door opened. Sally stood inside, among the boxes and barrels, looking wan and sickly. For the first time Varanus saw just how much blood was on her dress. Good God, what had the ruffians done to her? There was no doubt that she would have to go to the hospital. Regardless of skill, Varanus was simply not equipped to deal with injuries this extensive. She only hoped that the poor girl would survive the journey.
“Sally,” Varanus said, “I am going to take you to the hospital. We will go out the back way, just in case the men are lurking around the front.”
Rather, to avoid Sally seeing the corpses lying about on the floor.
“Can you walk?” Varanus asked.
“I-I—” Sally stammered. She was panicked, which came as no surprise under the circumstances. She took a few uncertain steps and nearly collapsed against Varanus. “I think so,” she said, sounding only half convinced.
“Well good,” Varanus said, taking her by the arm and leading her to the back door. “We will see if we can obtain a cab on the way.”
At the door, Sally hesitated, eyeing the dark alley nervously.
“Can’t I stay ’ere, doctor?” she asked.
She half turned back toward the clinic, and Varanus was obliged to take her by the arm and pull her the other way, only just preventing her from seeing Ekaterine carrying one of the bodies to the cellar stairs.
“Normally I would prefer that,” Varanus said, “but under the circumstances, I think the hospital will be far more secure than here. And besides, you require several days of rest, and I am not in a position to provide that.”
Sally slowly nodded. She squared her shoulders, lifted her head as best she could, and stepped out into the street. Varanus followed and took a last look back inside. Ekaterine, still descending the cellar stairs, looked up at her and called in French:
“Hurry back! I’ll be certain to save one for you to manage!”
* * * *
To her great relief, Varanus managed to obtain a cab along Shoreditch High Street, only a few blocks away. It was a fortunate thing too, for Sally was already fading by the time Varanus settled her inside. Varanus let the girl rest against her shoulder as they rode through the East End.
At the hospital, Varanus paid the cabby to wait and helped Sally to the front gate. It was closed, of course, but she shook the bars to summon the watchman. Presently a man arrived carrying a lantern, his eyes heavily lidded with fatigue.
“We’re closed!” he shouted. “Come back in the morning!”
“This woman needs help,” Varanus said. “Let us in at once!”
“We are closed,” the watchman repeated. “Come back in the morning!”
Varanus shook her head. She did not have time to waste.
“Is Doctor Constantine here tonight?” she asked. She knew that he would be. Constantine was as devoted to his medical work as Varanus was to hers.
“Aye,” the watchman said hesitantly.
“Then go to him,” Varanus said, “and tell him that Doctor Sauvage is at the gate with a patient in dire need of aid, requesting his assistance.” When the watchman hesitated, she snapped, “Now!”
The watchman stumbled back a step and hurried away. It took only a few minutes for him to return in the company of a dark-haired man with a short, neat beard. The second man, Doctor Constantine, looked alert and energetic despite the late hour.
“Good evening, Doctor,” he said to Varanus, as the watchman unlocked the gate. “Who is your patient?”
“Her name is Sally,” Varanus said. “She was set upon by ruffians not long ago, and she is in dire need of care.”
“So I see,” Constantine said. He looked into Sally’s eyes and smiled. “No need to fear my dear child. You are safe now.”
The gate opened and together Varanus and Constantine helped Sally into the hospital. Constantine led them through the silent halls to an examining room.
“Sit down and make yourself as comfortable as you can,” Constantine said to Sally. “Doctor Sauvage and I will return in just a moment.”
“Yes, sir,” Sally said, nodding weakly. She flashed a look at Varanus, her eyes asking what she should do.
Varanus nodded at her and said, “We shall only be a moment, Sally.”
She followed Constantine into the hallway. He turned to her, his expression clouded with anger.
“I may not have examined her yet, but I can see what she has endured,” he said. “By God, who has done this to her?”
“Men of the streets,” Varanus answered.
“Something must be done about them,” Constantine said. “This cannot be allowed to happen!”
Varanus shared his sentiment but not his optimism.
“They are gone now,” she said, “and I do not think it would be possible to exact vengeance even if they remained. And Sally is but one example. How many other unfortunates have suffered the same on the streets of your majestic city?” She paused. “Will you save them all?”
“If I could, yes,” Constantine said.
“We are agreed on that point,” Varanus said, “but I fear we cannot. What we can do is attend to that poor girl in there.” She pointed toward the examining room.
Constantine nodded. He took a step toward the doorway, but Varanus caught his arm.
“Doctor,” she said, “I am very grateful that you have agreed to see us tonight. I must ask.…”
“Yes?”
“As you know, my duties prevent me from attending my clinic during the daytime,” Varanus said.
It was a convenient conceit for her to avoid the sunlight. Its touch hurt less than it had fifteen years ago, but it still burned her.
“I know this,” Constantine said. “And I am grateful for it. Your patron’s kind donations have already proven to be a significant benefit to the hospital’s finances this year.”
Well naturally, Varanus thought. Where was she to contribute her not insignificant inheritance if not to medical institutions and places devoted to the advancement of science?
“Sally must have several days at least to recuperate,” she said. “I cannot let her convalesce at my clinic, therefore she must remain here. It will be much safer for her as well.”
“And you wish to know if I can arrange a bed for her,” Constantine finished. He took a deep breath and glanced down the hallway. “Yes,” he said at length, “I will make sure of it. There must be a place somewhere, and your patient is truly in need.”
“Thank you,” Varanus said. “I am most grateful.”
“Not another word about it, Doctor Sauvage,” Constantine said. “You would do the same in my place.” He motioned toward the examining room and continued, “Now then, let us see to the poor girl. As she is your patient, I shall follow your lead.”
Varanus smiled at this and said, “Thank you, Doctor. It relieves me to know that I shall have a competent nurse.”
Constantine cleared his throat.
“Kindly do not tell the fellows,” he said, “or I shall never hear the end of it.”
Chapter Three
After tending to the worst of Sally’s injuries, Varanus left her in Constantine’s care. The return trip to the clinic was uneventful, which Varanus almost