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Paying Off: Deep Waters, Part 2.: Classic Book Guide and Free Edition

Paying Off: Deep Waters, Part 2.: author and translator credits, catalogue synopsis, subjects and links to the Gutenberg reading formats.

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AI-generated editorial illustration — not a photograph of the subject
AI-generated editorial illustration — not a photograph of the subject

Paying Off: Deep Waters, Part 2. is catalogued by Project Gutenberg with author credits for Jacobs, W. W. (William Wymark) (1863–1943).

Catalogue synopsis

Project Gutenberg supplies this automated synopsis of the opening text:

"Paying Off" by W. W. Jacobs is a humorous short story set in the early 20th century. The narrative revolves around the experiences of a night-watchman who reflects on his nature of helping others, often to his disadvantage. The story touches on themes of trust, foolishness, and the consequences of one's actions, all presented through Jacobs' characteristic wit and engaging prose. The plot follows the night-watchman as he is unwittingly drawn into a scheme involving a fellow worker, George Tebb, who entrusts him with a box containing £25. As the watchman goes to a pub with George, he becomes the target of two drunken sailors who ultimately rob him of the box. When George confronts him for the loss, he is subjected to mockery and the ultimatum of repaying the money at a rate of five shillings a week. The story culminates in a twist, revealing that the watchman may have never even seen the money he was supposedly safeguarding, exposing the ridiculousness of his trusting nature and the folly of his situation. Through this comedic turn of events, Jacobs illustrates the pitfalls of naivety and misplaced trust in human interactions.

Book and edition facts

  • Title: Paying Off: Deep Waters, Part 2.
  • Author credits: Jacobs, W. W. (William Wymark) (1863–1943)
  • Catalogue language: English

Catalogue subjects

  • England -- Social life and customs -- Fiction
  • Humorous stories, English
  • Sailors -- Fiction

Gutenberg collections

  • Category: British Literature
  • Category: Humour
  • Category: Short Stories

Read this edition

View the complete Gutenberg catalogue record. Project Gutenberg identifies this edition as public domain in the United States; that designation does not establish its copyright status in every country.

Source notes

Catalogue metadata is public domain and is supplied through Gutendex, which imports Gutenberg's machine-readable catalogue. The automated synopsis is source-supplied, not an independently verified review. Author dates above describe the credited people; no ebook release date is presented as the book's original publication date.

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