To Catch a Thief

A. J. Raffles is the greatest of all fictional thieves. His charm, brilliant wit, and handsome appearance make his a welcome guest in the homes of England's wealthiest families. "Why settle down in some humdrum, uncongenial billet," he asks his devoted companion Bunny Manners, "when excitement, romance, danger and a good living are all going begging together?" His powers of observation, icy calmness under pressure, and improvisational skills make him a brilliant thief. Of course, what he is doing is wrong, but "We can't all be moralists, and the distribution of wealth is very wrong to begin with!" In the title story, Raffles must find a brilliant jewel thief who is mimicking his methods, and relieve him of the loot. The climactic final scene is played out high above London in a terrifying storm, as Raffles fights to disarm a cunning adversary in a confrontation which must be fatal to one of them. Raffles was the inspiration for several films including the Cary Grant, Grace Kelly version of To Catch a Thief.