But she will refuse.
She will not be able to. But I hear the rumble of wheels. It is her
carriage. Now carry out my orders to the letter.
As he spoke the gleam of the sidelights of a carriage came round the
curve of the avenue. It was a smart little landau which rattled up to
the door of Briony Lodge. As it pulled up, one of the loafing men at
the corner dashed forward to open the door in the hope of earning a
copper, but was elbowed away by another loafer, who had rushed up with
the same intention. A fierce quarrel broke out, 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.
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