Mr. Robb, a wealthy gentleman, has unearthed a well-preserved statue, which turns out to be of great antiquity. He presents it to the National Museum. Mr. Walls, a rich American, offers £2,000 for it, but is refused. Raffles, as a ...See moreMr. Robb, a wealthy gentleman, has unearthed a well-preserved statue, which turns out to be of great antiquity. He presents it to the National Museum. Mr. Walls, a rich American, offers £2,000 for it, but is refused. Raffles, as a connoisseur, obtains entrance to Robb's house, where he leaves on a table a case of cigarettes, which he has prepared with opium. Mr. Robb is going away, and asks for a number of policemen to be sent to guard the treasure and convey it to the museum. A detachment is sent, and waiting, grow rather tired, and help themselves to the cigarettes, and are soon unconscious. Raffles and his confederates enter, rolling a large barrel containing a block of stone the same weight as the statue. The latter is placed in the cask, and the stone takes its place in the case. Mr. Walls bribes the guard of the train in which Ganimard and his assistants are carrying the case containing the supposed statue. The guard drops the case from the van, but Ganimard sees the action, and seizes Walls, who is carried off to prison. Ganimard proudly carries the case to the Government offices and opens it, disclosing only a stone. In prison Walls receives a letter from Raffles telling him that the case will fail, and telling him to call on Raffles if he wishes the statue. Raffles has a replica made of the statue, and when Walls calls sells it to him as the original for £5,000. Written by
Anonymous
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