Witness: Well, in the first instance, Neville Landless mentioned it to me when he came back to my house. He said he had made a bad beginning and was sorry. But immediately afterwards John Jasper came to the house, and gave me what I am bound to say was a very different account indeed.
Mr. Walters: This is the John Jasper who had already deceived you?
Witness: Who had perhaps misled me by suppression.
Mr. Walters: He was the John Jasper who was Edwin Drood’s rival for Rosa Bud?
Witness: It would appear so.
Mr. Walters: You say he gave a strong account of the quarrel—Is that correct?
Witness: It is more than correct. He said, when he came into the room, that he had had an awful time with him. I said, “Surely not as bad as that!” and he said “Murderous—murderous!”
Mr. Walters: Are you sure he used the word “Murderous”?
Witness: I am absolutely certain.
Mr. Walters: What did you say to that?