“Maybe she heard that cat last night, and thought it was a burglar, just as we did,” Bessie suggested.  “I can’t account for a breakfast like this in any other way, can you?”

“No,” said Thaddeus, shortly, and then he had an idea; and when Thaddeus had an idea he was apt to become extremely reticent.

“Poor Thad!” thought Bessie, as she noted his sudden change of demeanor.  “He can’t stand loss of sleep.”

The morning was spent by Thaddeus in the “noble pastime of snooping,” as he called it.  The house was searched by him in a casual sort of way from top to bottom for a clew to the mystery, but without avail.  Several times he went below to the cellar, ostensibly to inspect his coal supply, really to observe the demeanor of Margaret, the cook.  Barring an unusual pallor upon her cheek, she appeared to be as she always had been; but with the waitress it was different.  Mary was evidently excited over something, but over what Thaddeus could not, of course, determine at that time.  Later in the day, however, the cause of her perturbation came out, and Thaddeus’s effort to keep Bessie from anxiety over the occurrence of the night before was rendered unavailing.  It was at luncheon.  The table was set in a most peculiar fashion.  The only china upon it was from an old set which had been discarded a year previous to the time of this story, and Bessie naturally wanted to know why, and the waitress broke down.

“It’s—­it’s all we have, ma’am,” said she, her eyes filling with tears.

“All we have?” echoed Mrs. Perkins in surprise.  “Why, what do you mean?  Where is the other set?”

“I don’t know,” protested the waitress.

“You don’t know?” said Thaddeus, taking the matter in hand.  “Why don’t you know?  Isn’t the china a part of your care?”

“Yes, sir,” replied the maid, “but—­it’s gone, sir, and I don’t know where.”

“When did you miss it?” asked Thaddeus.

“Not until I came to set the table for lunch.”

“Was it in its proper place at breakfast-time?”

“I didn’t notice, sir.  The breakfast dishes were all there, but I don’t remember seeing the other plates.  I didn’t think to look.”

“Then it wasn’t a cat,” said Bessie, sinking back into her chair; “we have been robbed.”

“Well, it’s the first time on record, I guess, that thieves have ever robbed a man of his china,” said Thaddeus, calmly.  “Have you looked for the plates?” he added, addressing the waitress.

“No, sir,” she replied, simply.  “Where could I look?”

“That’s so—­where?” said Bessie.  “There isn’t much use looking for dishes when they disappear like that.  They aren’t like whisk-brooms or button-hooks to be mislaid easily.  We have been robbed; that’s all there is about that.”

“Oh, well,” said Thaddeus, “let’s eat lunch, and see about it afterwards.”