[MaC] Interviewing Esme

[Mel Mason]

> There were footsteps resounding in the stairway. Vangie
> glanced at Esme, then headed in that direction. "Hallooo?" she called.
>
> Florence and Lucinda appeared, hurrying down the stairs.
>
> "I'm afraid there's been an ... "  Lucinda began, and then
> hesitated.  "An
> accident," she said.  "Mr Fitzroy.  We're just going to get
> an ambulance."
>
> "My husband?" faltered Esme, clinging to Vangie.
>
> "He's ... erm ... eaten something that didn't agree with
> him," said Florence
> tactfully.
>
> But polite euphemisms went nowhere with Esme.
>
> "I didn't poison him!" she declared, clinging tighter to Vangie.

Vangie kept her own amazed thoughts to herself. "No one is saying that
anyone's been poisoned," she said firmly, patting Esme's hand. =Where
did I leave my smelling salts...?=

Oh. Back in that damned little clutch bag.

Whereever that was.

Lucinda was looking at them, troubled.  "I think you'd best go back 
upstais," she said.  "Mr and Mrs Beaman's flat."

Esme started up the stairs.  Before Bangie could follow, Lucinda caught her 
arm.

"I'm afraid it probably is poison," she said in a low voice.  "I suspect it 
may be arsenic ... can you stay with her?"