R. Holmes Co. | Page 8

just gazed upon.
"'Yes, let us go in-doors,' she acquiesced. 'Mr. Dutton has something to
say to you, papa.'
"'So I presumed,' said Raffles, dryly. 'And something that were better
said to me alone, I fancy, eh?' he added.
"'Quite so,' said Holmes, calmly. And in-doors they went. Marjorie
immediately retired to the drawing-room, and Holmes and Raffles went
at once to Tattersby's study.
"'Well?' said Raffles, impatiently, when they were seated. 'I suppose
you have come to get the Dorrington seal, Mr. Holmes.'
"'Ah--you know me, then, Mr. Raffles?' said Holmes, with a pleasant
smile.
"'Perfectly,' said Raffles. 'I knew you at Dorrington Hall the moment I
set eyes on you, and, if I hadn't, I should have known later, for the night
after your departure Lord Dorrington took me into his confidence and
revealed your identity to me.'
"'I am glad,' said Holmes. 'It saves me a great deal of unnecessary
explanation. If you admit that you have the seal--"
"'But I don't,' said Raffles. 'I mentioned it a moment ago, because
Dorrington told me that was what you were after. I haven't got it, Mr.
Holmes.'
"'I know that,' observed Holmes, quietly. 'It is in the possession of Miss

Tattersby, your daughter, Mr. Raffles.'
"'She showed it to you, eh?' demanded Raffles, paling.
"'No. She sealed a note to me with it, however,' Holmes replied.
"'A note to you?' cried Raffles.
"'Yes. One asking for my autograph. I have it in my possession,' said
Holmes.
"'And how do you know that she is the person from whom that note
really came?' Raffles asked.
"'Because I have seen the autograph which was sent in response to that
request in your daughter's collection, Mr. Raffles,' said Holmes.
"'So that you conclude--?' Raffles put in, hoarsely.
"'I do not conclude; I begin by surmising, sir, that the missing seal of
Lord Dorrington was stolen by one of two persons--yourself or Miss
Marjorie Tattersby,' said Holmes, calmly.
"'Sir!' roared Raffles, springing to his feet menacingly.
"'Sit down, please,' said Holmes. 'You did not let me finish. I was going
to add, Dr. Tattersby, that a week's acquaintance with that lovely
woman, a full knowledge of her peculiarly exalted character and
guileless nature, makes the alternative of guilt that affects her integrity
clearly preposterous, which, by a very simple process of elimination,
fastens the guilt, beyond all peradventure, on your shoulders. At any
rate, the presence of the seal in this house will involve you in difficult
explanations. Why is it here? How did it come here? Why are you
known as the Reverend James Tattersby, the missionary, at
Goring-Streatley, and as Mr. A. J. Raffles, the cricketer and man of the
world, at Dorrington Hall, to say nothing of the Cliveden plate--'
"'Damnation!' roared the Reverend James Tattersby again, springing to
his feet and glancing instinctively at the long low book-shelves behind

him.
"'To say nothing,' continued Holmes, calmly lighting a cigarette, 'of the
Cliveden plate now lying concealed behind those dusty theological
tomes of yours which you never allow to be touched by any other hand
than your own.'
"'How did you know?' cried Raffles, hoarsely.
"'I didn't,' laughed Holmes. 'You have only this moment informed me
of the fact!'
"There was a long pause, during which Raffles paced the floor like a
caged tiger.
"'I'm a dangerous man to trifle with, Mr. Holmes,' he said, finally. 'I can
shoot you down in cold blood in a second.'
"'Very likely,' said Holmes. 'But you won't. It would add to the
difficulties in which the Reverend James Tattersby is already deeply
immersed. Your troubles are sufficient, as matters stand, without your
having to explain to the world why you have killed a defenceless guest
in your own study in cold blood.
"'Well--what do you propose to do?' demanded Raffles, after another
pause.
"'Marry your daughter, Mr. Raffles, or Tattersby, whatever your
permanent name is--I guess it's Tattersby in this case,' said Holmes. 'I
love her and she loves me. Perhaps I should apologize for having
wooed and won her without due notice to you, but you doubtless will
forgive that. It's a little formality you sometimes overlook yourself
when you happen to want something that belongs to somebody else.'
"What Raffles would have answered no one knows. He had no chance
to reply, for at that moment Marjorie herself put her radiantly lovely
little head in at the door with a 'May I come in?' and a moment later she
was gathered in Holmes's arms, and the happy lovers received the

Reverend James Tattersby's blessing. They were married a week later,
and, as far as the world is concerned, the mystery of the Dorrington seal
and that of the Cliveden plate was never solved.
"'It is compounding a felony, Raffles,' said Holmes, after the