They stared into hers for a long, tense interval, then he shrugged.

There was one brief, tense interval of silence before old Jervaise began to speak.

Again, silence fell for a tense interval.

There was a short, tense interval.

A tense interval passed.

They looked into one another's eyes for a tense interval, then, as the blood began to trickle down his chin again, Burke released himself.