A door opened and a meek looking man hesitantly approached the front desk.

“Can I help you?” asked the Constable.

“I’m not sure,” stammered the man. “Is this Scotland Yard?”

“It is,” replied the Constable.

“Ah. I’ve been robbed.”

“I see.” The Constable automatically collected some papers from a drawer beside him. “Do you wish to file a report?”

“Yes, please.”

After a moment of scribbling, he began. “Where did this robbery occur?”

“At my business.”

“And how much money was taken?”

“None.”

The Constable looked up. “None?”

“No money was taken.”

“Then what was?”

“My list of clients.”

“I see.” He resumed writing.

“Specifically, their middle initials.”

He stopped again. “What?”

“You see,” he explained, “I run a Monogram Shoppe. People leave me their names and I put their initials on handkerchiefs, watches, cufflinks, that sort of thing. Without their middle initials, I can’t finish my orders. My business is at a standstill!”

“But who would want to steal middle initials?”

“Oh, you’d be surprised.”