The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes | Page 9

As he spoke the gleam of the side-lights 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.
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 beautiful creature against
whom I was conspiring, or the grace and kindliness with which she
waited upon the injured man. And yet it would be the blackest
treachery to Holmes to draw back now from the part which he had
intrusted to me. I hardened my heart, and took the smoke-rocket from
under my ulster. After all, I thought, we are not injuring her. We are but
preventing her from injuring another.
Holmes had sat up upon the couch, and I saw him motion like a man
who is in need of air. A maid rushed across and threw open the window.
At the same instant I saw him raise his hand and at the signal I tossed
my rocket into the room with a cry of "Fire!" The word was no sooner
out of my mouth than the whole crowd of spectators, well dressed and
ill--gentlemen, ostlers, and servant-maids--joined in a general shriek of
"Fire!" Thick clouds of smoke curled through the room and out at the
open window. I caught a glimpse of rushing figures, and a moment
later the voice of Holmes from within assuring them that it was a false
alarm. Slipping through the shouting crowd I made my way to the
corner of the street, and in ten minutes was rejoiced to find my friend's
arm in mine, and to get away from the scene of uproar. He walked
swiftly and in silence for some few minutes until we had turned down

one of the quiet streets which lead towards the Edgeware Road.
"You did it very nicely, Doctor," he remarked. "Nothing could have
been better. It is all right."
"You have the photograph?"
"I know where it is."
"And how did you find out?"
"She showed me, as I told you she would."
"I am still in the dark."
"I do not wish to make a mystery," said he, laughing. "The matter was
perfectly simple. You, of course, saw that everyone in the street was an
accomplice. They were all engaged for the evening."
"I guessed as much."
"Then, when the row broke out, I had a little moist red paint in the