Griffin had booked two rooms at the local inn in the village of Iping. The landlady Mrs. Hall tolerated the strange habits and irritable temper of her strange guest because he had paid her in advance. But the stolen money didn't last long. Griffin had no more ready cash. He pretended to Mrs. Hall that he was expecting a cheque to arrive at any moment. Griffin had to find ready cash. So, the result was the burglary at a clergyman's house.
Very early in the morning, the clergyman and his wife were awakened by the noises in the study. When they came downstairs, they heard the chink of money being taken from the clergyman's desk. Without making any noise, the clergyman flung open the door shouting, “Surrender!” But he was amazed to find the room empty. He and his wife looked under the desk and behind the curtains. They even looked up the chimney. There was no sign of anybody. Yet, the desk had been opened and the money was missing. The clergyman could only utter, “Extraordinary affair!” The invisible man had already decamped with the cash.