The Mystery of Edwin Drood

The narrative resumes six months later. Crisparkle meets with Honeythunder at his office in London. Neville and Helena are now of age, and Honeythunder is relieved to relinquish responsibility for them; there is no doubt in his mind that Neville killed Edwin. Crisparkle and Honeythunder argue, and the former storms out. Crisparkle goes to see Neville, who is staying in a small flat near to where Grewgious lives and works; Neville is studying law, and Crisparkle visits him regularly. Neville is sad, lonely, and ashamed that most people believe him to be a murderer: “I feel marked and tainted, even when I go out—as I do only—at night” (187).

Crisparkle encourages Neville to keep his spirits up; Helena will soon be coming to live with him in London. Crisparkle then goes to see Grewgious; the latter notices that Jasper is lurking nearby. They wonder if Jasper might be spying on Neville. Later that night, after Crisparkle has left London, Neville is returning to his home when a man named Tartar approaches him. Tartar and Neville chat, and the former explains that he used to serve in the Navy; Tartar lives in the same building as Neville.