"What was the nature of the injuries that caused death?" "This piece of iron penetrated the occipital bone at the lowest part, and injured the cerebellum, damaging all the great nerve centres at the base of the brain." "Would death ensue instantly?" "Yes. Such a blow would have the effect of a high voltage electric current. Complete paralysis of the nerve centres means death." "Then I take it that great force must have been used?" "Not so much, perhaps, as the nature of the wound seems to imply; but considerable--sufficient, at any rate, to break the piece of iron." "It was broken, you say? Was it cast-iron?" "Yes, of good quality. Off some ornament or design, I should imagine. But it snapped off inside the head at the moment of the occurrence." "Curious, is it not, for a person to be killed in such a manner by such an instrument?" "I have never before met such a case. Were it not for the way in which the body was jammed beneath a hidden drain-pipe, and the effective means taken to destroy the identity, I should have inclined to the belief that some strange accident had happened. At any rate, the murderer must have committed the crime on the spur of the moment, and seized upon the first weapon to hand." "You say she was forcibly placed where found?" "Yes; the workmen's description left no other idea." "Could not the tide have done this?" "Hardly. One cannot be quite emphatic, as such odd things do happen. But it seems to be almost impossible for the tide at Putney to pack a body beneath a jutting drain-pipe in such a manner that the waist, or narrowest part, should be beneath the pipe and the body remain securely held." "Yet it is not so marvellous as the coincidence that this particular drain should need repairs at the precise period when this tragedy happened." "Quite so. It is exceedingly strange. Are you interested in the case? Have you reason to believe that this poor woman--?" "I hardly know," broke in the barrister. "I have no data to go upon, but I feel convinced that I shall ultimately establish her identity. You, doctor, can help me much by telling me your surmises in addition to the known facts." The medico looked thoughtfully through the window before he exclaimed: "I am certain that the woman found in the Thames came from the upper walks of life. Notwithstanding the disfiguring effects of the water and rough usage, any medical man can rapidly appreciate the caste of his subject. She was, I should say, a woman of wealth and refinement, one who led an orderly, well-regulated life, whose surroundings were normal and healthy." Bruce thanked his informant and hurried back to London. A telegram to Inspector White preceded him. He had not long reached his Victoria-street chambers when the detective was announced. He soon made known his wishes. "I want you to give me that small piece of iron found in the head of the woman at Putney," he said. "If necessary, I will return it in twenty-four hours."