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〃Well； the gentleman has a lot of firearms of one sort and
another。 We never quite matched that particular pistol… but the box
was made for two。〃
〃If it was one of a pair you should surely be able to match it。〃
〃Well； we have them all laid out at the house if you would care to
look them over。〃
〃Later； perhaps。 I think we will walk down together and have a
look at the scene of the tragedy。〃
This conversation had taken place in the little front room of
Sergeant Coventry's horrible cottage which served as the local
police…station。 A walk of half a mile or so across a wind…swept heath；
all gold and bronze with the fading ferns； brought us to a side…gate
opening into the grounds of the Thor Place estate。 A path led us
through the pheasant preserves； and then from a clearing we saw the
widespread； half…timbered house； half Tudor and half Georgian； upon
the crest of the hill。 Beside us there was a long； reedy pool；
constricted in the centre where the main carriage drive passed over
a stone bridge； but swelling into small lakes on either side。 Our
guide paused at the mouth of this bridge； and he pointed to the
ground。
〃That was where Mrs。 Gibson's body lay。 I marked it by that stone。〃
〃I understand that you were there before it was moved？〃
〃Yes； they sent for me at once。〃
〃Who did？〃
〃Mr。 Gibson himself。 The moment the alarm was given and he had
rushed down with others from the house； he insisted that nothing
should be moved until the police should arrive。〃
〃That was sensible。 I gathered from the newspaper report that the
shot was fired from close quarters。〃
〃Yes； sir； very close。〃
〃Near the right temple？〃
〃Just Behind it； sir。〃
〃How did the body lie？〃
〃On the back； sir。 No trace of a struggle。 No marks。 No weapon。
The short note from Miss Dunbar was clutched in her left hand。〃
〃Clutched； you say？〃
〃Yes； sir； we could hardly open the fingers。〃
〃That is of great importance。 It excludes the idea that anyone could
have placed the note there after death in order to furnish a false
clue。 Dear me！ The note； as I remember； was quite short：
〃I will be at Thor Bridge at nine o'clock。
〃G。 DUNBAR。
Was that not so？〃
〃Yes； sir。〃
〃Did Miss Dunbar admit writing it？〃
〃Yes； sir。〃
〃What was her explanation？〃
〃Her defence was reserved for the Assizes。 She would say nothing。〃
〃The problem is certainly a very interesting one。 The point of the
letter is very obscure； is it not？〃
〃Well； sir；〃 said the guide； 〃it seemed； if I may be so bold as to
say so； the only really clear point in the whole case。〃
Holmes shook his head。
〃Granting that the letter is genuine and was really written； it
was certainly received some time before… say one hour or two。 Why；
then； was this lady still clasping it in her left hand？ Why should she
carry it so carefully？ She did not need to refer to it in the
interview。 Does it not seem remarkable？〃
〃Well； sir； as you put it； perhaps it does。〃
〃I think I should like to sit quietly for a few minutes and think it
out。〃 He seated himself upon the stone ledge of the bridge； and I
could see his quick gray eyes darting their questioning glances in
every direction。 Suddenly he sprang up again and ran across to the
opposite parapet； whipped his lens from his pocket； and began to
examine the stonework。
〃This is curious；〃 said he。
〃Yes； sir； we saw the chip on the ledge。 I expect it's been done
by some passer…by。〃
The stonework was gray； But at this one point it showed white for
a space not larger than a sixpence。 When examined closely one could
see that the surface was chipped as by a sharp blow。
It took some violence to do that；〃 said Holmes thoughtfully。 With
his cane he struck the ledge several times without leaving a mark。
〃Yes； it was a hard knock。 In a curious place； too。 It was not from
above but from below； for you see that it is on the lower edge of
the parapet。〃
〃But it is at least fifteen feet from the body。〃
〃Yes； it is fifteen feet from the body。 It may have nothing to do
with the matter； But it is a point worth noting。 I do not think that
we have anything more to learn where。 There were no footsteps； you
say？〃
The ground was iron hard； sir。 There were no traces at all。〃
〃Then we can go。 We will go up to the house first and look over
these weapons of which you speak。 Then we shall get on to
Winchester； for I should desire to see Miss Dunbar before we go
farther。〃
Mr。 Neil Gibson had not returned from town； but we saw in the
house the neurotic Mr。 Bates who had called upon us in the morning。 He
showed us with a sinister relish the formidable array of firearms of
various shapes and sizes which his employer had accumulated in the
course of an adventurous life。
〃Mr。 Gibson has his enemies； as anyone would expect who knew him and
his methods；〃 said he。 〃He sleeps with a loaded revolver in the drawer
beside his bed。 He is a man of violence； sir； and there are times when
all of us are afraid of him。 I am sure that the poor lady who has
passed was often terrified。〃
〃Did you ever witness physical violence towards her？〃
〃No； I cannot say that。 But I have heard words which were nearly
as bad… words of cold； cutting contempt； even before the servants。〃
〃Our millionaire does not seem to shine in private life；〃 remarked
Holmes as we made our way to the station。 〃Well； Watson； we have
come on a good many facts； some of them new ones； and yet I seem
some way from my conclusion。 In spite of the evident dislike which Mr。
Bates has to his employer； I gather from him that when the alarm
came he was undoubtedly in his library。 Dinner was over at 8：30 and
all was normal up to then。 It is true that the alarm was somewhat late
in the evening； but the tragedy certainly occurred about the hour
named in the note。 There is no evidence at all that Mr。 Gibson had
been out of doors since his return from town at five o'clock。 On the
other hand； Miss Dunbar； as I understand it； admits that she had
made an appointment to meet Mrs。 Gibson at the bridge。 Beyond this she
would say nothing； as her lawyer； had advised her to reserve her
defence。 We have several very vital questions to ask that young
lady； and my mind will not be easy until we have seen her。 I must
confess that the case would seem to me to be very black against her if
it were not for one thing。〃
〃And what is that； Holmes？〃
〃The finding of the pistol in her wardrobe。〃
〃Dear me； Holmes！〃 I cried； 〃that seemed to me to be the most
damning incident of all。〃
〃Not so； Watson。 It had struck me even at my first perfunctory
reading as very strange； and now that I am in closer touch with the
case it is my only firm ground for hope。 We must look for consistency。
Where there is a want of it we must suspect deception。〃
〃I hardly follow you。〃
〃Well now； Watson； suppose for a moment that we visualize you in the
character of a woman who； in a cold； premeditated fashion； is about to
get rid of a rival。 You have planned it。 A note has