Witness: We sent some men after him, and Mr. Jasper and I followed. Directly we came up with him, Jasper said, “Where is my nephew?” and Neville said, “Why do you ask me?”
Mr. Walters: What did Jasper say?
Witness: He said, “He was last seen in your company”—or words to that effect.
Mr. Walters: When he said that, what sort of impression did it cause on you? What did you think it meant?
Witness: I am sorry to say I had the unpleasant impression that he meant to suggest that Neville Landless was in some way responsible for Drood’s disappearance.
Mr. Walters: Once more he was suggesting murder?
Witness: Yes, that was the impression.
Mr. Walters: And once more suggesting that Neville Landless was the murderer?
Witness: That was so, undoubtedly.
Mr. Walters: This man, Neville Landless, with this terrible charge hanging over him; did he come back readily?