As the businessman walked past an alleyway, a robber slipped out and pressed a knife to his ribs.

“Give me your money,” whispered the robber.

The businessman nodded, fumbled about in his coat pocket, and withdrew his wallet. He took out all the bills inside and offered them over his shoulder to the robber, quivering slightly.

“Were those pictures of your family, I saw in there?” asked the robber.

The businessman nodded, and offered these, too, to the robber, who took them.

“And that wallet’s awful nice,” observed the robber.

The businessman nodded, and gave it up.

“There’s a good lad,” said the robber, as he shoved the knife into the businessman’s ribcage.

The businessman took a few breaths like a beached fish, turned around, and looked the robber square in the eye.

“Thank you,” he said, and he slumped forward.