Quote:
Originally Posted by Bookpossum
Dick Datchery is definitely an odd character, with his large head and mop of grey or white hair. One suggestion by Nicolls which seems outlandish initially is that this was Helena Landless. We are told by her brother that she had disguised herself as a boy when they ran away, and that she was the one who was the bold leader. She wants to clear her brother's name and so has a vested interest in bringing Jasper to justice. The hair is pretty obviously a wig and the head is large presumably because her long hair is bound up under the wig.
On the actions of Jasper after he drugged Durdles, he probably made wax impressions of Durdles' keys, so that in the future he could avail himself of either the crypt or the Sapsea tomb in disposing of Edwin's body.
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Bookpossum - thanks for filling in the mystery of Durdles’ key. I couldn’t get past the notion that Jasper would need the actual key to have a copy made. He could have used the wax mold in London without being recognized. Or make it himself.
It’s a neat website. I could easily see Helena taking up a disguise. She said when she first met Jasper that she’d never be afraid of him “under any circumstances”.
It was quite surprising to read that the majority of 19th c. readers thought Edwin was still alive. Their reasoning is an interesting twist - Edwin wouldn’t come forward to clear his uncle, because Jasper had made an attempt on his life, which is plausible. He could have taken Princess Puffer’s warning to heart, and been on his guard. Maybe I was a bit hasty in saying there was no mystery
