A pocketful of rye - Agatha Christie

"I am Inspector Neele. I'm afraid I have bad news for you."
"Do you mean - a burglary - something of that kind?"
"No, nothing of that kind. It is about your husband. He was taken seriously ill this morning."
"Rex? Ill?"
"We have been trying to get in touch with you since half-past eleven this morning."
"Where is he? Here? Or in hospital?"
"He was taken to St Jude's Hospital. I'm afraid you must prepare yourself for a shock."
"You don't mean - he isn't - dead."
She lurched forward a little and clutched his arm. Gravely feeling like someone playing a part in a
stage performance, the Inspector supported her into the hall. Crump was hovering eagerly.
"Brandy she'll be needing," he said.
The deep voice of Mr Dubois said:
"That's right. Crump. Get the brandy." To the Inspector he said: "In here."
He opened a door on the left. The procession filed in. The Inspector and Adele Fortescue, Vivian
Dubois, and Crump with a decanter and two glasses.
Adele Fortescue sank on to an easy chair, her eyes covered with her hand. She accepted the glass that
the Inspector offered and took a tiny sip, then pushed it away.
"I don't want it," she said. "I'm all right. But tell me, what was it? A stroke, I suppose? Poor Rex."
"It wasn't a stroke, Mrs Fortescue."
"Did you say you were an Inspector?" It was Mr Dubois who made the inquiry.
Neele turned to him. "That's right," he said pleasantly. "Inspector Neele of the C.I.D."
He saw the alarm grow in the dark eyes. Mr Dubois did not like the appearance of an Inspector of the
C.I.D. He didn't like it at all.
"What's up?" he said. "Something wrong - eh?"
Quite unconsciously he backed away a little towards the door. Inspector Neele noted the movement.
"I'm afraid," he said to Mrs Fortescue, "that there will have to be an inquest."
"An inquest? Do you mean - what do you mean?"
"I'm afraid this is all very distressing for you, Mrs Fortescue." The words came smoothly. "It seemed
advisable to find out as soon as possible exactly what Mr Fortescue had to eat or drink before leaving
for the office this morning."