Gabriel leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees, as Elijah went around the house. He still struggled to get a grip on himself. It was as Elijah said. He was not hurt, apart from the fall. And although he had lost the money and felt ashamed for it, that was not all that bothered him. He kept seeing the man with the knife. He kept reliving his own helplessness. And even now, in his own home, he felt fundamentally unsafe.

The housekeeper came with tea, but Gabriel managed to sit up and force a smile and tell her he didn't need anything else and that he would be just fine and she could go to bed. As soon she was gone, his face fell. Thank God Elijah was here. Without him, he would probably have been eager for her company.

Now he was eager for her to go. He waited for the constable to return.