Tales of Terror and Mystery
The Jew's Breastplate
"
Thecolourbegantocomebacktomypoorfriend’sfrightenedface,andhedrewalongbreathofrelief.
"ThankGod!"hecried."Thenwhatintheworlddidthethiefwant?"
"Probablyhemeanttotakethestones,butwasinterrupted."
"Inthatcaseonewouldexpecthimtotakethemoutoneatatime,butthesettingofeachofthesehasbeenloosened,andyetthestonesareallhere."
"Itiscertainlymostextraordinary,"saidtheinspector."Ineverrememberacaselikeit.Letusseethewatchman."
Thecommissionairewascalled—asoldierly,honest-facedman,whoseemedasconcernedasWardMortimerattheincident.
"No,sir,Ineverheardasound,"heanswered,inreplytothequestionsoftheinspector."Imademyroundsfourtimes,asusual,butIsawnothingsuspicious.I’vebeeninmypositiontenyears,butnothingofthekindhaseveroccurredbefore."
"Nothiefcouldhavecomethroughthewindows?"
"Impossible,sir."
"Orpassedyouatthedoor?"
"No,sir;IneverleftmypostexceptwhenIwalkedmyrounds."
"Whatotheropeningsarethereinthemuseum?"
"ThereisthedoorintoMr.WardMortimer’sprivaterooms."
"Thatislockedatnight,"myfriendexplained,"andinordertoreachitanyonefromthestreetwouldhavetoopentheoutsidedooraswell."
"Yourservants?"
"Theirquartersareentirelyseparate."
"Well,well,"saidtheinspector,"thisiscertainlyveryobscure.However,therehasbeennoharmdone,accordingtoMr.Purvis."
"Iwillswearthatthosestonesaregenuine."
"Sothatthecaseappearstobemerelyoneofmaliciousdamage.