Hannasyde looked steadily down at her, and replied: “Have you any objections to answering my questions, Mrs Matthews?”
“It is very painful to me to have to discuss it,” said Mrs Matthews with sorrowful dignity.
“I quite appreciate that it must be,” said Hannasyde. “I am sorry to intrude on you at such a moment, but I am sure you will realise that in the circumstances my department is bound to investigate the matter.”
“I suppose so,” sighed Mrs Matthews. “But one cannot help feeling that Dr Fielding's conduct has been extraordinary. We ourselves believe that my sister-in-law had a stroke.”
“That is a point which the medical authorities must determine,” said Hannasyde. “When was Miss Matthews first taken ill?”
“I am afraid you will have to ask my son or my daughter that question,” replied Mrs Matthews. “You see, I never come down to breakfast, so I don't know what happened until my poor sister-in-law came upstairs.”
Hannasyde turned towards Stella, who answered at once: “My aunt said that she didn't feel very well when she came down to breakfast. It was a little before nine o'clock, I think.”
“Did your aunt say when she first began to feel ill?”
“N-no. No, I'm nearly sure she didn't. She just said, "I don't feel very well this morning," or something like that.”
“Did she ever take anything before breakfast? Early tea, for instance?”