But Matilde had warned him that it would come, after they had left Veronica's room together, and he knew that everything depended on his not hinting at the truth.
The doctor came to Matilde first.

Far away, at the other end of the house, Elettra was with Veronica.

She had known what they had done for the countess on the preceding evening, and while the servants were screaming and running hither and thither through the apartments, like scared sheep, the woman had quietly got oil and warm water, and was giving both to her mistress.

She knew that a footman had gone for the doctor.

When Veronica had first been seized with pain, Elettra had thrust the package of poison into her own pocket, and it was still there.
By the time the antidote began to act, Elettra believed that the doctor must be in the house.