 
							 
													Arthur Payne, recently out of prison, meets a stranger, Theo Gaunt, on a train and explains his situation. A few days later another stranger makes a curious proposition. Arthur should participate in a fake robbery and remove some imitation jewellery from the stranger's own safe.
 
							     
							 
							     
							 
							     
							 
							     
							 
							     
							 
							     
							 
							     
							 
							     
							 
							     
							 
							     
							 
							     
							 
							     
							 
							     
							 
							     
							 
							     
							 
							     
							 
							     
							 
							     
							 
							     
							 
							     
							 
							     
							 
							     
							 
							     
							 
							     
							 
							     
							 
							     
							 
							     
							 
							     
							 
							     
							 
							     
							 
							     
							 
							     
							 
							     
							 
							     
							 
							     
							 
							     
							 
							     
							 
							     
							 
							     
							 
							     
							 
							     
							 
							     
							 
							     
							 
							     
							 
							     
							