As Mickey had feared, the round was one bad surprise for the inspector. 'What is this! A wrongly fitted water tap,' he shouted, beside himself with anger. 'A wash basin without a drain! And there is even a pipe across the middle of the room. This is hard to understand!'

However, that was not all, not by a long shot. He found fault with a flush that did not work, a sink that was improperly fitted, an unconnected electric water boiler and a whole lot of other things'

Mickey would have liked the ground to open up and swallow him. He stood there and had to watch his boss disgrace himself.

To crown it all, Higgins even began to sob. 'Oh no! How terrible! The efforts of a whole week are brought to nought in one single moment. Do you want to spoil the impeccable reputation of my family' A family that has produced generations of plumbers'

Then he even went down on his knees before the inspector. 'As far back as I can remember, it is this modest and honest job that has given life meaning. Please, please, do not torture me any longer! Ruin me if you absolutely want to, but please do it fast!'

'Gosh, can he lay it on thick!' thought Mickey silently. He found Rudi's tendency to overreact more than embarrassing.

However, the merciless voice of the inspector suddenly sounded soft and consoling. 'Oh no, I wouldn't want that,' he said in a trembling voice. 'But you must never let this happen again. You must promise me this!' Mickey did not understand the world any more. He was searching for a half-way logical explanation, when Higgins cheerfully tapped him on the shoulder.

'You see,' he said cheerfully, 'that is the way to do it! Come, we will quickly rectify these little mistakes. Then we'll grab a bite and go to the theatre. Our success must be celebrated, don't you think'

However, the next morning, Mickey was flabbergasted. The night before, the villa of Mrs Buttercream had been broken into'

'I have already read the paper,' shouted Minnie eagerly as Mickey came to her, fllustered. 'The thieves have stolen all the jewellery and the valuables.'

'And we must have been in the villa shortly before the break-in.'

'Well, the police will definitely ask you a few questions, ' said Minnie, giving Mickey food for thought. 'Somehow, you are all involved in this matter.'

'Bah! You've got to be kidding!' replied Mickey indignantly. Then he thought over it for a while and said, 'he is quite strange sometimes, hence he could easily be suspected by the police. On the other hand, we have an alibi because we were together the whole evening'

'An idea has just occurred to me,' Minnie interrupted him. 'While you are at work, I could try and find something about those employed at the house of Mrs Buttercream. Perhaps it will lead me on to something.'

'Hmm' that could be rather dangerous.'

'Well' Do you think I am a frightened rabbit' And now, see to it that you go to work. If I find out something interesting, I will immediately call you on your cellphone.'

To be continued