The plot was presumably inspired by a similar ruse used by the mathematician John Napier to identify a thief among his household staff.
Mystery Science Theater 3000 | mystery | Mystery fiction | Mystery Writers of America | Theatre of Hate | The Lost Cabin and the Mystery Trees | Mystery Jets | Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery | The Mystery of Edwin Drood | hate speech | A Thin Line Between Love and Hate | 10 Things I Hate About You | The Mystery of the Marie Celeste | The Mystery of the Blue Train | The Mystery Files of Shelby Woo | Mystery Men | mystery fiction | Marvel Mystery Comics | Martin Mystery | Magical Mystery Tour | House of Mystery | Hate Dept. | Winchester Mystery House | The Mystery of the Yellow Room | Scent of Mystery | Mystery Train | mystery (fiction) | It's a Mystery | Hate Me | Hate Eternal |