The Bad Beginning by Lemony Snicket

lives in the house and library of Justice Strauss, but that is not how the story goes. For as everyone was laughing at Sunny's cry for cake, the important-looking man with all the warts on his face was sneaking toward the controls for the lighting of the theater.
         Quick as a wink, the man flicked the main switch so that all the lights went off and every one was standing in darkness. Instantly, pandemonium ensued as everyone ran this way and that, shouting at one another. Actors tripped over members of the audience. Members of the audience tripped over theatrical props. Mr. Poe grabbed his wife, thinking it was Count Olaf. Klaus grabbed Sunny and held her up as high as he could, so she wouldn't get hurt. But Violet knew at once what had happened, and made her way carefully to where she remembered the lights had been. When the play was being performed, Violet had watched the light controls carefully, taking mental notes in case these devices carne in handy for an invention. She was certain if she could find the switch she could turn it back on. Her arms stretched in front of her as if she were blind, Violet made her way across the stage, stepping carefully around pieces of furniture and startled actors. In the darkness, Violet looked like a ghost, her white wedding gown moving slowly across the stage. Then, just as she had reached the switch, Violet felt a hand on her shoulder. A figure leaned in to whisper into her ear.
         “I'll get my hands on your fortune if it's the last thing I do,” the voice hissed. “And when I have it, I'll kill you and your siblings with my own two hands.”
         Violet gave a little cry of terror, but flicked the switch on. The entire theater was flooded with light. Everyone blinked and looked around. Mr. Poe let go of his wife. Klaus put Sunny down. But nobody was touching Violet's shoulder. Count Olaf was gone.
         “Where did he go?” Mr. Poe shouted. “Where did they all go?”
         The Baudelaire youngsters looked around and saw that not only had Count Olaf vanished, but his accomplices-the wart-faced man, the hook-handed man, the bald man with the long nose, the enormous person who looked like neither a man nor a woman, and the two white-faced women—had vanished along with him.
         “They must have run outside,” Klaus said, “while it was still dark.”
         Mr. Poe led the way outside, and Justice Strauss and the children followed. Way, way down the block, they could see a long black car driving away into the night. Maybe it contained Count Olaf and his associates. Maybe it didn't. But in any case, it turned a corner and disappeared into the dark city as the children watched without a word.
         “Blast it,” Mr. Poe said. “They're gone. But don't worry, children, we'll catch them. I'm going to go call the police immediately.”
         Violet, Klaus, and Sunny looked at one another and knew that it wasn't as simple as Mr. Poe said. Count Olaf would take care to stay out of sight as he planned his next move. He was far too clever to be captured by the likes of Mr. Poe.
         “Well, let's go home, children,” Justice Strauss said. “We can worry about this in the morning, when I've fixed you a good breakfast.”
         Mr. Poe coughed. “Wait a minute,” he said, looking down at the floor. “I'm sorry to tell you this, children, but I cannot allow you to be raised by someone who is not a relative.”
         “What?” Violet cried. “After all Justice Strauss has done for us?”
       
      “We never would have figured out Count Olaf's plan without her and her library,” Klaus said. “Without Justice Strauss, we would have lost our lives.”
         “That may be so,” Mr. Poe said, “and I thank Justice Strauss for her generosity, but your parents' will is very specific. You must be adopted by a relative. Tonight you will stay with me in my home, and tomorrow I shall go to the bank and figure out