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The Puzzle of Dickens's Last Plot by Andrew Lang
page 18 of 55 (32%)

AFTER THE DISAPPEARANCE


Men go forth and apprehend Neville, who shows fight with his heavy
stick. We learn that he and Drood left Jasper's house at midnight,
went for ten minutes to look at the river under the wind, and
parted at Crisparkle's door. Neville now remains under suspicion:
Jasper directs the search in the river, on December 25, 26, and 27.
On the evening of December 27, Grewgious visits Jasper. Now,
Grewgious, as we know, was to be at Cloisterham at Christmas.
True, he was engaged to dine on Christmas Day with Bazzard, his
clerk; but, thoughtful as he was of the moody Bazzard, as Edwin was
leaving Cloisterham he would excuse himself. He would naturally
take a great part in the search for Edwin, above all as Edwin had
in his possession the ring so dear to the lawyer. Edwin had not
shown it to Rosa when they determined to part. He "kept it in his
breast," and the ring, we learn, was "gifted with invincible force
to hold and drag," so Dickens warns us.

The ring is obviously to be a piece de conviction. But our point,
at present, is that we do not know how Grewgious, to whom this ring
was so dear, employed himself at Cloisterham--after Edwin's
disappearance--between December 25 and December 27. On the evening
of the 27th, he came to Jasper, saying, "I have JUST LEFT MISS
LANDLESS." He then slowly and watchfully told Jasper that Edwin's
engagement was broken off, while the precentor gasped, perspired,
tore his hair, shrieked, and finally subsided into a heap of muddy
clothes on the floor. Meanwhile, Mr. Grewgious, calmly observing
these phenomena, warmed his hands at the fire for some time before
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