[He allows Vincent's examination of his eyes, leaving himself open to anything the man would want or need to know, even with the alcohol in his system. But he had said he wasn't alarmed, and that was the greatest relief of all, second only to seeing the man free of his agony from before, however briefly it might last.]

Oh, yes. He knew long before you did. I hadn't meant him to know, but he found out by accident.

[He shifted, nestling a little closer.] That is a little complicated, I'm afraid. I am what I am and I can't escape that, but it's... Think of it as a form of employment, this grim reaper business. I sort of... quit, you could say. Went on my own. Your family allowed me to stay close to death while staying away from it.