clerkly duties to detective work (though, no doubt, Bazzard is employed in detective work), has suddenly changed the character of Bazzard. Throughout the talk with Rosa ("Let's talk," says Grewgious, quaintly), Bazzard is presented as the selfish, conceited dolt he had shown himself during the conversation with Edwin.

Then, after a long talk (in Dickens's quaintest style), Grewgious says, "And now, my dear, if you are not too tired to tell me more of what passed to-day-but only if you feel quite able "

[observe how Dickens emphasizes Grewgious's coolness about Rosa's news], “I should be glad to hear it. I may digest it the better if I sleep on it to-night." As she gives the account, it is to be noticed that Mr. Grewgious pays special attention to the part relating to Helena and Neville, which parts he "begged to be told a second time." He thanks her, takes her to the open window, showing her where Neville and Helena live (and showing the attentive reader that, at the beginning of the scene, when Rosa entered, he had been keeping watch on them); and in response to her very natural request that on the morrow she might

go to Helena, answers, doubtfully, "I should like to sleep on that question to-night."

This last point is noteworthy, for it shows how largely the thought of the Landlesses enters into the plans of Mr. Grewgious—which are those of Edwin Drood-for bringing Jasper to a bitter reckoning.

CHAPTER VI.

CRISPARKLE AND TARTAR.

THE next chapter is one of the most interesting in the book, and is worthy of Dicken's best days. It contains several points well worth noticing in reference to the development of the plot.

In the first place, we note that Crisparkle has come up "by the very first train to be caught in the morning," so that there is no fear lest Jasper should be in town too, for he must stay for the morning service at Cloisterham. He has consulted with Mr. Grewgious. It is noteworthy, by the way, how thoroughly Grewgious takes the management of everything at about this time. They all defer to him; and his

whole manner shows that he is master of the situation.

A visitor is announced, and Crisparkle, not knowing whom it may be, is for not seeing him. But Grewgious advises that, whoever it may be, he should come in. "It is a business principle of mine,” he says, "not to close up any direction, but to keep an eye on every direction that may present itself. I could relate an anecdote in point, but that it would be premature." What is clear from this, is that a time is approaching when Mr. Grewgious will have a good deal to disclose. What is not clear, is the nature of the special experience he refers to. It bears, of course, on the Drood mystery, or its disclosure could not be spoken of as premature. But, among the scores of things it might be, one cannot well guess what it was. Possibly Mr. Grewgious refers to the unexpected use he had found for Bazzard, or perhaps to the events which had suggested the "Datchery assumption." Be this as it may, Mr. Grewgious is obviously preparing for disclosures which will astonish many, and crush Jasper to the earth.

The meeting of Tartar and Crisparkle is a rare bit of "Dickens." So also is the behaviour of Grewgious at this point ("I am proud to make your acquaintance. I hope you didn't take cold. I hope you were not inconvenienced by swallowing too much water. How have you been since?" This is as funny as anything in Pickwick, though not-like so much in Pickwick-overdrawn). Mr. Grewgious presently has an idea. He has seen that Tartar is the very man to help Neville and Helena. He is the very man, too, to defeat "our local friend” ("on whom I beg to bestow a passing but hearty malediction, with the kind permission of my reverend friend ").

We learn here that Grewgious's watch of Neville has led him to suspect, possibly to know, that Jasper employs some "hanger-on of Staple" to watch Neville during his own absence at Cloisterham. I am half inclined to imagine though I must confess I have scarcely any evidence to support the notion-that Grewgious has arranged matters so that Bazzard has fallen into Jasper's way, and been employed by him on this very service. If Jasper had so met