'But for Mr.
Honeythunder's--I think you called it eloquence, sir ?' (somewhat slyly.) 'I--yes, I called it eloquence,' said Mr.Crisparkle.
'But for Mr.Honeythunder's eloquence, I might have had no need to ask you what I am going to ask you.

This Mr.Edwin Drood, sir: I think that's the name ?' 'Quite correct,' said Mr.Crisparkle.

'D-r-double o-d.' 'Does he--or did he--read with you, sir ?' 'Never, Mr.Neville.

He comes here visiting his relation, Mr.Jasper.' 'Is Miss Bud his relation too, sir ?' ('Now, why should he ask that, with sudden superciliousness ?' thought Mr.
Crisparkle.) Then he explained, aloud, what he knew of the little story of their betrothal.
'O! _that's_ it, is it ?' said the young man.

'I understand his air of proprietorship now!' This was said so evidently to himself, or to anybody rather than Mr.
Crisparkle, that the latter instinctively felt as if to notice it would be almost tantamount to noticing a passage in a letter which he had read by chance over the writer's shoulder.