'
So Minor Canon Row knew Neville Landless no more; and he went
whithersoever he would, or could, with a blight upon his name and
fame.
It was not until then that John Jasper silently resumed his place
in the choir. Haggard and red-eyed, his hopes plainly had deserted
him, his sanguine mood was gone, and all his worst misgivings had
come back. A day or two afterwards, while unrobing, he took his
Diary from a pocket of his coat, turned the leaves, and with an
impressive look, and without one spoken word, handed this entry to
Mr. Crisparkle to read:
'My dear boy is murdered. The discovery of the watch and shirt-pin
convinces me that he was murdered that night, and that his
jewellery was taken from him to prevent identification by its
means. All the delusive hopes I had founded on his separation from
his betrothed wife, I give to the winds. They perish before this
fatal discovery. I now swear, and record the oath on this page,
That I nevermore will discuss this mystery with any human creature
until I hold the clue to it in my hand. That I never will relax in
my secrecy or in my search. That I will fasten the crime of the
murder of my dear dead boy upon the murderer. And, That I devote
myself to his destruction.'
CHAPTER XVII - PHILANTHROPY, PROFESSIONAL AND UNPROFESSIONAL
FULL half a year had come and gone, and Mr. Crisparkle sat in a
waiting-room in the London chief offices of the Haven of
Philanthropy, until he could have audience of Mr.
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