He has been mentioned, but many readers may not remember him. Those who do not will soon be reminded of him. And those who do will soon learn more about him. On to the last chapter, if you please!

The Hundred and Oneth Dalmatian

CHRISTMAS DAY at the house in Regent’s Park was absolutely wonderful. The rather good hotels sent plenty more steaks, and though there were not, of course, enough presents to go round, the pups were able to play with lots of things in the house which were not intended to be played with (but were played with ever afterwards). The Dearlys took all the pups into the snowy park; Pongo, Missis, and Perdita circling round to make sure none got lost. And at twilight Pongo and Missis firmly led the Dearlys up to the top of Primrose Hill and barked over a Dogdom-wide network. They even managed to get a message through to the gallant old Spaniel, for two dogs from a village five miles from him made a special trip in order to bark to him. (He sent back a message that he and his dear old pet were very well). Of course, the Dogdom-wide barking was relayed. The farthest-away dog Pongo and Missis spoke to direct was the Brigadier-General Great Dane over towards Hampstead, who was in great barking form.

There is something very mysterious about this barking at twilight,€ said Mrs. Dearly. Do you think they are sending messages?€

Mr. Dearly said it was a charming idea but And then he stopped. Was anything beyond dogs? Not when he thought of all Pongo and Missis had done. How had they got ninety-seven pups back from Suffolk? Pongo and Missis longed to tell him, but they never could.

As soon as Christmas was over, Mr. Dearly decided to act quickly, for he realized that one hundred Dalmatians were too much for one house in Regent’s Park. They were even a bit much for Regent’s Park.

First he advertised in case any of the rightful owners of pups wanted to claim them. But none did for this reason: Cruella had bought all the pups except those stolen from the Dearlys, because it costs a lot to get any expert stealing done these days. (Cruella had paid more to the dog-thieves who stole from the Dearlys than for any litter she had bought). And naturally, people who had sold puppies never thought of them as lost, or did anything more about them. Only one owner turned up, the farmer who had owned Perdita. And he was quite happy to sell her to the Dearlys.