There was a bright burst of pain straight through his face as he was punched in the nose for the first time in his life, and he yelped in pain as he crumpled to the cobblestones. His cane clattered to the ground somewhere to his right. He'd landed hard on his rump, and both hands clutched at his bleeding nose. Blood was immediately everywhere, dripping from his chin, down his suit (it would stain!), and to the ground (not that far) beneath him. Barnabas let out a string of curses, followed by an angry accusation: "You broke my nose, you bastard! What is wrong with you?!" And then, because it was truly the only form of retaliation he could think of that wouldn't result in another pummeling, he snapped, "I'll give you three seconds to leave before I report you for assault!"