life afresh."

I scarcely think that Datchery's purpose was so truly honourable:
he rather seems to be getting up a case against Jasper. Still, the
idea of Mr. Archer is very plausible, and, at least, given Drood's
need of evidence, and the lack of evidence against Jasper, we see
reason good, in a novel of this kind, for his playing the part of
amateur detective.


DICKENS'S UNUSED DRAFT OF A CHAPTER


Forster found, and published, a very illegible sketch of a chapter
of the tale: "How Mr. Sapsea ceased to be a Member of the Eight
Club, Told by Himself." This was "a cramped, interlined, and
blotted" draft, on paper of only half the size commonly used by
Dickens. Mr. Sapsea tells how his Club mocked him about a
stranger, who had mistaken him for the Dean. The jackass, Sapsea,
left the Club, and met the stranger, A YOUNG MAN, who fooled him to
the top of his bent, saying, "If I was to deny that I came to this
town to see and hear you, Sir, what would it avail me?" Apparently
this paper was a rough draft of an idea for introducing a
detective, as a YOUNG man, who mocks Sapsea just as Datchery does
in the novel. But to make the spy A YOUNG man, whether the spy was
Drood or Helena Landless, was too difficult; and therefore Dickens
makes Datchery "an elderly buffer" in a white wig. If I am right,
it was easier for Helena, a girl, to pose as a young man, than for
Drood to reappear as a young man, not himself. Helena MAY be
Datchery, and yet Drood may be alive and biding his time; but I