Swallow worked hard through the week. In spite of the heavy patrolling on the streets, there had been a spike in the petty crime figures as the poorer classes sought to provide some Christmas comfort for their families in the only way that many of them could. G-Division’s detectives had to operate flat out to deal with house-breakings, purse-snatching and thefts from shops and businesses, but thankfully there were no instances of violence. By six o’clock on Christmas Eve the typewriters in Exchange Court had fallen silent, the crime files had been put away, the paperwork had been shelved and most of the denizens of the detective office had adjourned to their favoured public houses in the environs of the Castle.

Swallow broke with seasonal tradition, confining himself to one quick drink at the Brazen Head with Mossop, Feore and a few of the others. There had been a great many Christmas Eves when he had no idea how he got home or at what hour, but now he was a married man and an expectant father. His wife was engaged in operating a business while carrying his child to term. His place on one of the busiest nights of the year was in Grant’s, by Maria’s side.

The public house was filled all evening. Tom and the junior barmen toiled ceaselessly, drawing porter from the taps and filling and refilling measures of whiskey, gin and brandy for the merry-makers. There were seasonal drinks on the house, of course: two for full-time regulars, one for occasional patrons. The barmen knew which was which. But in the event of doubt, Maria’s instruction to the barmen was to err on the side of generosity. Closing time came as a relief. By half past eleven the house was empty, the last stragglers having downed their drinks before heading to the Midnight Masses at the churches of St Nicholas of Myra on Francis Street, St Catherine’s on Meath Street, or the Franciscan monastery on Merchants’ Quay.

On Christmas morning he and Maria went to the ten o’clock Mass at Merchants’ Quay. Later, Lafeyre and Lily came to Thomas Street for a quiet Christmas dinner, prepared and served by Carrie before she went off to join her son and his family in the Coombe to enjoy the rest of the day.