Uncle Jim was the narrator’s father’s only brother. He hated the narrator’s mother. Tom’s mother too had told him long before Uncle Jim’s last illness that he need not expect anything from his father’s brother. Uncle Jim was an inventor, an able and ingenious mechanical engineer, and had much money by his improvement in turbine-wheels. He was a bachelor; lived alone, cooked his own meals, and collected precious stones, especially rubies and pearls.
From the time he made his first money he had this mania. As he grew richer, the desire to possess rare and costly gems became stronger. He was malicious. He was an odd man who couldn’t be understood. He was extremely clever in mechanic arts. He had a patent for the explosive which helped him to become rich.
‘No one is perfect – absolutely no one.'
