Grantaire falls, of course he does, the action is nearly expected. Nonetheless, knowing does not keep his knees from hitting the floor with force and he grunts at the pain. He rolls onto his back, scrambling backward and trying to stand. He is faintly aware that he is crawling back in the direction of the knife. He is also more firmly aware that he is being played with.

"Something you missed!" he blurted. "Let me go and your unforgivable inattention is forgiven."