I am not a thief, Major Doyle." "You stole the keys, though," said Louise, pointedly.
"I did not even do that," said West.

"On the day of the funeral Joe carelessly left them lying upon a table, so I slipped them into my pocket.

When I thought of them again Joe had gone away and I did not know his address.

I came over and searched the cupboard unsuccessfully.
But it was not a matter of great importance at that time if the stock was mislaid, since there was no one to contest my ownership of it.

It was only after Mr.Merrick accused me of robbing my old friends and ordered my payments stopped that I realized it was important to me to prove my ownership.