Welcome to the old curiosity shop: is it a nightmare or am I dreaming?

I WASN’T alone. I thought I had settled down by the fire for a pleasant doze, the dog at my feet, sparks drifting up the chimney.

But there was a chill in the room, as if a window had blown open. And a strange foreboding, brought on by the sudden realisation that I was in the presence of an unwelcome stranger.

But who was it? Who was that ghostly figure in the corner, his face hidden by the shadows cast by the firelight? Why was he so still, so silent? It's Christmas Eve, after all, a time of good cheer, a time to reflect on the year just past. It's a time for friendly faces, and heaven knows there are a lot of them around. Where had this gloomy creature come from, and what had I done to deserve this unwelcome intrusion?