No. 7 The Adventure of the Thor Bridge by Arthur Conan Doyle
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for_it . I_can assure you, however, that_the relations between Miss Dunbar and me don't really touch this_case ."

" that_is for_me to decide, is_it not ? "

"Yes, I guess that_is so .You're like asurgeon who wants every symptom before he_can give his diagnosis ."

"Exactly .That expresses it .And it_is only apatient who has an object in deceiving his surgeon who_would conceal the facts of_his case ."

" that_may_be so, but you_will admit, Mr Holmes, that most men would shy off abit when_they are asked point-blank what their relations with awoman may_be -- if_there_is really some serious feeling in_the case .I guess most men have alittle private reserve of_their own in some corner of_their souls where they don't welcome intruders .And you burst suddenly into_it .But the object excuses you, since it_was to_try and save her .Well, the stakes are down and_the reserve open, and you_can explore where you_will . what_is it you_want ? "

"The truth ."

The Gold King paused for amoment as one who marshals his thoughts .His grim, deep-lined face had become even sadder and more grave .

" I_can give it to_you in avery few words, Mr Holmes," said he at last ." there_are some things that_are painful as_well as difficult to_say, so I won't go deeper than is needful .I met my wife when i_was gold-hunting in Brazil .Maria Pinto was_the daughter of agovernment official at Manaos, and she was very beautiful . i_was young and ardent in those days, but even now, as I look back with colder blood and amore critical eye, I_can_see that she was rare and wonderful in her beauty . it_was adeep rich nature, too, passionate, whole-hearted, tropical, ill-balanced, very different from_the American women whom I had known .Well, to_make along story short, I loved her and I married her . it_was only when_the romance had passed -- and it lingered for years -- that I realized that we had nothing -- absolutely nothing -- in common .My love faded .If hers had faded also it might_have_been easier .But you_know the wonderful way of women ! Do what I_might, nothing could turn her from me .If I_have_been harsh to her, even brutal as some have said, it_has_been because I_knew that if I_could kill her love, or if_it turned to hate, it would_be easier for both of us .But nothing changed her .She adored me in those English woods as she had adored me twenty years_ago on_the banks of_the Amazon .Do what I_might, she was as devoted as ever .

"Then came Miss Grace Dunbar .She answered our advertisement and became governess to our two children .Perhaps you_have seen her portrait in_the papers .The whole world has proclaimed that she also is avery beautiful woman .Now, I make no pretence to_be more moral than my neighbours, and_I_will admit to_you that I_could_not live under the same roof with_such awoman and in daily contact with her without feeling apassionate regard for her . do_you blame me, Mr Holmes ? "

" I_do_not blame you for feeling it . i_should blame you if_you expressed it, since_this young lady was in asense under your protection ."

"Well, maybe so," said the millionaire, though for amoment the reproof had brought the old angry gleam into his eyes ."I'm not pretending to_be any better than I_am .I guess all my life I've been aman that reached out his hand for what he_wanted, and I never wanted anything more than_the love and possession of_that woman . i_told her so ."

"Oh, you_did, did you ? "

Holmes could look very formidable when he_was moved .

" I_said to her that if I_could marry her i_would, but that_it_was out of_my power . I_said that money was no object and_that all I_could do to_make her happy and comfortable would_be_done ."

"Very generous, I_am_sure," said Holmes with asneer .

"See here, Mr Holmes . I_came to_you on aquestion of evidence, not on aquestion of morals .I'm not asking for your criticism ."

" it_is only for_the young lady's sake that I touch your case at all," said Holmes sternly ."I don't know that anything she_is accused of is really worse than what you_have yourself admitted, that you_have tried to ruin adefenceless girl who was under your roof .Some of you rich men have to_be taught that all the world cannot_be bribed into condoning your offences ."

To my surprise the Gold King took the reproof with equanimity .

"That's how I_feel myself about_it now .I thank God that my plans did_not work out as I intended .She would_have none of it, and she wanted to leave the house instantly ."

"Why did she not ? "

"Well, in_the first place, others were dependent upon her, and it_was no light matter for her to let them all down by sacrificing her living .When I had sworn -- as I_did -- that she should never be molested ygain, she consented to remain .But there_was another reason .She knew the influence she had over me, and that_it_was stronger than any_other influence in_the_world .She wanted to use it for good ."

"How ? "

"Well, she knew something of_my affairs . they_are large, Mr Holmes -- large beyond the belief of an ordinary man . I_can make or break -- and it_is usually break .It wasn't individuals only . it_was communities, cities, even nations .Business is ahard game, and_the weak go to_the wall .I played the game for all it_was worth .I never squealed myself, and I never cared if_the other fellow squealed .But she saw it different .I guess she was right .She believed and said that afortune for_one man that was more than he_needed should_not_be built on ten thousand ruined men who were left without the means of life .That was how she saw it, and I guess she could_see past the dollars to something that was more lasting .She found that I listened to what she said, and she believed she was serving the world by influencing my actions .So she stayed -- and then this came along ."

" can_you throw any light upon that ? "

The Gold King paused for aminute or more, his head sunk in_his hands, lost in deep thought .

"It's very black against her . I_can't deny that .And women lead an inward life and may do things beyond the judgment of aman .At first i_was so rattled and taken aback that i_was ready to_think she had_been led away in some extraordinary fashion that was clean against her usual nature .One explanation came into my head . I_give it to_you, Mr Holmes, for what it_is worth . there_is no_doubt that my wife was bitterly jealous . there_is asoul-jealousy that_can_be as frantic as any body-jealousy, and though my wife had no cause -- and i_think she understood this -- for_the latter, she was aware that_this English girl exerted an influence upon my mind and my acts that she herself never had . it_was an influence for good, but that did_not mend the matter .She was crazy with hatred and_the heat of_the Amazon was always in her blood .She might_have planned to murder Miss Dunbar -- or we_will say to threaten her with agun and so frighten her into leaving us .Then there might_have_been ascuffle and_the gun gone off and shot the woman who held it ."

"That possibility had already occurred to_me," said Holmes ."Indeed, it_is_the only obvious alternative to deliberate murder ."

"But she utterly denies it ."

"Well, that_is_not final -- is_it ? One can understand that awoman placed in so awful aposition might hurry home still in her bewilderment holding the revolver .She might even throw it down among her clothes, hardly knowing what she was doing, and when it_was found she might try to lie her way out by atotal denial, since all explanation was impossible . what_is against such asupposition ? "

"Miss Dunbar herself ."

"Well, perhaps ."

Holmes looked at his watch ." I_have no_doubt we_can get the necessary permits this_morning and reach Winchester by_the evening train .When I_have_seen this young lady it_is very possible that I_may_be of more use to_you in_the matter, though I_cannot promise that my conclusions will necessarily be such as you_desire ."

there_was some delay in_the official pass, and instead of reaching Winchester that day we went down to Thor Place, the Hampshire estate of Mr Neil Gibson . he_did_not accompany us himself, but we had the address of Sergeant Coventry, of_the local police, who had first examined into_the affair . he_was atall, thin, cadaverous man, with asecretive and mysterious manner which conveyed the idea that he_knew or suspected avery great deal more than he dared say .He had atrick, too, of suddenly sinking his voice to awhisper as_if he had come upon something of vital importance, though the information was usually commonplace enough .Behind these tricks of manner he soon showed himself to_be adecent, honest fellow who was not too proud to admit that he_was out of_his depth and would welcome any help .

"Anyhow, I'd rather have_you than Scotland Yard, Mr Holmes," said he ."

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