"It was hanging up in the glass case above the bench where he worked, with my name on a little tab attached to the ring.
"'No,' the man said, 'it's not done—in fact, I'm still observing it.'
"'But it seems to be recording the time all right,' I said.
"'Yes,' he replied—'seems, but it isn't. That's mere chance. Do you know, it's so fast that it's gained exactly twenty-four hours since you brought it in. That's not to-day's time it's registering, but to-morrow's. Leave it here another week, and I'll have got to the bottom of the mystery.'
"At first I was disposed to do so; and then I had an idea.
"'No,' I said, 'I'll take it.'
"'But it's useless to you,' he replied.
"'I'll take it," I said. 'Just for fun.'
"He gave it me reluctantly and returned to his labours.
"I walked away from the shop very thoughtfully. Here was a curious state of things. I and the rest of the world were living on Monday, February 9th, while my watch was busily recording, a little too hurriedly, the progress of time on Tuesday, February 10th. To see into the future has ever been man's dearest wish, and here was I in possession of a little piece of machinery which actually was of the future and yet could tell none of its secrets.