"What do you mean, no wonder I fainted? I mean, honestly, Stephen: I've gone longer without food before! During fasting holidays, that is...! I mean, most Catholic fasts require you to cut down to one hearty meal and two snacks a day, but I... well, I never felt right eating so much, when I do not engage in manual labour -- and so I reserve myself to one fair meal, and no snacks at all!" He looked up at Stephen again, as if pleading with him to understand his point of view on fasting. "We're in the Lenten season now, of course, so I was fasting, anyhow! The meal last night should have sufficed until tonight...!
"And anyhow, I've never fainted before! I honestly think it was just a bit of shock, seeing you still alive -- I mean, a Muggle wanted for stealing from the Ministry! Bellatrix Lestrange should rightly have had you for lunch by now. That is to say: Madame Lestrange is the HEAD of the D.M.L.E. now!" He grimaced expressively up at Stephen, showing him just what he thought about Bellatrix being in charge of law enforcement, when she delighted in bending and twisting the rules until they broke!
"Oh, I am sorry, Stephen! It seems that we have both misjudged the other...! I mean, I expected you to be dead by now... and yet, here you are, solid as anything!" He reached up to pat Stephen's hand on the back of the chair, as if to make certain that he was indeed corporeal, and not a ghost.
"...Sorry, do about what?" Matthew asked him, blankly. "Oh... do you mean, am I going to commit suicide to escape my wretched life?" He grimaced again as he realised what a touchy subject that would be for Stephen. "I'm sorry-- I didn't mean-- well, of course I'm not going to kill myself! That's a sin that would be too late for absolution...!" Not that Matthew apparently felt absolved of his sins as it was...