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 false one。 And yet… and yet…
Well； Watson； 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 policeman
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 parapet of the bridge so that it swung 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 taut between
the weapon and the heavy stone on the farther 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 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 tile stonework； and a joyous cry 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。
〃We'll stay at the inn to…night；〃 he continued as he rose and
faced the astonished sergeant。 〃You will； of course； get a
grappling…hook and you will easily restore my friend's revolver。 You
will also find beside it the revolver； string and weight with which
this vindictive 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； is we sat together smoking our pipes in the
village inn； Holmes gave me a brief review of what had passed。
〃I fear； 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 annals。 I have been sluggish in mind and wanting in
that mixture of imagination and reality which is the basis of my
art。 I confess that 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 in a merely
mental sense seems to have been equally unforgivable in her eyes。 No
doubt she blamed this innocent lady for all those harsh dealings and
unkind words with which her husband tried to repel 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 far than any sudden death could 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 that it should be discovered she somewhat
overdid 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 Miss Dunbar's wardrobe after
discharging one barrel； which she could easily do in the woods without
attracting attention。 She then went down to the bridge where she had
contrived this exceedingly ingenious 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 mere 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…filled lake is no easy matter to drag
unless you have a clear perception of what you are looking for and
where。 Well； Watson； we have helped a remarkable woman； and also a
formidable man。 Should they in the future join 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。〃
THE END
。