No. 7 The Adventure of the Thor Bridge by Arthur Conan Doyle
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certain that_the unhappiness would_have remained even if I had left the house ."

" now, miss Dunbar," said Holmes, "I beg you to_tell us exactly what occurred that evening ."

" I_can tell you the truth so_far as I_know it, Mr Holmes, but I_am in_a_position to_prove nothing, and there_are points -- the most vital points -- which I_can neither explain nor can I imagine any explanation ."

" if you_will_find the facts, perhaps others may find the explanation ."

" with regard, then, to my presence at Thor bridge that night, I received a note from Mrs Gibson in_the morning . it lay on_the table of_the schoolroom, and it may have_been left there by her own hand . it implored me to_see her there after dinner, said she had something important to_say to_me, and asked me to leave an answer on_the sundial in_the garden, as she desired no one to_be in_our confidence . I_saw no reason for such secrecy, but I_did as she asked, accepting the appointment . she asked me to destroy her note and I burned it in_the schoolroom grate . she was very_much afraid of her husband, who treated her with a harshness for_which I frequently reproached him, and I_could only imagine that she acted in_this_way because she did_not wish him to_know of_our interview ."

" yet she kept your reply very carefully ? "

" yes . i_was surprised to hear that she had it in her hand when she died ."

" well, what happened then ? "

"I went down as I had promised . when I reached the bridge she was waiting for_me . never did I_realize till that moment how this poor creature hated me . she was like a mad woman -- indeed, i_think she was a mad woman, subtly mad with_the deep power of deception which insane people may_have . how else could she have met me with unconcern every day and yet had so raging a hatred of me in her heart ? i_will_not say what she said . she poured her whole wild fury out in burning and horrible words . I_did_not even answer -- I_could_not . it_was dreadful to_see her .I put my hands to my ears and rushed away . when I left her she was standing, still shrieking out her curses at me, in_the mouth of_the bridge ."

" where she was afterwards found ? "

" within a few yards from_the spot ."

" and yet, presuming that she met her death shortly after you left her, you heard no shot~"

" no, I heard nothing . but, indeed, Mr Holmes, i_was so agitated and horrified by_this terrible outbreak that I rushed to_get back to_the peace of_my own room, and i_was incapable of noticing anything which happened ."

" you say that you returned to your room . did you leave it again before next morning ? "

" yes, when_the alarm came that_the poor creature had met her death I ran out with_the others "

" did you_see Mr Gibson ? "

" yes, he had just returned from_the bridge when I_saw him . he had sent for_the doctor and_the police ."

" did he seem to_you much perturbed ? "

" Mr Gibson is a very strong, self- contained man . I_do_not_think that he_would ever show his emotions on_the surface . but I, who knew him so_well, could_see that he_was deeply concerned ."

" then we come to_the all- important point . this pistol that was found in your room . had you ever seen it before ? "

" never, I swear it ."

" when was_it found ? "

" next morning, when_the police made their search ."

" among your clothes ? "

" yes, on_the floor of_my wardrobe under my dresses ."

" you_could_not guess how long it had_been there ? "

" it had_not_been there the morning before ."

" how do_you_know ? "

" because I tidied out the wardrobe ."

" that_is final . then someone came into your room and placed the pistol there in_order to inculpate you ."

" it must_have been so ."

" and when ? "

" it could only have_been at meal- time, or else at_the hours when i_would_be in_the schoolroom with_the children ."

" as_you were when_you got the note ? "

" yes, from_that_time onward for_the whole morning ."

" thank_you, miss Dunbar . is_there any_other point which could help me in_the investigation ? "

" I_can think of none ."

" there_was some sign of violence on_the stonework of_the bridge -- a perfectly fresh chip just opposite the body . could you suggest any possible explanation of_that ? "

" surely it must_be amere coincidence ."

" curious, miss Dunbar, very curious . why should it appear at_the very time of_the tragedy, and why at_the very place ? "

" but what could_have caused it ? only great violence could_have such an effect ."

Holmes did_not answer . his pale, eager face had suddenly assumed that tense, far- away expression which I had learned to associate with_the supreme manifestations of_his genius . so evident was_the crisis in_his mind that none of us dared to_speak, and we sat, barrister, prisoner, and myself, watching him in a concentrated and absorbed silence . suddenly he sprang from_his chair, vibrating with nervous energy and_the pressing need for action .

" come, Watson, come ! " he cried .

" what_is it, Mr Holmes ? "

" never mind, my dear lady . you_will hear from me, Mr Cummings . with_the help of_the god of justice i_will give_you a case which will make England ring . you_will get news by to- morrow, miss Dunbar, and meanwhile take my assurance that_the clouds are lifting and_that I_have every hope_that the light of truth is breaking through ."

it_was not a long journey from Winchester to Thor place, but it_was long to_me in my impatience, while for Holmes it_was evident that_it seemed endless; for, in_his nervous restlessness he_could_not sit still, but paced the carriage or drummed with_his long, sensitive fingers upon_the cushions beside him . suddenly, however, as_we neared our destination he seated himself opposite to_me -- we had a first- class carriage to ourselves -- and laying a hand upon each of_my knees he looked into my eyes with_the peculiarly mischievous gaze which_was charactenstic of_his more imp- like moods .

"Watson," said he, " I_have some recollection that you go armed upon these excursions of ours ."

it_was as_well for him that I_did so, for he_took little care for_his own safety when his mind was once absorbed by a problem so_that more than once my revolver had_been a good friend in need .I reminded him of_the fact .

" yes, yes, I_am a little absent- minded in_such matters . but have_you your revolver on you ? "

I produced it from my hip- pocket, a short, handy, but very serviceable little weapon . he undid the catch, shook out the cartridges, and examined it with care .

" it's heavy -- remarkably heavy," said he .

" yes, it_is a solid bit of work ."

he mused over it for a minute .

" do_you_know, Watson," said he, "I believe your revolver is going to_have a very intimate connection with_the mystery which_we_are investigating ."

" my dear Holmes, you_are joking ."

" no, Watson, I_am very serious . there_is a test before_us . if_the test comes off, all will_be clear . and_the test will depend upon_the conduct of_this little weapon . one cartridge out . now we_will replace the other five and put on_the safety- catch . so ! that increases the weight and makes it a better reproduction ."

I had no glimmer of what_was in_his mind, nor did he enlighten me, but sat lost in thought until we pulled up in_the little Hampshire station . we secured a ramshackle trap, and in a quarter of an hour were at_the house of_our confidential friend, the sergeant .

"A clue, Mr Holmes ? what_is it ? "

" it all depends upon_the behaviour of Dr .Watson's revolver," said my friend ." here it_is . now, officer, can_you_give me ten yards of string ? "

the village shop provided a ball of stout twine .

" i_think that_this_is all we_will need," said Holmes ." now, if_you please, we_will get off on what I_hope is_the last stage of_our journey ."

the sun was setting and turning the rolling Hampshire moor into a wonderful autumnal panorama . the sergeant, with many critical and incredulous glances, which showed his deep doubts of_the sanity of_my companion, lurched along beside us . as_we approached the scene of_the crime I could_see that my friend under all his habitual coolness was in truth deeply agitated .

" yes," he_said in answer to my remark, " you_have seen me miss my mark before, Watson . I_have an instinct for such things, and yet it has sometimes played me false . it seemed a certainty when first it flashed across my mind in_the cell at Winchester, but one drawback of an active mind is_that one can always conceive alternative explanations which would make our scent a false one . and yet -- and yet -- well, Watson, we_can but try ."

as he walked he had firmly tied one end of_the string to_the handle of_the revolver . we had now reached the scene of_the tragedy . with great care he marked out under the guidance of_the policeman the exact spot where the body had_been stretched . he then hunted among_the heather and_the ferns until he_found a considerable stone . this he secured to_the other end of_his line of string, and he hung it over the parapet of_the bridge so_that it swung clear above the water . he then stood on_the fatal spot, some distance from_the edge of_the bridge, with my revolver in_his hand, the string being taut between_the weapon and_the heavy stone on_the farther side .

" now for_it ! " he cried .

at_the words he raised the pistol to_his head, and then let go his grip . in an instant it had_been whisked away by_the weight of_the stone, had struck with a sharp crack against the parapet, and had vanished over the side into_the water . it had hardly gone before Holmes was kneeling beside the stonework, and a joyous cry showed that he had found what he expected .

" was there ever a more exact demonstration ? " he cried ." see, Watson, your revolver has solved the problem ! " as he spoke he pointed to a second chip of_the exact size and shape of_the first which had appeared on_the under edge of_the stone balustrade .

" we'll stay at_the inn to- night," he continued as he rose and faced the astonished sergeant ." you_will, of_course, get agrappling- hook and you_will easily restore my friend's revol ev . you_will also find beside it the revolver, string and weight with_which this vindictive woman attempted to disguise her own crime and to fasten a charge of murder upon an innocent victim . you_can let Mr Gibson know that i_will_see him in_the morning, when steps can_be taken for miss Dunbar's vindication ."

late that evening, as_we sat together smoking our pipes in_the village inn, Holmes gave_me a brief review of what had passed .

" I_fear, Watson," said he, " that you_will_not improve any reputation which I_may_have acquired by adding the case of_the Thor bridge mystery to your annals . I_have_been sluggish in mind and wanting in_that mixture of imagination and reality which_is the basis of_my art .I confess that_the chip in_the stonework was a sufficient clue to suggest the true solution, and_that I blame myself for not having attained it sooner .

" it must_be admitted that_the workings of_this unhappy woman's mind were deep and subtle, so that_it_was no very simple matter to unravel her plot . I_do_not_think that in_our adventures we_have ever come across a stranger example of what perverted love can bring about . whether miss Dunbar was her rival in a physical or in a merely mental sense seems to_have_been equally unforgivable in her eyes . no_doubt she blamed this innocent lady for all those harsh dealings and unkind words with_which her husband tried to repel her too demonstrative affection . her first resolution was to end her own life . her second was to_do_it in_such_a_way as_to involve her victim in a fate which_was worse far than any sudden death could_be .

" we_can follow the various steps quite clearly, and_they show a remarkable subtlety of mind .a note was extracted very cleverly from miss Dunbar which would make it appear that she had chosen the scene of_the crime . in her anxiety that_it should_be discovered she somewhat overdid it by holding it in her hand to_the last . this alone should_have excited my suspicions earlier than it did .

" then she took one of her husband's revolvers -- there_was, as_you saw, an arsenal in_the house -- and kept it for her own use .a similar one she concealed that morning in miss Dunbar's wardrobe after discharging one barrel, which she_could easily do in_the woods without attracting attention . she then went down to_the bridge where she had contrived this exceedingly ingenious method for getting rid of her weapon . when miss Dunbar appeared she used her last breath in pouring out her hatred, and then, when she was out of hearing, carried out her terrible purpose . every link is now in its place and_the chain is complete . the papers may ask why the mere was not dragged in_the first instance, but it_is easy to_be wise after_the event, and in any case the expanse of a reed- filled lake is no easy matter to drag unless you_have a clear perception of what you_are looking for and where . well, Watson, we_have helped a remarkable woman, and also a formidable man . should they in_the_future join their forces, as seems not unlikely, the financial world may find that Mr Neil Gibson has learned something in_that schoolroom of sorrow where our earthly lessons are taught ."

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