“I took Mrs Matthews' hot water in, sir. She doesn't have tea.”
“Did you have to wake her, too?”
Mary shook her head. “Mrs Matthews is always awake in the mornings. She doesn't never sleep after six, so she told me.”
“Doesn't she? Whose tray was the next?”
“Miss Harriet's, sir. She was awake, too.”
“Did she seem quite well then, or did she complain of feeling ill?”
“No, sir, she didn't say nothing about feeling ill. She was just like she always was.”
“Did you go into her room again at any time during the morning?”
“No, I never saw her again,” replied Mary, ready tears springing to her eyes. “Mrs Matthews gave orders no one wasn't to disturb her.”
Hannasyde asked her no more questions, but sent her away to find the butler, in whose charge Dr Fielding had left the key of Miss Matthews' bedroom. The Sergeant, who had been pursuing investigations in the servants' hall, joined him, and escorted by Beecher they went upstairs together.