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SHERLOCK HOLMES
THE PROBLEM OF THOR BRIDGE
by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
Somewhere in the vaults of the bank of Cox and Co。； at Charing
Cross； there is a travel…worn and battered tin dispatch…box with my
name； John H。 Watson； M。 D。； 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； 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 Persano； the well…known journalist and duellist； who was
found stark staring mad with a match box in front of him which
contained a remarkable worm said to be unknown to science。 Apart
from these unfathomed cases； there are some which involve the
secrets of private families to an extent 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 eye…witness； while in others I
was either not present or played so small a 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 were being whirled 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 trivialities 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 favoured
us。 Their 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 as cooking an egg demands an attention which is conscious
of the passage 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 have heard of Neil Gibson； the Gold King？〃 he said。
〃You mean the American Senator？〃
〃Well； he was once 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。〃
Holmes waved his hand towards some papers on a chair。 〃I had no idea
that the case was coming my 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 at
Winchester。 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 the 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 3rd。
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 eleven
to…morrow 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 if 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 save 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 centre of a historical English state。 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 as 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
eleven o'clock； when it was examined by the police and by a doctor
before being carried up to the house。 Is this too condensed； or can
you follow it clearly？〃
〃It is all very clear。 But why suspect the governess？〃
〃Well； in the first place there is some very direct evidence。 A
revolver with one discharged chamber and a calibre 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 train 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；