Section 8 of the casebook of Sherlock Holmes by Sir Arthur
Conan Doyle. This leg arm has recording may
be distributed and adapted freely for any purpose, read by
Ruth Golding. The problem of Thor Bridge.
Somewhere in the vaults of the bank of Cox and Company at
Charing Cross, there is a travel-worn and battered tin
dispatch box with my name, John H Watson, MD late, Indian army
painted upon the lid. It is crammed with papers nearly
all of, which are records of cases to illustrate the Curious
problems. Which mr.
Sherlock Holmes had at various times to examine Some and not
the least interesting were complete failures and as such
will hardly bear narrating since no, final explanation is
forthcoming a problem without a solution may interest the
student, but can hardly fail to annoy the Casual reader among
these unfinished. Tales, is that of mr.
James phillimore who have stepping back into his own
house, to get his umbrella was never more seen in this world.
No less remarkable. Is that of the cutter Alicia?
Which sailed one spring morning into a small patch of mist from
where she never again, emerged nor was anything further ever
heard of herself and her crew. A third case, worthy of note is
that of Isadora Persona. The well-known journalist and
duelist who was found Stark staring mad with a matchbox in
front of him, which contained a remarkable worm.
Said to be unknown to science. Apart from these unfathomed
cases. There are some which involved
the secrets of private families to an extent to which would mean
consternation in many exalted quarters if it were thought
possible that they might find their way into print.
I need not say that such a breach of confidence is
Unthinkable and that these records will be separated and
destroyed. Now that my friend has time to
turn his energies to the matter. There remain a considerable
residue of cases of greater or less interest, which I might
have edited before. Had I not feared to give the
public a surfeit which might react upon the reputation of the
man whom above all others. I Revere in some, I Was Myself
concerned and can speak as an eyewitness while in others.
I was, either not present or played so smaller part that they
could only be told as by a third person.
The following narrative is drawn from my own experience.
It was a wild morning in October and I observed as I was dressing
how the last remaining leaves are being World from the
solitary Plane Tree, which Graces the yard behind our
house. I descended to breakfast
prepared to find my companion in depressed, Spirits for like all
great artists, he was easily impressed by his surroundings.
On the contrary, I found that he had nearly finished his meal and
that his mood was particularly bright and joyous with that
somewhat Sinister cheerfulness, which was characteristic of his
lighter moments. You have a case Holmes.
I remarked The Faculty of deduction is certainly
contagious Watson. He answered it has enabled you
to probe my secret. Yes, I have a case.
After a month of triviality is and stagnation the wheels move.
Once more Might I share it there is little to share, but we may
discuss it when you have consumed.
The two hard-boiled eggs with which our new cook has favored
us. The condition may not be
unconnected with the copy of the family Herald, which I observed
yesterday upon the hall table, even so trivial a matter is
cooking an egg demands an attention which is conscious of
the Search of time and incompatible with the love
romance in that. Excellent periodical.
A quarter of an hour later. The table had been cleared and
we were face-to-face. He had drawn a letter from his
pocket. You'll have heard of Neil Gibson
the gold King he said he'll mean the American Senator.
Well he was one senator for some Western State but is better
known as the greatest gold mining magnate in the world.
Yes I know of him. He has surely lived in England
for some time. His name is very familiar, yes
he bought a considerable estate in Hampshire some five years
ago. Possibly you have already heard
of the tragic end of his wife. Of course, I remember it now
that is why the name is familiar but I really know nothing of the
details homes. Waved his hand towards some
papers on a chair. I had no idea that the case was
coming my way. Way or I should have had my
extracts ready said, he, the fact is that the problem though
exceedingly Sensational appeared to present?
No difficulty. The interesting personality of
the accused does not obscure the clearness of the evidence, that
was the view taken by the coroner's jury.
And also in the police-court proceedings, it is now referred
to the assizes A Sister. I fear.
It is a thankless business. I can discover facts Watson but
I cannot change them unless some entirely new and unexpected
ones. Come to light, I do not see what
my client can hope for. Your client.
Ah I forgot I had not told you I am getting into your involved
habit Watson of telling a story backward.
You had best read this first. The letter which he handed to me
written in a bold. Masterful hand ran as follows
claridge's Hotel. October the third, dear mr.
Sherlock Holmes, I can't see the best woman God ever made.
Go to her death without doing all that is possible to save
her. I can't explain things.
I can't even try to explain them, but I know, beyond all
doubt that Miss Dunbar is innocent.
You know, the facts who doesn't, it has been the gossip of the
country and never a voice raised for her.
It's the Damned Injustice of it all.
That makes me crazy. That woman has a heart that
wouldn't let her kill a fly. Well, I'll come at 11 tomorrow
and see if you can get some ray of light in the dark.
Maybe I have a clue and don't know it.
Anyhow, all I know, and all I have and all I am are for your
use. Only you can save her.
If ever in your life, you showed your powers.
Put them now into this case. Yours Faithfully J.
Neil Gibson. There you have it said, Sherlock
Holmes, knocking out the ashes of his after breakfast pipe and
slowly refilling it. That is the gentleman I await as
to the story, you have hardly time to master all these papers.
So I must give it to you in a nutshell.
If you are to take an intelligent interest in the
proceedings, This man is the greatest Financial power in the
world and a man, as I understand of most violent and formidable
character. He married a wife, the victim of
this tragedy of whom I know, nothing saves that she was past
her prime, which was the more unfortunate as a very
attractive. Governess superintended the
education of two young children These are the three people
concerned and the scene is a grand old manor-house, the
center of a historical English Estate.
Then as to the tragedy the wife was found in the grounds nearly
half a mile from the house late at night clad in her dinner
dress with a shawl over her shoulders and a revolver bullet
through her brain. No weapon was found near her and
there was no local clue was to the murder, no weapon near her
Watson Mark that the crime seems to have been committed late in
the evening and the body was found by a gamekeeper, about
11:00 when it was examined by the police, and by a doctor
before being carried up to the house.
Is this to condensed or can you follow it?
Clearly, it is all very clear. But why suspect the governor's?
Well, in the first place, there is some very direct evidence.
A revolver with one discharged chamber and the caliber which
corresponded with the bullet was found on the floor of her
wardrobe. His eyes fixed, and he repeated,
in broken words on the floor of her wardrobe.
Then he sank into silence, and I saw that some Chain of Thought
had been set moving, which I should be foolish to interrupt
suddenly with a start, he emerged into brisk life.
Once more? Yes, Watson.
It was fund pretty damning. So the two jurors thought, then
the dead woman had a note upon her, making an appointment at
that very place. And signed by the governor's
house. That finally.
There is the motive. Senator Gibson is an attractive
person if his wife dies who more likely to succeed, her than the
young lady who had already by all accounts received pressing
attentions from her employer. Love fortune.
Power all depending upon one middle-aged life.
Ugly, Watson. Very ugly.
Yes, indeed homes. Nor could she prove an alibi on
the contrary? She had to admit that she was
Darkness or bridge. That was the scene of the
tragedy about that. Are she couldn't deny it for
some passing villager had seen her That really seems final and
yet Watson. And yet, this bridge a single
broad span of stone with balustraded sides, carries the
drive over the narrowest part of a long deep read, gurke, sheet
of water Thor. Mirror it is called in the mouth
of the bridge, lay the dead woman, such are the main facts.
But here if Mistake. Not is our client considerably
before his time. Billy had opened the door but
the name, which he announced was an unexpected one, mr.
Marlowe Bates was a stranger to both of us.
He was a thin nervous wisp of a man with frightened eyes and a
twitching hesitating manner, a man who my own professional.
I would judge to be on the brink of an absolute nervous.
Down. You seem agitated mr.
Bates said, Holmes. Praise sit down.
I fear. I can only give you a short time
for. I have an appointment at 11.
I know you have a visitor gasped, shooting out short
sentences, like a man who is out of breath, mr.
Gibson is coming mr. Gibson is my employer, I'm
manager of his estate, mr. Holmes, he is a villain, an
infernal villain. Strong language, mr.
Bates, I have to be emphatic, mr.
Holmes for the time is so limited, I would not have him.
Find me here for the world, he is almost do now, but I was so
situated that I could not come earlier, his secretary mr.
Ferguson only told me this morning of his appointment with
you and you are his manager. I've given him notice in a
couple of weeks, I shall have shaken off his accursed slavery.
Hard. And mr.
Holmes hard to all about him. Those public Charities are a
screen to cover his private iniquities but his wife was his
chief victim, he was brutal to her.
Yes, sir, brutal, how she came by her death, I do not know, but
I am sure that he had made her life a misery to her.
She was a creature of the tropics, Brazilian Barbara's as
no doubt, you know No, it had escaped me the tropical by birth
and tropical by Nature, a child of the Sun and of passion.
She had loved him as such women can love, but when her own
physical charms had faded, I am told that they were once great,
there was nothing to hold him. We all liked her and felt for
her and hated him for the way that he treated her.
But he is plausible and cunning that is all I have to say to
you, don't take him at his face value.
There is more behind now. I'll go.
No, no. Don't detain me.
He is almost do with a frightened.
Look at the clock. Our Strange visitor, literally
ran to the door and disappeared. Well well said, Holmes after an
interval of Silence, mr. Gibson, seems to have a nice
loyal household but the warning is a useful one and now we can
only wait till the man himself appears Shop at the ah, we heard
a heavy step upon the stairs and the famous millionaire was shown
into the room. As I looked upon him, I
understood not only the fears and dislike of his manager but
also the execrations which so many business rivals have heaped
upon his head. If I were a sculptor and desired
to idealize the successful man of Affairs I and of nerve and
leathery of conscience, I should choose mr.
Neil Gibson, as my model his tall gaunt craggy, figure had a
suggestion of huh Under and rapacity, an Abraham Lincoln
keyed to base uses. Instead of high ones would give
some idea of the man, his face might have been chiseled in.
Granite hard-set, craggy, remorseless with deep lines upon
it. The scars of many a crisis.
Cold gray eyes looking shrewdly out from under bristling
browsed, surveyed us each in turn, he bowed in.
Perfunctory fashion has Holmes, mentioned my name and then with
a masterful are of possession. He drew a chair up to my
companion and seated himself with his bony knees.
Almost touching his. Let me say right here, mr.
Holmes, he began that money is nothing to me.
In this case, you can burn it, if it's any use.
In lighting you to the truth. This woman is innocent and this
woman has to be cleared and it's up to you to do it.
Name, your figure My Professional Charges are upon a
fixed scale. Said Holmes coldly, I do not
vary them safe when I remit them all together.
Well, if dollars, make no difference to you think at the
reputation, if you pull this off every paper in England and
America will be booming, you you'll be the talk of two
continents. Thank you, mr.
Gibson. I do not think that I am in need
of booming. It may surprise you to know that
I prefer to work anonymously and that it is the problem itself,
which attracts me, but we're wasting time.
Let us get down to the facts. I think that he will find all
the main ones in the Press reports.
I don't know that I can add anything, which will help you
but if Is anything you would wish more light upon?
Well, I'm here to give it. Well, there is just one point.
What is it? What were the exact relations
between you and Miss Dunbar? The gold King gave a violent
start and half Rose from his chair.
Then his massive calm came back to him.
I suppose you are within your rights and maybe doing your duty
in asking such a question, mr. Holmes, we will agree to
suppose, so said Holmes. Then I can assure you that our
relations were entirely and always those of an employer
towards a young lady who me. Never Conversed with our ever
saw safe when she was in the company of his children.
Holmes, Rose from his chair. I am rather a busy man, mr.
Gibson said, he and I have no time nor taste for aimless
conversations. I wish you good morning.
Our visitor had risen also and his great loose figured tired
above homes. There was an angry gleam from
under those bristling brows and a tinge of colour in the sallow
cheeks, what the devil do you mean by this mr.
Holmes, do you dismiss my case? Well mr.
Gibson at least I dismiss you. I should have thought my words
were plain plain enough. But w at the back of it, Raising
the price on me or afraid to tackle it or what I have a right
to a plain answer. Well, perhaps you have said,
Holmes, I'll give you one. This case is quite sufficiently
complicated to start with without the further difficulty
of false information meaning that I lie.
Well, I was trying to express it as delicately as I could.
But if you insist upon the word, I will not contradict you.
I sprang to my feet for the expression.
Upon the Millionaire's face was fiendish in its intensity and he
had raised his great knotted fist Holmes, smiled languidly
and reached his hand out for his pipe.
Don't be noisy, mr. Gibson, I find that after
breakfast, even the smallest argument is I suggest that a
stolen the morning air and a little quiet thought will be
greatly to your advantage. With an effort, the gold King
mastered his Fury. I could not, but admire him for
by a supreme self command. He had turned in a minute from a
hot flame of anger to a frigid and contemptuous indifference
well it's your choice. I guess.
You know how to run your own business.
I can't make you touch the case against your will, you've done
yourself? No good this morning mr.
Holmes for I have broken Ganga man than you no man, ever
crossed me and was the better for it.
So many have said, so and yet here I am said, Holmes smiling?
Well, good morning mr. Gibson.
You will have a good deal yet to learn Our visitor made a noisy
exit, but Holmes smoked in imperturbable, Silence, with
dreamy eyes fixed upon the ceiling.
Any fuse Watson, he asked at last, wow, homes.
I must confess that when I consider that, this is a man who
would certainly brush any obstacle from his path and when
I remember that his wife may have been an obstacle and an
object of dislike as that man Bates.
And they told us it seems to me. Exactly and to me also but what
way is relations with the governors and how did you
discover them? Laughs Watson Bluff.
When I considered the passionate unconventional, unbusinesslike,
tone of his letter and contrasted it with his self
content Manner and appearance, it was pretty clear that there
was some deep emotion, which centered upon the accused woman
rather than upon the victim. We've got to understand the
exact relations of those three people.
If we are to reach the truth, You all saw the frontal attack
which I made upon him and how imperturbably he received it.
Then I bluffed him by giving him the impression that I was
absolutely certain. When in reality I was only
extremely suspicious. Perhaps he will come back, he is
sure to come back, he must come back.
He can't leave it where it is, huh?
Isn't that a ring? Yes, there is his footstep.
Well, mr. Gibson, I was just saying to dr.
Watson that you were somewhat overdue.
The gold King had re-entered the room in a more chastened mood
and he had left it. His wounded Pride still showed
in his resentful eyes, but his common-sense had shown him that
he must yield. If he would attain his end, I've
been thinking it over mr. Holmes, and I feel that I have
been Hasty and taking your remarks and miss, you are
justified in getting down to the facts, whatever, they may be and
I think the more You 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 a surgeon once every symptom before he can give
his diagnosis. Exactly, that expresses.
It and it is only a patient who has an object in Leaving 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 a bit when they're asked, point blank, what their
relations with a woman. Maybe if there is really some
serious feeling and the case I guess most men have a little
private reserve of their own in some corner of their souls,
where they don't welcome Intruders and 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 a moment.
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 a very 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 his needful.
I met my wife when I was gold hunting and Brazil.
Maria, pentile was the daughter of a government official at
Manassas and she was very beautiful.
I was young and Ardent in those days.
But even now, as I look back with cold or blood and a more
critical eye, I can see that she was rare and wonderful in her
beauty. It was a deep rich nature, to
passionate wholehearted, tropical ill, balanced.
Very Efren from the American women.
Whom I had known well, to make a long 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 words.
Are, she had adored me 20 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 a very
beautiful woman. Now, I make no pretense to be
more moral than my neighbors and I will admit to you that I could
not live under the same roof with such a woman and in daily
contact with her without feeling a passionate 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 it was in
a sense under your Well, maybe so set, the millionaire, though,
for a moment, 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 a man that reached out his hand for what he wanted and
I never wanted anything more than the love and possession of
that woman 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 then 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'm sure said
Holmes with a sneer see here mr. Holmes I came to you on a
question of evidence, not on a question of morals.
I'm not asking For your credits is MM.
It is only for the young, ladies, six 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 a defenseless 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
offenses. 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?
Wow. And 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 again.
She can send it 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 fears.
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 nation's business is a hard
game and the week. 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, a fortune for one man, that was
more than he needed. Should not be built on 10,000
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 has more lasting.
She found that I listen 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 a
minute or more. His head sunk in his hands.
Lost in deep thought. It's very black against her.
I can deny that and women lead an inward life and may do things
beyond the Judgment of a man. At first, I was so rattled and
taken aback that I was ready to think she had been LED away.
And some extraordinary fashion 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 a soul jealousy that
can be as frantic as anybody jealousy and do.
My wife had no cause and I think she understood this for the
ladder, she was aware that this English girl exerted an
influence once upon my mind and my ex 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 threatened her with a gun and so
frightened, her into leaving us. Then there might have been a
scuffle 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 a
woman placed in. So awful, a position, might
Area, Homes still in her bewilderment holding the
revolver. She might even throw it down.
Among her clothes hardly know. What she was doing.
And when it was found, she might try to lie her way out by a
total denial. Since all explanation was
impossible, what is against such a supposition 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.
End of part. One of the problem of Thor
Bridge.