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Half a year has passed since the disappearance of Edwin Drood when Crisparkle goes to London to visit Mr. Honeythunder, the erstwhile guardian of Neville and Helena. The twins are now of age and Crisparkle has undertaken to accept their accounts from Honeythunder. During this transaction, Honeythunder implies that Neville is a murderer and that Crisparkle condones it. Crisparkle stands up for Neville's innocence and politely, yet firmly, tells Honeythunder that his rhetoric and his assumptions are "detestable." After his round with Mr. Honeythunder, Crisparkle visits Neville, who is now living in Staple Inn (on the recommendation of Grewgious, who also lives there). Neville is studying law, and Crisparkle visits and tutors him when he can. The unresolved mystery of Drood has taken its toll on Neville, though. He is depressed and cannot bring himself to walk the streets during the day, feeling that people are eyeing him with suspicion. Crisparkle tries to persuade Neville to follow Helena's example, who has won the respect of Cloisterham by her "grand composure" and "sustained confidence in [Neville] and in the truth." Crisparkle visits Grewgious briefly as well. Grewgious tells Crisparkle he is glad that Neville approved of the rooms he had recommended, because he likes to have Neville under his eye. Grewgious goes on to question Crisparkle about Jasper's whereabouts and intentions, and points out that Jasper is nearby: From his open window, Grewgious can see "a slinking individual" in the "second-floor landing window in yonder house." Crisparkle speculates that Jasper is there watching Neville. Grewgious suggests that Crisparkle go join Neville, who is waiting, while he remains to keep an eye on Jasper. After his dinner and walk with Crisparkle, Neville returns home and finds a stranger sitting on the stairway windowsill. The stranger introduces himself as Tartar, and explains that he lives across the way. His windows face Neville's, and he had noticed that Neville lived rather shut up and that he seemed to like his neighbor's window boxes. He suggests to Neville that they set up some lines and stays between the two windows and share the window boxes. Tartar tells Neville a little about himself: He was a First Lieutenant in the Royal Navy, but resigned his commission when his uncle left him some property on condition that he left the navy. After a brief conversation, Tartar departs via the window. Back in Cloisterham, a white-haired stranger named Dick Datchery has appeared. He describes himself as a "single buffer" who desires to take lodgings in the town or a month or so to see whether he wants to settle down there. He also particularly wants to be near the Cathedral. He ends up renting rooms from the Topeses, very close to Jasper's rooms. As an added benefit, "he found that if he sat with the main door open he would enjoy the passing society of all comers to and fro by the gateway." Datchery meets several of the town's personalities and engages them in conversation concerning the Drood case. At the Nuns' House, it is summer recess. Helena has left to be with Neville, so Rosa is alone. Jasper takes this opportunity to visit Rosa, who meets him in the garden since she cannot bear the thought of being shut up with him in the house. "The moment she sees him...the old horrible feeling of being compelled by him, asserts its hold upon her." Although she wants to leave, she somehow cannot, but stays to listen to him. She tries to stop him from confessing his love for her, but he declares that she must listen to him "or do more harm to others than [she] can ever set right." Jasper then pours out his "mad" love for Rosa. When she tries yet again to leave, he threatens that he will do the harm he mentioned, but that if she stays, he will tell her what harm he is talking about. He then states that if he hadn't been so close to Drood, he "might have swept even him from your side when you favoured him." He has heard of Neville's feelings toward Rosa and considers them "an inexpiable offense." He gloats that he has "worked patiently to wind and wind" the net of evidence around Neville so that now Neville "stands in deadly peril" whether he is guilty or innocence. But Jasper is willing to renounce his revenge against Neville if Rosa will marry him, "were it even mortally hating [him]." Rosa finally is so terrified that she is now able "to break the spell that has held her to the spot." She tries to go to the house, but Jasper keeps speaking in her ear. He tells her that he will wait for a sign of encouragement from Rosa and that she cannot say anything of what has occurred "or it will bring down the blow" against Neville. His parting words are that even if Rosa were to cast him off now, she would never be rid of him for he would pursue her to the death. Jasper then takes his leave, and Rosa faints. (End.)