The next words of the doctor confirmed his knowledge.
"As a witness, eh ?" he said dryly.

"Well, I don't want to pry into your secrets, or rather into the secrets of Scotland Yard, but she is fit to travel just as soon as you like." There was a knock on the door, and the matron came into the doctor's office.
"Miss Rider wishes to see you, sir," she said, addressing Tarling, and the detective, taking up his hat, went back to the little ward.
He found the girl more composed but still deathly white.

She was out of bed, sitting in a big arm chair, wrapped in a dressing-gown, and she motioned Tarling to pull up a chair to her side.

She waited until after the door had closed behind the nurse, then she spoke.
"It was very silly of me to faint, Mr.Tarling but the news was so horrible and so unexpected.

Won't you tell me all about it?
You see, I have not read a newspaper since I have been in the hospital.