WILLIAM. When did he tell you this?
OLIVER. It’s a dashed funny thing that——
WILLIAM. If you will allow me, Oliver. I want to get to the bottom of this. When did he tell you?
ISOBEL. That last evening. His birthday.
WILLIAM. How? Why? Why should he tell you?
ISOBEL. He seemed frightened suddenly—of dying. I suppose he’d always meant to tell somebody before he died.
MARION. Why didn’t you tell us before, dear?
WILLIAM (holding up his hand). Please. Let me. (To ISOBEL) Why didn’t you tell us before?
ISOBEL. I promised not to say anything until he was dead. Then I thought I would wait until he was buried.
MARION. You couldn’t have made a mistake? You couldn’t have misunderstood him?