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 wedding, 'but
for a wife like that, hanged if I wouldn't compound the ten commandments!'

"I hope," I ventured t