From the Secret Diaries of Samuel Pepys...

Home Alone, Xmas 1665

Day before Christmas, 1665...

Sam off in Greenwich with no intention of making it to London and the
Missus for Xmas...Press of business, harsh duty of plague times, etc,
etc... "Oooh, Samuel..." Mrs Pennington, again in her cups...And
without most of her clothing...

But meanwhile, in London...

"So, Mrs. Pepys, we have been asked by Sir George..."

Cough by companion...Hissed "John"...

"...Sir John Robinson to check on all these fine homes hereabouts, so
sadly emptied by the terrible plague. Tell me, ma'am...It is just you
and the other ladies here in the house?"

"My maids, yes...And our boy, Thomas. But we have old Gibbon at the
gate."

"Yes." beaming smile. "I'm sure all will be well. And you can rest
assured, Mrs. Pepys that Jeremy here and I will do all we can to see
that the King's officers' homes are properly protected in these
uncertain times."

Solemn, dutiful nod from Jeremy beside him...

"That is so kind of Sir John. I confess I was a little nervous about
coming back alone but it's good to know we have extra protection at
hand."

"Certainly ma'am. Well, I think we've completed our survey of your
fine home and its valuables, we'll be on to check the others."

"Good day, gentlemen. Please thank Sir John and give my best to my
Lady Robinson. Mercer, show the gentlemen from Sir John out."

"You got everything, Jeremy?"

"The place is loaded, Styme...Loaded...Silver plates, flagons, fancy wall
hangings, a pearl necklace in the lady's chamber."

"What does a lady need a closet of her own for?" Styme shakes head.

"And I'm sure there was something big in those chests in the cellar."

"That's the best of the lot. Well, we'll make our move tonight. Hit
them all in one night and be off by morning."

"High time two seamen got a little of their own back from these
blokes. But what about the lieutenant of the Tower, Robinson? She
might send to him?"

"Not a chance. He's out with the Court. There's nobody but that old
guard at the gate and he'd be gone if he could walk. The Naval complex
houses are empty, except for the Pepys'. And best of all, excepting
the maids..."

"...She's home alone?"

"Heh, heh..." "Hah, hah, ha..."

.....................................................................................................................................................

That night, when all good people of Londontown slept soundly in their beds or someone else's, it being Restoration England, after all...

"Look at that..."

"What? Jeremy, what are you doin' there?"

"There's pits in the moon, Styme...Look here through the hole here."

"What?"

"The telescope here, look..."

"You bloody moron! We've no time for this! Just wrap it up and grab
the other things."

"Look at all these books, Styme...The man's an educated sort, no
question."

"Just pack up the ones that look valuable...And quietly! We've got to
finish and move on to the other houses."