pardon my saying so it hardly seems complex.”

“Well, complex or no, Mr Holmes, the man accomplished little beyond turning our house upside-down before telling us that my maid, Sarah, was the most likely culprit, and that if he could search her belongings he was sure the missing items would be found.”

“Upon what did he base this conclusion?”

“He had been told that Wednesday was the servants’ half-day, and he checked on their actions during the afternoon. We employ four servants – a cook, a housekeeper, a governess, and Sarah. The cook had been visiting her family, and they all confirmed that she had been with them for the entire afternoon. Mrs Lodge, our housekeeper, had spent her afternoon with a friend, and again it was proved that she had been away from the house for the entire time. Mary, our governess, had been out with the twins, who were attending the birthday