The Problem of 'Edwin Drood' Part 6

END OF DRAMA

THE TESTIMONY OF SIR LUKE FILDES

A reviewer in the _Times_ Literary Supplement, 27th October 1905, wrote: 'Nor do we attach much importance to any of the hints d.i.c.kens dropped, whether to John Forster, to any member of his family, or to either of his ill.u.s.trators. He was very anxious that his secret should not be guessed, and the hints which he dropped may very well have been intentionally misleading.' This called forth the following letter from Sir Luke Fildes:

TO THE EDITOR OF THE TIMES

Sir,-In an article ent.i.tled 'The Mysteries of Edwin Drood' in your issue of to-day, the writer, speculating on the various theories advanced as solutions of the mystery, ventures to say:-

'Nor do we attach much importance to any of the hints d.i.c.kens dropped, whether to John Forster, to any member of his family, or to either of his ill.u.s.trators. He was very anxious that his secret should not be guessed, and the hints which he dropped may very well have been intentionally misleading.'

I know that Charles d.i.c.kens was very anxious that his secret should not be guessed, but it surprises me to read that he could be thought capable of the deceit so lightly attributed to him.

The 'hints he dropped' to me, his sole ill.u.s.trator-for Charles Collins, his son-in-law, only designed the green cover for the monthly parts, and Collins told me he did not in the least know the significance of the various groups in the design; that they were drawn from instructions personally given by Charles d.i.c.kens, and not from any text-these 'hints' to me were the outcome of a request of mine that he would explain some matters, the meaning of which I could not comprehend, and which were for me, his ill.u.s.trator, embarra.s.singly hidden.

I instanced in the printers' rough proof of the monthly part sent to me to ill.u.s.trate where he particularly described John Jasper as wearing a neckerchief of such dimensions as to go twice round his neck; I called his attention to the circ.u.mstance that I had previously dressed Jasper as wearing a little black tie once round the neck, and I asked him if he had any special reasons for the alteration of Jasper's attire, and, if so, I submitted I ought to know. He, d.i.c.kens, appeared for the moment to be disconcerted by my remark, and said something meaning he was afraid he was 'getting on too fast' and revealing more than he meant at that early stage, and after a short silence, cogitating, he suddenly said, 'Can you keep a secret?' I a.s.sured him he could rely on me. He then said, 'I must have the double necktie! It is necessary, for Jasper strangles Edwin Drood with it.'

I was impressed by his earnestness, as indeed, I was at all my interviews with him-also by the confidence which he said he reposed in me, trusting that I would not in any way refer to it, as he feared even a chance remark might find its way into the papers 'and thus antic.i.p.ate his "mystery"'; and it is a little startling, after more than thirty-five years of profound belief in the n.o.bility of character and sincerity of Charles d.i.c.kens, to be told now that he probably was more or less of a humbug on such occasions.-I am, Sir, yours obediently,

LUKE FILDES.

HARROGATE, _October_ 27.

NOTES FOR THE NOVEL

I give here the notes which d.i.c.kens made for his novel. These are partly quoted by Professor Jackson in his book, _About Edwin Drood_, but are now for the first time printed complete.

_Friday_, _Twentieth August_ 1869

Gilbert Alfred.

Edwin.

Jasper Edwyn.

Michael Oswald.

The Loss of James Wakefield. Arthur.

Edwyn. Selwyn.

Edgar.

Mr. Honeythunder.

Mr. Honeyblast.

James's Disappearance. The Dean.

Mrs. Dean.

FLIGHT AND PURSUIT. Miss Dean.

SWORN TO AVENGE IT.

ONE OBJECT IN LIFE.

A KINSMAN'S DEVOTION.

THE TWO KINSMEN.

The Loss of Edwyn Brood.

The Loss of Edwin Brude.

The Mystery in the Drood Family.

The Loss of Edwyn Drood.

The Flight of Edwyn Drood. Edwin Drood in hiding.

The Loss of Edwin Drude.

The Disappearance of Edwin Drood.

The Mystery of Edwin Drood.

Dead? or Alive?

Opium-Smoking.

Touch the key-note.

'When the wicked man-'

The Uncle & Nephew.

'p.u.s.s.y's' Portrait.

_You won't take warning then_?

Dean. Mr. Jasper.

Minor Canon, Mr. Crisparkle.

Uncle & Nephew. Verger.

Gloves for the Nuns' House. Peptune.

Churchyard. _Change to Tope_.

CATHEDRAL TOWN RUNNING THROUGHOUT.

Inside the Nuns' House.