Page 43 of 657

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.