Section 9 of the casebook of Sherlock Holmes by Sir.
Arthur Conan Doyle. This ligaments recording may be
distributed and adapted freely for any purpose, the problem of
Thor Bridge, part 2. There was some delay in the
official pass and instead of reaching Winchester that day we
went down to Thor place. The Hampshire is stage 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 a tall thin cadaverous,
man. With a secretive and mysterious
manner, which conveyed, the idea that he knew or suspected, A
very great deal more than he did.
Say he had a trick to of suddenly sinking, his voice to a
whisper 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 a decent 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 Youth
and Scotland Yard mr. Holmes said he, if the yard gets
called into a case, then the local loses all credit for
success and may be blamed for failure.
Now, you play straight, so I thought hurt.
I need not appear in the matter at all said, Holmes to the
evident relief of our Melancholy acquaintances.
If I can't clear it up. I don't ask to have my name
mentioned. Well it's very handsome of you.
I'm sure and your friend dr. Watson can be trusted.
I know. Now, mr.
Holmes, as we walked down to the place, there is one question I
should like to ask you. I'd breathe it to know.
Soul but you he looked round as though he hardly dare utter the
words don't you think there might be a case against mr.
Neil Gibson himself. I have been considering that
you've not seen Miss Dumbo. She's a wonderful fine woman in
every way he may well have wished his wife out of the road
and these Americans are ready our with pistols and our folk
are. It was his pistol, you know?
Was that clearly made up? Yes, it was one of a pair that
he had. One of a pair where is it?
The other. Well, the gentleman has a lot of
firearms of one sort and another we never quite matched that
particular pistol, but the box was made for two.
If it was one of a pair, you should surely be able to match
it. Well, we have them all laid out
at the house. If you would care to look them
over later. Perhaps I think we will walk
down together and have a look at the scene of the tragedy.
This conversation had taken place in the little front room
of Sergeant. Coventry's, humble cottage,
which served as the local police station.
A walk of half a mile or so across a Windswept Heath or gold
and bronze with the fading ferns brought us to a side gate
opening into the grounds of the Thor places State, a path led us
through the Pheasant preserves and then from a clearing we saw
the widespread half-timbered house half Tudor and Half
Georgian upon the crest of the Hill beside us.
There was a long readed pool constricted in the center, where
the main Carriage Drive past over a stone bridge, but
swelling into small. Lakes on either side our guide,
paused at the mouth of this bridge, and he pointed to the
ground. That was where mrs.
Gibson's body. Lay, I marked it by that stone.
I understand that you were there before it was moved.
Moved. Yes, they sent for me at once.
Hold it mr. Gibson himself.
The moment, the alarm was given and he had rushed down with
others from the house. He insisted that nothing should
be moved. Until the police had arrived,
that was sensible. I gathered from the newspaper
report that the shot was fired from.
Close Quarters. Yes sir, very close.
Yeah, the right Temple just behind it.
How does the body lie? On the back sir.
No trace of a struggle, no marks, no weapon, the short note
from Miss Dunbar was clutched in her left hand, clutch to say
yes, we could hardly open the fingers, that is of great
importance. It excludes the idea that anyone
could have placed the note there after death in order to furnish
a false clue. Tell me the Note 2, as I
remember was quite short. I will be at Thor bridge.
At 9:00 G. Dunbar.
Was that not? So, yes, sir did Miss Dunbar
admit writing it. Yes sir.
What was her? Explanation.
Her defense was reserved for the assizes.
She would say nothing. The problem is certainly a very
interesting. Eating one, the point of the
letter is very obscure as it not.
Well, sir said the guide it seemed if I may be so bold as to
say. So the only real clear point in
the whole case Holmes shook his head grunting that this letter
is genuine and was really written.
It was certainly received some time before say one hour or two.
Why then was this lady? Still clasping it in her left
hand. Why should she carry it so
carefully? She did not need to refer to it
in the interview. Does it not seem remarkable
well, so as you put it, perhaps it does.
I think I should like to sit quietly for a few minutes and
think it up. He seated himself upon the stone
ledge of the bridge, and I could see his quick gray eyes darting.
They're questioning glances in every direction.
Suddenly he sprang up again and ran across to the opposite
parapet whipped. His lens from his pocket and
began to examine the stonework. This is curious said he oh yes
sir we saw the chip on the ledge.
I expect it's been done by some passerby The stonework was gray
but at this one point it showed white for a space, not larger
than a Sixpence when examined closely one could see that the
surface was chipped as by a sharp blow.
It took some violence to do. That said Holmes, thoughtfully
with his Cane, he struck the ledge several times without
leaving a mark. Yes.
It was a hard knock in a curious place to it, was not from above,
but from below for you see that it is on the lower edge of the
parapet. But it is at least 15 feet from
the body. Yes it is 15 feet from the body.
It may have nothing to do with the matter but it is a point
worth noting. I do not think that we have
anything more to learn here. There were no footsteps.
Who say the ground was? Iron-hard, Sir.
There were no traces at all. Then we can go.
We will go up to the house first, and look over these
weapons of which you speak, then we shall get on to Winchester
for. I should desire to see Miss
Dunbar before we go farther. Mr. Neil Gibson had not returned
from town but we saw in the house.
The neurotic mr. Bates who had call upon us in
the morning he showed us with a Sinister relish.
The formidable array of firearms of various shapes and sizes
which his employer had accumulated in the course of an
adventurous life. Mr. Gibson has his enemies as
anyone would expect her knew him.
And his methods said, he, he sleeps with a loaded revolver in
the drawer beside his bed. He is a man of violent sir.
And there are times when all of us are afraid of him, I'm sure
that the poor lady who has passed was often terrified.
Did you ever witness physical violence towards her?
No, I cannot say that, but I have heard Words which were
nearly as bad. Words of cold cutting content,
even before the servants. Our millionaire does not seem to
shine in private life, remarked Holmes, as we made our way to
the station. Well, Watson, we have come on a
good, many fact, some of them new ones, and yet I seen some
way from my conclusion In spite of the very evident dislike,
which mr. Bates has to his employer.
I gather from him, that when the alarm came, he was undoubtedly
in his Library dinner was over at 8:30 and all was normal up
to, then it is true that the alarm was somewhat late in the
evening, but the tragedy certainly occurred about the our
named in the note There is no evidence at all that mr.
Gibson had been out-of-doors since his return from town at
5:00 on the other hand. Miss Dunbar, as I understand it,
admits that she had made an appointment to meet mrs.
Gibson at the bridge Beyond this, she would say, nothing as
her lawyer had advised her to reserve her defense.
We have several very vital questions to ask that young
lady, And my mind will not be easy until we have seen her.
I must confess that the case would seem to me to be very
black against her. If it were not for one thing and
what is that Helms? The finding of the pistol in her
wardrobe. Dami homes.
I cried that seemed to me to be the most damning incident of all
not. So what's mmm.
It had struck me. Even at my first perform tree
reading, as very strange, and now that I am in closer touch
with the case, it is my only firm ground for hope.
We must look for consistency, where there is a want of it.
We must suspect Action, I hardly follow you.
Well, now, Watson suppose for a moment that we visualize you in
the character of a woman who in a cold, premeditated fashion is
about to get rid of a rival. You have planned it, a note has
been written. The victim has come, you have
your weapon. The crime is done.
It has been Workman, like and complete.
Do you tell me that after carrying out?
So craft your crime, you would now ruin your reputation as a
Criminal by forgetting to fling your weapon into those adjacent
Reed Beds, which would Forever cover it.
But you must need carry it, carefully home, and put it in
your own wardrobe. The very first place that would
be searched your best friends would hardly call you a schema
Watson. And yet, I could not picture
Doing anything. So crude as that, any excitement
of the moment? No, no Watson.
I will not admit that. It is possible where a crime is
coolly premeditated, then the means of covering it up.
Cooley premeditated also, I hope therefore that we are in the
presence of a serious misconception, but there is so
much to explain. Well we shall set about
explaining it when once your point of view is changed the
very thing which was so damning becomes a clue to the truth.
For example, there is this revolver, Miss Dunbar, disclaims
all knowledge of it, on our new Theory, She is speaking truth
when she says. So therefore, it was placed in
her wardrobe who placed it there.
Someone who wished to incriminate her was not that
person, the actual criminal, you will see how we come at once
upon a most fruitful line of inquiry.
We were compelled to spend the night at Winchester as the
formalities had not yet been completed, but next morning in
the company of mr. Joyce Cummings, the rising
Barrister, who was entrusted with the defense, we were
allowed to see the young lady in her cell.
I had expected from all that. We had heard to see a beautiful
woman, but I can never forget the effect which Miss Dunbar
produced upon me. It was no wonder that even the
masterful millionaire had found in her, something more powerful
than himself, something which could control, and guide, him
one felt too as one looked at the strong clear cut and yet
sensitive face that even should she be capable of some impetuous
deed nonetheless, there was an innate nobility of character
which would make her influence always for the good.
She was a brunette tall with a noble figure and commanding
presence, but her dark eyes had in them.
The appealing helpless expression of the hunted
creature, who feels the Nets around it, but can see no way
out from the toils. Now, as she realized the
presents and the help of my famous friend, there came a
touch of color in her one cheeks and a Light Of Hope began to
glimmer in the glance, which he, And Upon Us perhaps mr.
Neil Gibson has told you something of what occurred
between us? She asked in a low agitated
voice. Yes, Holmes answered, your need
not pain Yourself by entering into that part of the story.
After seeing you, I am prepared to accept mr.
Gibson statement, both has to the influence which you had over
him. And as to the innocence of your
relations, With him. But why was the whole situation
not brought out in court? It seemed to me incredible that
such a charge could be sustained.
I thought that if we waited the whole thing was clear itself up,
without our being compelled to enter into painful, details of
the inner life of the family. But I understand that far from
clearing it has become even more serious.
My dear young lady cried Holmes earnestly.
I beg you to have no Illusions upon the point.
Mr. Cummings her would assure you that all the cards are
present against us and that we must do.
Everything that is possible if we are to win, clear.
It would be a cruel deception to pretend that you are not in very
great danger, give me all the help you can then to get at the
truth. I will conceal nothing tell us
then of your true relations with mr.
Gibson's wife. She hated me mr.
Holmes, she hated me with all the fervor of her tropical
nature. She was a woman who would do
nothing by halves. The measure of her love for her,
husband was the measure also of her hatred for me.
It is probable that she misunderstood our relations.
I would not wish to wrong her, but she loved so vividly in a
physical sense that she could hardly understand the mental.
And even spiritual tie, which held her husband to me or
imagined that. It was only my desire to
influence his power, to good ends, which kept me under his
roof. I can see now that I was wrong.
Nothing could justify me in remaining where I was a cause of
unhappiness and yet it is 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 saw bridge that
night. I received a note 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 great. 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 hard this poor creature hated me.
She was like a mad woman indeed. I think she was a Madwoman
subtly mad with the Deep power of deception, which insane
people may have How else could she have met me with unconcerned
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 world 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 though. And 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 heartbreak that I rushed to get
back to the piece of my own room and I was incapable of noticing
anything which happened. Lll, say that you return 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 your 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.
How do you ever seen it before? Never ice.
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. It had not been there the
morning before. How do you know?
Because I tied it up the wardrobe.
That is final. Then someone came Into your room
and placed the pistol there in order to in cockpit you it must
have been so and when it could only have been at mealtime 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 is surely. It must be a mere 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, tenths 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 my 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 all 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 tomorrow. 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 tooth or place but it was long to me in mind patients
while for Holmes. It was evident that it seemed
endless for in his nervous restlessness.
He could not sit still but paste 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. It's and laying her hand upon
each of my knees. He looked into my eyes with the
peculiarly mischievous gaze which was characteristic of his
more implied. Moods.
Watson said he I have some recollection that you will go
armed upon these excursions of hours.
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 one It's 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-handed but very serviceable little weapon, he
undid the couch, shook out the cartridges and examined it with
care. It's heavy remarkably.
Heavy said he, yes, Yes, it is a solid bit of work.
He mused over it for a minute. Do you know what said, he, I
believe your revolver is going to have a very intimate
connection with the mystery which were investigating my dear
Holmes. You are joking know what's and 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 ramshackled trap. And in a quarter of an hour were
at the house of our confidential friend, the sergeant barklow,
mr. Holmes, what is it?
It all depends upon the behavior of doctor.
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 start 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 more 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 all 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
conceived alternative explanations.
Which Make our scent of false one and yet and yet well what 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 policemen, 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 pass. Parapet of the bridge so that
it's one 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 taught between
the weapon and the heavy Stone on the father's 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 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 cries 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 will
stay at the Inn tonight. He continued as he rose and
faced the astonished Sergeant. You will of course get a
grappling hook and you will easily restore.
My friends, revolver, you will also find beside it, the
revolver string and Wait with which this did indicted 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 in Holmes, gave me a brief review of what had passed.
I fell 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 animals. I have been sluggish in mind and
wanting in that mixture of imagination and reality which is
the Basis of my art I confessed at 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
Animalia. Mental sense.
Seems to have been equally The unforgivable in her eyes.
No dark! She blamed this innocent lady
for all those harsh dealings and unkind words with which her
husband tried to repeal 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. Then any sudden death can 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 is that it should be discovered.
She is somewhat over. Did 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
mr. Dunbar's wardrobe after
discharging one barrel, which she could easily do in the woods
without attracting attention. She's then went down to the
bridge where she had contrived this exceedingly ingenious.
Genius 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 mayor 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 field lake is no easy
matter to drag, unless you have a clear perception of what you
are looking for. And we're well Watson, we have
helped a remarkable woman and also a formidable.
A man should they in the future joined?
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, End of the problem of Thor Bridge, read by
Ruth Golding. End of the problem of Thor
Bridge, read by Ruth Golding.