John Bartine's Watch (1893)by Ambrose Bierce Story copied from the Wikisource. A STORY BY A PHYSICIAN “The exact time? Good God! my friend, why do you insist? One would think - but what does it matter; it is easily bedtime - isn’t that near enough? But, here, if you must set your watch, take mine and see for yourself.” To this ridiculous speech Bartine made no immediate reply, but sat looking gravely into the fire. Fearing that I had offended I was about to apologize and beg him to think no more about the matter, when looking me calmly in the eyes he said: “Was that all?”