WITNESS: I believe the work that I am at present engaged in is colloquially known as that of a “noser.” That is to say, I am engaged partly in collecting the rents, and partly in inquiring what is going on with his tenants—whether they are stealing the game, and improperly dispersing the stock. Largely work of investigation outside the office. MR. CHESTERTON: When did you enter his employment? WITNESS: Ten years ago. MR. CHESTERTON: Where were you born? WITNESS: I am the son of a Norfolk farmer, I am sorry to say. MR. CHESTERTON: If your employer said, “It would be extremely difficult to replace Mr. Bazzard,” that would refer to your inquiry work? WITNESS: I think that would refer to my inquiry work. Yes. MR. CHESTERTON: Mr. Grewgious treats you rather respectfully? WITNESS: Mr. Grewgious is extremely kind to me, and as he values my work outside, he allows a great deal of latitude as to my behaviour inside. MR. CHESTERTON: Now, when did you first see Edwin Drood? WITNESS: I think I saw him—by the way, I should like to point out that Mr. Grewgious was not the legal adviser to Edwin Drood. MR. CHESTERTON: You might explain that to the Court. WITNESS: I noticed in the copy of the Agreement that he was the legal adviser to Edwin Drood. So far as I know, that is not the case. I first saw him some time before Christmas 1860, at the office of Mr. Grewgious. MR. CHESTERTON: Did Mr. Grewgious tell you about Mr. Drood’s coming? WITNESS: He did. Yes. MR. CHESTERTON: And what was the general instruction that Mr. Grewgious gave you? WITNESS: These instructions: he said he was going to have a private conversation—more or less private conversation—with Mr. Drood, and if I appeared to be very interested in it, it might embarrass Mr. Drood, and that therefore I should not pay any particular attention to it. MR. CHESTERTON: What did you do? WITNESS: What happened was this: I think we all had dinner, and then Mr. Grewgious had the private conversation in question. I understood that what happened was that he admonished Mr. Drood as to his proper feelings towards his future bride. JUDGE: You did not hear that? WITNESS: No; I didn’t hear that. I took the opportunity to have a snooze. Waking up, Mr. Grewgious said to me, “I have handed a ring of diamonds and rubies to Mr. Drood.” Mr. Drood handed a case and said, “You see?” I said, “I follow you both, sir, and I witness the transaction.” MR. CHESTERTON: What was the next occasion you saw him? WITNESS: The next occasion I saw Mr. Edwin Drood was Jan. 1st, 1861. MR. CHESTERTON: That was a week after you first met him? WITNESS: Yes. MR. CHESTERTON: Where did you meet him? WITNESS: At a hotel in Holborn. MR. CHESTERTON: Did you hear what happened to him after that? WITNESS: After that, I was informed that he was very seriously ill with rheumatic fever, and was sent abroad to the South of France to get his health back.