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Holmes？〃
〃I do not blame you for feeling it。 I should blame you if you
expressed it； since this young lady was in a sense under your
protection。〃
〃Well； maybe so；〃 said 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。 I 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 that 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 am 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 criticism。〃
〃It is only for the young lady's sake 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 defenceless 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 offences。〃
To my surprise the Cold King took the reproof with equanimity。
〃That's how I feel myself about it now。 I thank God that my plains
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？〃
〃Well； in 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 consented 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 affairs。 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 nations。 Business is a hard game； and the weak 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 ten
thousand 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 was more lasting。 She found that I listened 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't 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 in some extraordinary fashion that 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
any body…jealousy； and though my wife had no cause… and I think she
understood this… for the latter； she was aware that this English
girl exerted an influence upon my mind and my acts 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 beat of the Amazon was
always in her blood。 She might have planned to murder Miss Dunbar…
or we will say to threaten her with a gun and so frighten 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 intruder。〃
〃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 hurry home still in her
bewilderment holding the revolver。 She might even throw it down
among her clothes； hardly knowing 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。〃
There was some delay in the official pass； and instead of reaching
Winchester that day we went down to Thor Place； the Hampshire estate
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 dared say。 He had a trick；
too； 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 you than 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've heard。〃
〃I need not appear in the matter at all；〃 said Holmes to the evident
relief of our melancholy acquaintance。 〃If I can clear it up I don't
ask to have my name mentioned。〃
〃Well； it's very handsome of you； I am sure。 And your friend； Dr。
Watson； can he trusted； I know。 Now； Mr。 Holmes； as we walk down to
the place there is one question I should like to ask you。 I'd
breathe it to no soul but you。〃 He looked round as thorough 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 Dunbar。 She is a wonderful fine woman in every
way。 He may well have wished his wife out of the road。 And these
Americans are readier with pistols than our folk are。 It was his
pistol； you know。〃
〃Was that clearly made out？〃
〃Yes； sir。 It was one of a pair that he had。〃
〃One of a pair？ Where is the other？〃
〃Well； the gentleman has a lot of firearms of one sort and
another。 We never quite matched that particular pisto