Without a thought of guarding, his assailant rushed at him to run him through; but Rupert parried the thrust, and in turn drove the end of his stick, with all his force, into his opponent's stomach.

The man instantaneously doubled up with a low cry, and fell on the ground.
Then the other man, who had by this time risen to his feet, in turn rushed furiously at Rupert.

A few times the sword and stick scraped and rasped against each other, and then Rupert lunged full at the other's face.
There was a loud cry, an oath, and then, as the sound of the watch running down the street, led by the chairman who had run away, was heard, the man took to his feet and fled.

The lackey who had engaged Hugh, and who had in vain endeavoured to get to close quarters with the lad, imitated his example; but the prostrate man on the ground, and the fellow held by the chairman, were seized by the watch.
Rupert turned to the young lady, who, having now disencumbered herself of the folds of the cloak over her head, was leaning, half fainting, against the chair.
Taking off his hat and bowing deeply, he expressed his hope that she had suffered no harm through the unmannerly assault upon her.
"I thank you greatly, sir," she said, speaking with a slightly foreign accent.

"I am unhurt, although somewhat breathless.