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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 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 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 characteristic 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 safetycatch。 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 all 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 all 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 f