He was protected by his body armour.

Ushered into the small front room, Podson found himself restored to a habitable world. A tightly stuffed couch, chintz-covered armchairs, an overmantel mirror with swans painted on it, flowers in various vases, photos in metal frames.

He could hear better when he used his listening device.

Aubrey speaks of him as 'incomparable at reparteeing, the bull that was bayted, his witt beinge most sparkling, when most set on and provoked.'