began to back myself, with her still behind me, to the wall
that was opposite to the steps we had just come down. My cloak was sadly
in my way; but, as I reached the wall, still going backwards, I had my
sword out just in time to keep off, by a flourish of it, the fellow who
had recovered himself, and was coming at me again.

So for a moment, we stood; and in that moment I heard Anne screaming
somewhere for help.

* * * * *

Then I saw how the two other men, at a swift sign from their leader,
spread out on this side and that, so as to come at me from three
directions together; and, at that saw that I must delay no longer.
Before, I think, they saw what I intended, I leapt forward at the fellow
in front, and lunged with all my force; and though he threw up his arms,
with the dagger in one of his bands, and tried to evade a parry all at
once, he was too late; my point went clean through his throat, and he
fell backwards with a dreadful cry. And, at the same moment his two
companions ran in on me from either side.

Now I do not even now see what else I could have done. I felt sure that
one of them would have me, for I could not properly deal with them both;
but I turned and stabbed quickly, with a short arm, at the face of the
one on my right, missing him altogether, and, at the same time strove to
strike with my left elbow the face of the other.

But, ah! Dolly was too quick for me. She must have run forward on my
left to keep the fellow off, for I heard a swift dreadful sound as I
shortened my right arm to stab at the other again; and I felt something
fall about my feet.

I turned like a madman, screaming aloud with anger, careless of all
else, or of whether or no anyone ran at me again, for I knew, in part at
least what had happened; and, at the same moment the yard seemed all
alive with folks running and crying out. The door at the head of the
steps was open, and three or four players ran out and down; while from
Little Russell Street on the right, where the coaches were, a great
number ran in.

But I cared nothing for that at that instant. I had flung away my sword
on to the stones and was stooping to pick up my dear love who had saved
my life. There was already a great puddle of blood, and I felt it run
hot over my left hand that was about her--hot, for it flowed straight
from her heart that had been stabbed through by the knife that was aimed
at me.

* * *