Tales of Terror and Mystery
The Man with the Watches
He’sonlyjustfindingoutthatyouareamanaswellashe.’
"Itwasthosewordsofhiswhichsetmetalkingbitterly.WehadleftWillesden,youunderstand,forallthistooksometime.Mytempergotthebetterofme,andforthefirsttimeinmylifeIletmybrotherseetheroughsideofme.PerhapsitwouldhavebeenbetterhadIdonesoearlierandmoreoften.
"’Aman!’saidI.’Well,I’mgladtohaveyourfriend’sassuranceofit,fornoonewouldsuspectittoseeyoulikeaboarding-schoolmissy.Idon’tsupposeinallthiscountrythereisamorecontemptible-lookingcreaturethanyouareasyousittherewiththatDollypinaforeuponyou.’Hecolouredupatthat,forhewasavainman,andhewincedfromridicule.
"’It’sonlyadust-cloak,’saidhe,andheslippeditoff.’Onehastothrowthecoppersoffone’sscent,andIhadnootherwaytodoit.’Hetookhistoqueoffwiththeveilattached,andheputbothitandthecloakintohisbrownbag.’Anyway,Idon’tneedtowearituntiltheconductorcomesround,’saidhe.
"’Northen,either,’saidI,andtakingthebagIslungitwithallmyforceoutofthewindow.’Now,’saidI,’you’llnevermakeaMaryJaneofyourselfwhileIcanhelpit.Ifnothingbutthatdisguisestandsbetweenyouandagaol,thentogaolyoushallgo.’
"Thatwasthewaytomanagehim.Ifeltmyadvantageatonce.Hissupplenaturewasonewhichyieldedtoroughnessfarmorereadilythantoentreaty.Heflushedwithshame,andhiseyesfilledwithtears.ButMacCoysawmyadvantagealso,andwasdeterminedthatIshouldnotpursueit.
