CHAPTER VMR. DURDLES ANDFRIENDJOHNJASPER, ONhis way home through the Close, is brought to a standstill by the spectacle of Stony Durdles, dinner-bundle and all, leaning his back against the iron railing

Why, my man, I’ve been waiting for you a Devil of a time!’ And then he turned to powder.” With a two-foot rule always in his pocket, and a mason’s hammer all but always in his hand, Durdles goes continually

Sapsea,” observes Jasper, watching the auctioneer with a smile as the latter stretches out his legs before the fire, “that you know the world.”“Well, sir,” is the chuckling reply, “I think I know something

CHAPTER IVMR. SAPSEAACCEPTING THE JACKASSas the type of self-sufficient stupidity and conceit—a custom, perhaps, like some few other customs, more conventional than fair—then the purest Jackass in Cloisterham

You have waited upon me so often, and now that the place which has known me so well will soon know me no more, I cannot take my last meal alone. You have a few minutes to spare, have you not?”“As for that,”

CHAPTER IIITHENUNS’ HOUSEFOR SUFFICIENT REASONSwhich this narrative will itself unfold as it advances, a fictitious name must be bestowed upon the old Cathedral town. Let it stand in these pages as

CHAPTER ITWO BREAKFASTS IN CLOISTERHAMSERVICE is over — the early morning service in the old Cathedral of the ancient city of Cloisterham, and the few who have composed the small congregation are rapidly

EDITOR’S NOTETHE fate of Edwin Drood, the last of Charles Dickens’ creations, has exercised the minds of not a few literary men of eminence. The best of them could but guess; and which has gone nearest