s twice be

did not know

will yo

l not

t th

et her to

e will

e rumble of wheels. It is her carriage.

s with one of the loungers, and by the scissorsgrinder, 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 freel

ntleman much hu

," cried se

uted another. "But he'll be gone b

the lady's purse and watch if it hadn't been for him. They

he street. May we

itting-room. There is a comfo

er 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 injure

ectators, 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. Slippi

" he remarked. "Nothing could ha

e the ph

where

did you f

e, as I told

ill in t

r was perfectly simple. You, of course, saw that everyone in the

ssed a

the palm of my hand. I rushed forward, fell down. clapped my hand

o I could

h was the very room which I suspected. It lay between that and her bedroom, and I was determined to see which.