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get rid of a rival。 You have planned it。 A note has been written。
The victim has come。 You have your weapon。 The crime is done。 It has
been workmanlike and complete。 Do you tell me that after carrying
out so crafty a crime you would now ruin your reputation as a criminal
by forgetting to fling your weapon into those adjacent reed…beds which
would forever cover it； but you must needs carry it carefully home and
put it in your own wardrobe； the very first place that would be
searched？ Your best friends would hardly call you a schemer； Watson；
and yet I could not picture you doing anything so crude as that。〃
〃In the excitement of the moment…〃
〃No； no； Watson； I will not admit that it is possible。 Where a crime
is coolly premeditated； then the means of covering it are coolly
premeditated also。 I hope； therefore； that we are in the presence of a
serious misconception。〃
〃But there is so much to explain。〃
〃Well； we shall set about explaining it。 When once your point of
view is changed； the very thing which was so damning becomes a clue to
the truth。 For example； there is this revolver。 Miss Dunbar
disclaims all knowledge of it。 On our new theory she is speaking truth
when she says so。 Therefore； it was placed in her wardrobe。 Who placed
it there？ Someone who wished to incriminate her。 Was not that person
the actual criminal？ You see how we come at once upon a most
fruitful line of inquiry。〃
We were compelled to spend the night at Winchester； as the
formalities had not yet been completed； but next morning； in the
company of Mr。 Joyce Cummings； the rising barrister who was
entrusted with the defence； we were allowed to see the young lady in
her cell。 I had expected from all that we had heard to see a beautiful
woman； but I can never forget the effect which Miss Dunbar produced
upon me。 It was no wonder that even the masterful millionaire had
found in her something more powerful than himself… something which
could control and guide him。 One felt； too； as one looked at the
strong； clear…cut； and yet sensitive face； that even should she be
capable of some impetuous deed。 None the less there was an innate
nobility of character which would make her influence always for the
good。 She was a brunette； tall； with a noble figure and commanding
presence； but her dark eyes had in them the appealing； helpless
expression of the hunted creature who feels the nets around it； but
can see no way out from the toils。 Now； as she realized the presence
and the help of my famous friend； there came a touch of colour in
her wan cheeks and a light of hope began to glimmer in the glance
which she turned upon us。
〃Perhaps Mr。 Neil Gibson has told you something of what occurred
between us？〃 she asked in a low； agitated voice。
〃Yes；〃 Holmes answered； 〃you need not pain yourself by entering into
that part of the story。 After seeing you； I am prepared to accept
Mr。 Gibson's statement both as to the influence which you had over him
and as to the innocence of your relations with him。 But why was the
whole situation not brought out in court？〃
〃It seemed to me incredible that such a charge could be sustained。 I
thought that if we waited the whole thing must clear itself up without
our being compelled to enter into painful details of the inner life of
the family。 But I understand that far from clearing it has become even
more serious。〃
〃My dear young lady；〃 cried Holmes earnestly； 〃I beg you to have
no illusions upon the point。 Mr。 Cummings here would assure you that
all the cards are at present against us； and that we must do
everything that is possible if we are to win clear。 It would be a
cruel deception to pretend that you are not in very great danger。 Give
me all the help you can； then； to get at the truth。〃
〃I will conceal nothing。〃
〃Tell us； then； of your true relations with Mr。 Gibson's wife。〃
〃She hated me； Mr。 Holmes。 She hated me with all the fervour of
her tropical nature。 She was a woman who would do nothing by halves；
and the measure of her love fear her husband was the measure also of
her hatred for me。 It is probable that she misunderstood our
relations。 I would not wish to wrong her； but she loved so vividly
in a physical sense that she could hardly understand the mental； and
even spiritual； tie which held her husband to me； or imagine that it
was only my desire to influence his power to good ends which kept me
under his roof。 I can see now that I was wrong。 Nothing could
justify me in remaining where I was a cause of unhappiness； and yet it
is certain that the unhappiness would have remained even if I had left
the house。〃
〃Now； Miss Dunbar；〃 said Holmes； 〃I beg you to tell us exactly
what occurred that evening。〃
〃I can tell you the truth so far as I know it； Mr。 Holmes； but I
am in a position to prove nothing； and there are points… the most
vital points… which I can neither explain nor can I imagine any
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