by H G Wells

I set this story down, not expecting believed, but, if possible, way of escape next victim He, perhaps, may profit by my misfortune My own case, , is hopeless, and now in some measure prepared to meet my fate

My name is Edward George Eden born at Trentham, in Staffordshire, my father being employed gardens there I lost my mother when three years old, and my father when five, my uncle, George Eden, then adopting me as his own son single man, self-educated, and well-known in Birmingham as an enterprising journalist; he educated me generously, fired my ambition to succeed , and at his death, which happened four , left me his entire fortune, matter of about five hundred pounds after all outgoing charges were paid then eighteen He advised me will to expend the money in completing my education I had already chosen the profession of medicine, and through his posthumous generosity and my good fortune in scholarship competition, I became medical student at University College, London beginning story I lodged at 11A University Street in little upper room, very shabbily furnished and draughty, overlooking the back of Shoolbred's premises I used this little room both to live in and sleep in, because anxious to eke out my means very last shillings-worth

taking pair of shoes mended at shop Tottenham Court Road when I first encountered the little old man yellow face, my life has now become so inextricably entangled standing kerb, and staring number door in doubtful way, as I opened it His eyes--they were dull grey eyes, and reddish under the rims--fell to my face, countenance immediately assumed an expression of corrugated amiability

"You come," , "apt moment I had forgotten the number of your house How do , Mr Eden ? "

little astonished at his familiar address, for I had never set eyes man before little annoyed, too, at his catching me with my boots under my arm He noticed my lack of cordiality

"Wonder who the deuce , eh ? friend, let me assure you you before, though you haven't seen me anywhere where talk ? "

I hesitated The shabbiness room upstairs was not matter for every stranger "Perhaps," said I, " walk down the street I'm unfortunately prevented--" My gesture explained the sentence before I had spoken it

"The very thing," , and faced , and then that "The street ? shall we go ? " I slipped my boots down passage "Look here ! " abruptly; "this business is rigmarole Come and lunch with me, Mr Eden I'm an old man, very old man, and not good at explanations, and what with my piping voice clatter traffic----"

He laid persuasive skinny hand that trembled little upon my arm

not so old that an old man treat me to lunch Yet same time not altogether pleased abrupt invitation "I had rather----" I began "But I had rather," , catching me up, "and certain civility is surely due to my grey hairs "

And so I consented, and went

me to Blavitiski's; I had to walk slowly to accommodate myself paces; and over such lunch as I had never tasted before, he fended off my leading question, and better note appearance His clean-shaven face was lean and wrinkled, his shrivelled, lips fell over set of false teeth, white hair was thin and rather long; small ,--though indeed, most people seemed small ,-- shoulders were rounded and bent And watching him, help but observe that he too was taking note of me, running his eyes, with curious touch of greed , over me, from my broad shoulders to my suntanned hands, and my freckled face again "And now," said he, lit our cigarettes, " tell you business in hand

" tell you, then, that an old man, very old man " He paused momentarily "And it happens that money that presently be leaving, and never child have I to leave it to " confidence trick, and resolved alert vestiges five hundred pounds He proceeded to enlarge loneliness, trouble he had proper disposition money " weighed this plan plan, charities, institutions, and scholarships, and libraries, and come conclusion at last,"--he fixed his eyes on my face,--"that I some young fellow, ambitious, pure-minded, and poor, healthy in body and healthy in mind, and, in short, make him my heir, give him all that " He repeated, "Give him all that suddenly be lifted out of all the trouble and struggle his sympathies educated, to freedom and influence "

I tried to seem disinterested With transparent hypocrisy , "And my help, my professional services maybe, that person "

He smiled, and looked at me over his cigarette, and I laughed at his quiet exposure modest pretence

"What career such man ! " "It fills me with envy how accumulated that another man may spend----

"But conditions, , burdens imposed , for instance, take my name expect everything without some return And go into all the circumstances life before accept him sound know his heredity, how his parents and grandparents died, have the strictest inquiries made into his private morals "

This modified my secret congratulations little

"And do I understand," said I, "that I----"

"Yes," , almost fiercely "You You "

I answered never word My imagination was dancing wildly, my innate scepticism was useless to modify its transports not particle of gratitude in my mind-- know what nor how it "But why me ? " at last

He had chanced to hear of me from Professor Haslar; , as typically sound and sane young man, and , as far as possible, to leave his money where health and integrity were assured

That was my first meeting little old man mysterious about himself; give his name yet, , and after I had answered some questions , he left me Blavitiski portal I noticed that he drew handful of gold coins pocket when it came to paying lunch His insistence upon bodily health was curious In accordance with an arrangement we had made I applied that day for life policy Loyal Insurance Company for large sum, and exhaustively overhauled medical advisers company subsequent week Even that satisfy him, and he insisted re-examined great Doctor Henderson

Friday in Whitsun week before to decision me down, quite late evening,--nearly nine ,--from cramming chemical equations Preliminary Scientific examination standing passage under the feeble gas-lamp, face was grotesque interplay of shadows more bowed than when I had first seen him, cheeks had sunk in little

His voice shook with emotion "Everything is satisfactory, Mr Eden," "Everything is quite, quite satisfactory And this night of all nights, dine with me and celebrate your--accession " interrupted by cough "You won't have long to wait, either," , wiping his handkerchief across his lips, and gripping my hand long bony claw that was disengaged "Certainly not very long to wait "

We went street and called cab I remember every incident drive vividly, the swift, easy motion, the vivid contrast of gas and oil and electric light, the crowds of people streets, the place in Regent Street we went, sumptuous dinner we were served with there disconcerted at first well-dressed waiter's glances at my rough clothes, bothered stones olives, but champagne warmed my blood, my confidence revived At first the old man talked of himself He had already told me his name cab; Egbert Elvesham, the great philosopher, whose name I had known since lad at school It seemed incredible man, whose intelligence had so early dominated mine, this great abstraction, should suddenly realise itself decrepit, familiar figure I daresay every young fellow who has suddenly fallen among celebrities has felt something disappointment me now future feeble streams life would presently leave dry , houses, copyrights, investments; I had never suspected that philosophers were so rich He watched me drink and eat with touch of envy "What capacity for living ! " ; and then with sigh, sigh of relief thought it, " long "