But she must not know. He would do something in a minute when the damned fool had gone away. Why the hell didn’t he go away, and leave a man alone? It must be some kind of visitor⁠—not a policeman, or a panicky neighbour. They would have been more impatient. Why the hell didn’t he go? It was Whittaker, perhaps. Or that South American chap.

The person did not go away. For the person had only been on the doorstep for thirty seconds in all, and the person was in no hurry.

Soon he would go away⁠—he must go away , Stephen thought. The hours he had been out there. It must be a long time, because Stephen’s knees were so sore. And he did want to get on with doing something⁠—he was not clear what⁠—but something. “God will provide,” he thought.