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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!"