‘You must eat,’ he said pleasantly; ‘you’re going to need all your strength.’

She took two spoonfuls which did not go down; they lodged behind her collarbone and stayed there.

‘I’m sorry,’ she said, and put down the spoon.

He removed her plate, then his own, and standing at the sideboard, said:

‘This is one of Mrs Thatcher’s daintier dishes, cold lobster soufflé, light as a feather. Do try a little. How very disappointing! I ordered it especially – with, I may tell you – several other things on my mind.’ He helped himself and, sitting down again, gave proof that it is possible to eat and talk at the same time with ease and grace. ‘Before we go any farther I should tell you that the corpse has been examined by the Police Surgeon, and all suggestion of foul play can be ruled out. The inquest will be held tomorrow at six in the evening, but it will be a mere formality. Emily Baines has already given ample evidence of the poor fellow’s state of mind, and what she says is confirmed by the neighbours. His melancholic tendency was well displayed during Sydney’s illness, for example.’

‘In what way?’

‘He was quite distraught.’

‘Canon Thorby, that is not true. I was there on the day Sydney went to hospital. Wesley Baines was perfectly calm – concerned, surprised to find the doctor taking such a serious view – but quite calm. And later on he . . . prayed.’

‘Miss Mayfield, if you were there, you must know otherwise. Mrs Baines said he was so much upset that he couldn’t help to get together what was wanted, had to be sent to carry the boy downstairs and then tried to insist upon getting into the car and going with them. Then, while his wife was absent, he ignored the kind offers of neighbours to give him meals; Mrs Baines said she knew she must come home on the Saturday to save him from starving to death. Is that the behaviour of a normal, well-balanced person?’

‘It’s all been twisted,’ she said stonily. ‘I was there. Mrs Baines was the distraught one; the doctor sent me up to help her get things ready. As for the food, I think I was the first person to offer the man a meal, and he refused it, politely, reasonably; he said he was accustomed to fending for himself while his wife was out nursing.’