Why should I work when I could steal?' demands A. J. Raffles, a dashing man-about-town by day and a cat burglar by night. Raffles' position as a champion cricket player and prominent member of society provides the perfect cover for his daring burglaries. In these short stories, narrated by Bunny Manders, Raffles' nervous but admiring accomplice, the gentleman thief matches wits with professional criminals, crafty diamond merchants, and other worthy adversaries, including irksome Inspector Mackenzie of Scotland Yard.