title: The Thieves of Threadneedle Street: The Incredible True Story of the American Forgers Who Nearly Broke the Bank of England
author:  Nicholas Booth 
description: <span>"For those who enjoy reading a well-told tale of historical nonfiction, this could be that story... [it] p</span><span>roceeds] with all sorts of twists and turns over the course of much of the latter half of the 19th century. It serves to confirm the old adage that crime never pays, no matter how audacious or convoluted."</span>
zlib_text: ![](images/00001.jpg)
  
  
  # The Last Exploit of Harry the Actor
  
  
  ### Ernest Bramah
  
  
  This page copyright © 2002 Blackmask Online.
  
  
  http://www.blackmask.com  
    
    
  
  
  
  
      
  
  
  
  
  Text scanned and proofed by Arthur Wendover
  
  
  
  
  
  email: arthur@unityspot.com
  
  
  
  
  
  June 22, 2002
  
  
  The one insignificant fact upon which turned the following incident
  
  
  in the joint experiences of Mr. Carlyle and Max Carrados was merely
  
  
  this: that having called upon his friend just at the moment when the
  
  
  private detective was on the point of leaving his office to go to the
  
  
  safe deposit in Lucas Street, Piccadilly, the blind amateur
  
  
  accompanied him, and for ten minutes amused himself by sitting quite
  
  
  quietly among the palms in the centre of the circular hall while Mr.
  
  
  Carlyle was occupied with his deed-box in one of the little
  
  
  compartments provided for the purpose.
  
  
  The Lucas Street depository was then (it has since been converted
  
  
  into a picture palace) generally accepted as being one of the
  
  
  str