which was increased by the two guardsmen, who took sides with one of the

loungers, and by the scissors-grinder, who was equally hot upon the other side.

A blow was struck, and in an instant the lady, who had stepped from her

carriage, was the centre of a little knot of flushed and struggling men, who

struck savagely at each other with their fists and sticks. Holmes dashed into

the crowd to protect the lady; but, just as he reached her, he gave a cry and

dropped to the ground, with the blood running freely down his face. At his fall

the guardsmen took to their heels in one direction and the loungers in the

other, while a number of better dressed people, who had watched the scuffle

without taking part in it, crowded in to help the lady and to attend to the

injured man. Irene Adler, as I will still call her, had hurried up the steps;

but she stood at the top with her superb figure outlined against the lights of

the hall, looking back into the street.


“Is the poor gentleman much hurt?” she asked.


“He is dead,” cried several voices.


“No, no, there’s life in him!” shouted another. “But

he’ll be gone before you can get him to hospital.”


“He’s a brave fellow,” said a woman. “They would have

had the lady’s purse and watch if it hadn’t been for him. They were

a gang, and a rough one, too. Ah, he’s breathing now.”


“He can’t lie in the street. May we bring him in, marm?”


“Surely. Bring him into the sitting-room. There is a comfortable sofa.

This way, please!”


Slowly and solemnly he was borne into Briony Lodge and laid out in the

principal room, while I still observed the proceedings from my post by the

window. The lamps had been lit, but the blinds had not been drawn, so that I

could see Holmes as he lay upon the couch. I do not know whether he was seized

with compunction at that moment for the part he was playing, but I know that I

never felt more heartily ashamed of myself in my life than when I saw the