Chapter I: The Text of Edwin Drood

The materials for the solution of the ‘Edwin Drood’ problems must first of all be found in the text of the unfinished volume. Hitherto it has not been observed that the book we have is not precisely what it was when Dickens left it. Three parts had been issued by Dickens himself. After his death the remaining three parts were issued by John Forster. Dickens had corrected his proofs up to and including chapter xxi. The succeeding chapters xxii. and xxiii. are untouched. I discovered to my great surprise on examining the proofs in the Forster Collection that Forster had in every case ignored Dickens’s erasures, and had replaced all the omitted passages in the text. Thus it happens that we do not read the book as Dickens intended us to read it. We have passages which on consideration he decided not to print. It is unnecessary to criticise the action of Forster, but it seems clear that he should at least have given warning to the reader. I now print the passages erased by Dickens and restored by Forster.

* * * * *

SENTENCES AND PARTS OF SENTENCES ERASED BY DICKENS

In Chapter XVII.:—

_an eminent public character_, _once known to fame as Frosty faced
Fogo_,

* * * * *

_by_, _always_, _as it seemed_, _on errands of antagonistically
snatching something from somebody_, _and never giving anything to
anybody_.

* * * * *

‘_Sir_,’ _said Mr. Honeythunder_, _in his tremendous voice_, _like a
schoolmaster issuing orders to a boy of whom he had a bad opinion_,
‘_sit down_.’

_Mr. Crisparkle seated himself_.

_Mr. Honeythunder having signed the remaining few score of a few
thousand circulars_, _calling upon a corresponding number of families
without means to come forward_, _stump up instantly_, _and be
Philanthropists_, _or go to the Devil_, _another shabby stipendiary
Philanthropist_ (_highly disinterested_, _if in earnest_) _gathered
these into a basket and walked off with them_.

* * * * *

_when they were alone_,

* * * * *

_Mr. Crisparkle rose_; _a little heated in the face_, _but with
perfect command of himself_.

‘_Mr. Honeythunder_,’ _he said_, _taking up the papers referred to_:
‘_my being better or worse employed than I am at present is a matter
of taste and opinion_. _You might think me better employed in
enrolling myself a member of your Society_.’

‘_Ay_, _indeed_, _sir_!’ _retorted Mr. Honeythunder_, _shaking his
head in a threatening manner_. ‘_It would have been better for you
if you had done that long ago_!’

‘_I think otherwise_.’

‘_Or_,’ _said Mr. Honeythunder_, _shaking his head again_, ‘_I might
think one of your profession better employed in devoting himself to
the discovery and punishment of guilt than in leaving that duty to be
undertaken by a layman_.’

* * * * *

‘_Perhaps I expect to retain it still_?’ _Mr. Crisparkle returned_,
_enlightened_; ‘_do you mean that too_?’

‘_Well_, _sir_,’ _returned the professional Philanthropist_, _getting
up and thrusting his hands down into his trousers pockets_, ‘_I don’t
go about measuring people for caps_. _If people find I have __any
about me that fit ’em_, _they can put ’em on and wear ’em_, _if they
like_. _That’s their look out_: _not mine_.’

* * * * *

_It seems a little hard to be so tied to a stake_, _and innocent_;
_but I don’t complain_.’

‘_And you must expect no miracle to help you_, _Neville_,’ _said Mr.
Crisparkle_, _compassionately_.

‘_No_, _sir_, _I know that_.

* * * * *

_and that of course I am guiding myself by the advice of such a
friend and helper_. _Such a good friend and helper_!’

_He took the fortifying hand from his shoulder_, _and kissed it_.
_Mr. Crisparkle beamed at the books_, _but not so brightly as when he
had entered_.

* * * * *

_But they were as serviceable as they were precious to Neville
Landless_.

* * * * *

‘_I don’t think so_,’ _said the Minor Canon_. ‘_There is duty to be
done here_; _and there are womanly feeling_, _sense_, _and courage
wanted here_.’

‘_I meant_,’ _explained Neville_, ‘_that the surroundings are so dull
and unwomanly_, _and that Helena can have no suitable friend or
society here_.’

‘_You have only to remember_,’ _said Mr. __Crisparkle_, ‘_that you
are here yourself_, _and that she has to draw you into the
sunlight_.’

_They were silent for a little while_, _and then Mr. Crisparkle began
anew_.

‘_When we first spoke together_, _Neville_, _you told me that your
sister had risen out of the disadvantages of your past lives as
superior to you as the tower of Cloisterham Cathedral is higher than
the chimneys of Minor Canon Corner_. _Do you remember that_?’

‘_Right well_!’

‘_I was inclined to think it at the time an enthusiastic flight_.
_No matter what I think it now_. _What I would emphasise is_, _that
under the head of Pride your sister is a great and opportune example
to you_.’

‘_Under all heads that are included in the composition of a fine
character_, _she is_.’

‘_Say so_; _but take this one_.’

* * * * *

_She can dominate it even when it is wounded through her sympathy
with you_.

* * * * *

_Every day and hour of her life since Edwin Drood’s disappearance_,
_she has faced malignity and folly—for you—as only a brave nature
well directed can_. _So it will be with her to the end_.

* * * * *

_which knows no shrinking_, _and can get no mastery over her_.’

* * * * *

_as she is a truly brave woman_,’

* * * * *

_As Mr. Grewgious had to turn his eye up considerably before he could
see the chambers_, _the phrase was to be taken figuratively and not
literally_.

* * * * *

‘_A watch_?’ _repeated Mr. Grewgious musingly_.

* * * * *

‘_I entertain a sort of fancy for having him under my eye to-night_,
_do you know_?’

* * * * *

In Chapter XVIII.

* * * * *

‘_indeed_, _I have no doubt that we could suit you that far_,
_however particular you might be_.

* * * * *

_with a general impression on his mind that Mrs. Tope’s was somewhere
very near it_, _and that_, _like the children in the game of hot
boiled beans and very good butter_, _he was warm in his search when
he saw the Tower_, _and cold when he didn’t see it_.

_He was getting very cold indeed when_. ‘_Until_’ _is put in here_.

* * * * *

‘_Indeed_?’ _said Mr. Datchery_, _with a second look of some
interest_.

* * * * *

_Mr. Datchery_, _taking off his hat to give that shock of white hair
of his another shake_, _seemed quite resigned_, _and betook himself
whither he had been directed_.

* * * * *

_Perhaps Mr. Datchery had heard something of what had occurred there
last winter_?

_Mr. Datchery had as confused a knowledge of the event in question_,
_on trying to recall it_, _as he well could have_. _He begged Mrs.
Tope’s pardon when she found it incumbent on her to correct him in
every detail of his summary of the facts_, _but pleaded that he was
merely a single buffer getting through life upon his means as idly as
he could_, _and that so many people were so constantly making away
with so many other people_, _as to render it difficult for a buffer
of an easy temper to preserve the circumstances of the several cases
unmixed in his mind_.

* * * * *

‘_Might I ask His Honour_,’ _said Mr. Datchery_, ‘_whether that
gentleman we have just left is the gentleman of whom I have heard in
the neighbourhood as being much afflicted by the loss of a nephew_,
_and concentrating his life on avenging the loss_?’

‘_That is the gentleman_. _John Jasper_, _sir_.’

‘_Would His Honour allow me to inquire whether there are strong
suspicions of any one_?’

‘_More than suspicions_, _sir_,’ _returned Mr. Sapsea_; ‘_all but
certainties_.’

‘_Only think now_!’ _cried Mr. Datchery_.

‘_But proof_, _sir_, _proof must be built up stone by stone_,’ _said
the Mayor_. ‘_As I say_, _the end crowns the work_. _It is not
enough that Justice should be morally certain_; _she must be
immorally certain—legally_, _that is_.’

‘_His Honour_,’ _said Mr. Datchery_, ‘_reminds me of the nature of
the law_. _Immoral_. _How true_!’

‘_As I say_, _sir_,’ _pompously went on the Mayor_, ‘_the arm of the
law is a strong arm_, _and a long arm_. _That is the way I put it_.
_A strong arm and a long arm_.’

‘_How forcible_!—_And yet_, _again_, _how true_!’ _murmured Mr.
Datchery_.

‘_And without betraying what I call the secrets of the
prison-house_,’ _said Mr. Sapsea_; ‘_the secrets of the prison-house
is the term I used on the bench_.’

‘_And what other term than His Honour’s would express it_?’ _said Mr.
Datchery_.

‘_Without_, _I say_, _betraying them_, _I predict to you_, _knowing
the iron will of the gentleman we have just left_ (_I take the bold
step of calling it __iron_, _on account of its strength_), _that in
this case the long arm will reach_, _and the strong arm will strike_.
_This is our Cathedral_, _sir_. _The best judges are pleased to
admire it_, _and the best among our townsmen own to being a little
vain of it_.’

_All this time Mr. Datchery had walked with his hat under his arm_,
_and his white hair streaming_.

* * * * *

In the next sentence the word _now_ is struck out.

* * * * *

‘He had an odd momentary appearance upon him of having forgotten his
hat, when Mr. Sapsea _now_ touched it.’

* * * * *

‘_I shall come_. _Master Deputy_, _what do you owe me_?’

‘_A job_.’

‘_Mind you pay me honestly with the job of showing me Mr. Durdles’s
house when I want to go there_.’

* * * * *

In Chapter XX.:—

* * * * *

‘_Yes_, _you may be sure that the stairs are fireproof_,’ _said Mr.
Grewgious_, ‘_and that any outbreak of the devouring element would be
perceived and suppressed by the watchmen_.’

* * * * *

In Chapter XXI.:—

_I wished at the time that you had come to me_; _but now I think it
best that you did as you did_, _and came to your guardian_.’

‘_I did think of you_,’ _Rosa told him_; ‘_but Minor Canon Corner was
so near him_—’

‘_I understand_. _It was quite natural_.’

* * * * *

‘_Have you settled_,’ _asked Rosa_, _appealing to them both_, ‘_what
is to be done for Helena and her brother_?’

‘_Why really_,’ _said Mr. Crisparkle_, ‘_I am in great perplexity_.
_If even Mr. Grewgious_, _whose head is much longer than mine_, _and
who is a whole night’s cogitation in advance of me_, _is undecided_,
_what must I be_!’

* * * * *

_Am I agreed with generally in the views I take_?’

‘_I entirely coincide with them_,’ _said Mr. Crisparkle_, _who had
been very attentive_.

‘_As I have no doubt I should_,’ _added Mr. Tartar_, _smiling_, ‘_if
I understood them_.’

‘_Fair and softly_, _sir_,’ _said Mr. Grewgious_; ‘_we shall fully
confide in you directly_, _if you will favour us with your
permission_.’

* * * * *

_I begin to understand to what you tend_,’ _said __Mr. Crisparkle_,
‘_and highly approve of your caution_.’

‘_I needn’t repeat that I know nothing yet of the why and
wherefore_,’ _said Mr. Tartar_; ‘_but I also understand to what you
tend_, _so let me say at once that my chambers are freely at your
disposal_.’

THE MANUSCRIPT

I make also a few notes based on a careful examination of the manuscript. Certain passages are rewritten, and the result pasted over the original page. These passages have been noted. Also certain sentences have been altered in form, sometimes by the substitution of one word for another, and sometimes by the addition of words. It is not necessary to give every example, but a few may be noted.

Towards the end of the second chapter the passage beginning ‘I have been taking opium for a pain,’ including the long paragraph which follows, has been entirely rewritten and pasted on.

In the description of the Landlesses in chapter vi. Dickens made certain changes. As the sentence stands now it reads as follows: ‘An unusually handsome lithe young fellow, and an unusually handsome lithe girl; much alike; both very dark, and very rich in colour; she of almost the gipsy type; something untamed about them both; a certain air upon them of hunter and huntress; yet withal a certain air of being the objects of the chase, rather than the followers.’

As originally written it read thus: ‘A handsome young fellow, and a handsome girl; both dark and rich in colour; she quite gipsy like; something untamed about them both; a certain air upon them of hunter and huntress; yet a certain air of being the objects of the chase, rather than the followers.’

In chapter vii., where Neville is speaking of his sister, as we have the passage it reads: ‘In a last word of reference to my sister, sir (we are twin children), you ought to know, to her honour, that nothing in our misery ever subdued her, though it often cowed me. When we ran away from it (we ran away four times in six years, to be soon brought back and cruelly punished), the flight was always of her planning and leading. Each time she dressed as a boy, and showed the daring of a man. I take it we were seven years old when we first decamped; but I remember, when I lost the pocket-knife with which she was to have cut her hair short, how desperately she tried to tear it out, or bite it off.’

The original version ran thus: ‘In reference to my sister, sir (we are twin children), you ought to know, to her honour, that nothing in our misery ever cowed her, though it often cowed me. When we ran away from it (we ran away four times in five years, to be very soon brought back and punished), the flight was always of her planning. Each time she dressed as a boy, and showed the daring of a man. I take it we were eight years old when we first decamped; but I remember, when I lost the pocket-knife with which she was to have cut her hair short, that she tried to tear it out, or bite it off.’

At the beginning of chapter xviii. we read of the stranger in Cloisterham: ‘Being buttoned up in a tightish blue surtout.’ This was originally: ‘Being dressed in a tightish blue surtout.’ A little further on in the same paragraph we have: ‘He stood with his back to the empty fireplace.’ Dickens originally wrote: ‘He stood with his back to the fireplace.’ In the next paragraph ‘His shock of white hair’ was originally ‘His shock of long white hair.’

In the same chapter, when Datchery and the boy are standing looking at Jasper’s rooms we have the following sentence: ‘“Indeed?” said Mr. Datchery, with a second look of some interest.’ This was originally written: ‘“Indeed?” said Mr. Datchery, with an appearance of interest.’ In the final proofs this passage was entirely struck out. On the next page we have this sentence: ‘Mr. Datchery, taking off his hat to give that shock of white hair of his another shake, seemed quite resigned, and betook himself whither he had been directed.’ The original version ran thus: ‘Mr. Datchery, taking off his hat and giving his shock of white hair another shake, was quite resigned, and betook himself whither he had been directed.’

A little further on in the same chapter, when Datchery first goes into Jasper’s room we have: ‘“I beg pardon,” said Mr. Datchery, making a leg with his hat under his arm.’ This was originally written, “I beg pardon,” said Mr. Datchery, hat in hand.’

In the last paragraph of this chapter we have: ‘Said Mr. Datchery to himself that night, as he looked at his white hair in the gas-lighted looking-glass over the coffee-room chimney-piece at the Crozier, and shook it out: “For a single buffer, of an easy temper, living idly on his means, I have had a rather busy afternoon!”’ This was originally written: ‘Said Mr. Datchery to himself that night as he looked at his white hair in the gas-lighted looking-glass over the coffee-room chimney-piece at the Crozier: “Well, for a single buffer of an easy temper, living idly on his means, I have had rather a busy afternoon!”’

In chapter xx., when Grewgious is talking about Bazzard we have the following: ‘“No, he goes his way, after office hours. In fact, he is off duty here, altogether, just at present; and a firm downstairs, with which I have business relations, lend me a substitute. But it would be extremely difficult to replace Mr. Bazzard.”’ Originally Dickens wrote: ‘“No, he goes his ways after office hours. In fact, he is off duty at present; and a firm downstairs with which I have business relations, lend me a substitute. But it would be difficult to replace Mr. Bazzard.”’

Chapter xxii. is much corrected, and the whole of the second paragraph is rewritten and pasted on. Chapter xxiii. is also a good deal corrected. Near the beginning we have the following: ‘The Cathedral doors have closed for the night; and the Choir-master, on a short leave of absence for two or three services, sets his face towards London.’ This was originally written: ‘The Cathedral doors have closed for the night; and the Choir-master, on leave of absence for a few days, sets his face towards London.’

The passage beginning: ‘But she goes no further away from it than the chair upon the hearth,’ and the next two paragraphs are entirely rewritten and pasted on, and the following sentences are cancelled: ‘“So far I might a’most as well have never found out how to set you talking,” is her commentary. “You are too sleepy to talk too plain. You hold your secrets right you do!”’ A little further on we have: ‘“Halloa!” he cries in a low voice, seeing her brought to a standstill: “who are you looking for?”’ This was originally ‘“Halloa!” cries this gentleman, “who are you looking for?”’

On the next page we have: ‘With his uncovered gray hair blowing about.’ Dickens originally wrote: ‘With his gray hair blowing about.’

On the same page, when Datchery and the opium woman are talking together Dickens puts in the following sentence about opium as an afterthought: ‘“And it’s like a human creetur so far, that you always hear what can be said against it, but seldom what can be said in its praise.”’

A little further on we have: ‘Mr. Datchery stops in his counting, finds he has counted wrong, shakes his money together, and begins again.’ Originally we had: ‘Mr. Datchery stops in his counting, finds he has counted wrong, and begins again.’ Very near the end of this chapter we have: ‘At length he rises, throws open the door of a corner cupboard, and refers to a few uncouth chalked strokes on its inner side.’ Dickens first wrote: ‘At length he rises, throws open the door of a corner cupboard, and refers to a few chalked strokes on its inner side.’