Tales of Terror and Mystery

The Jew's Breastplate

           

           "Heopenedthebox,andtiltedoutthecontentsuponthecornerofmydesk.MyhairroseandmyfleshgrewcoldasIlooked.Thereweretwelvemagnificentsquarestonesengravedwithmysticalcharacters.Therecouldbenodoubtthattheywerethejewelsoftheurimandthummim.

           "’GoodGod!’Icried.’Howhaveyouescapeddiscovery?’

           "’Bythesubstitutionoftwelveothers,madeespeciallytomyorder,inwhichtheoriginalsaresocarefullyimitatedthatIdefytheeyetodetectthedifference.’

           "’Thenthepresentstonesarefalse?’Icried.

           "’Theyhavebeenforsomeweeks.’

           "Weallstoodinsilence,mydaughterwhitewithemotion,butstillholdingthismanbythehand.

           "’YouseewhatIamcapableof,Elise,’saidhe.

           "’Iseethatyouarecapableofrepentanceandrestitution,’sheanswered.

           "’Yes,thankstoyourinfluence!Ileavethestonesinyourhands,sir.Dowhatyoulikeaboutit.Butrememberthatwhateveryoudoagainstme,isdoneagainstthefuturehusbandofyouronlydaughter.Youwillhearfrommesoonagain,Elise.ItisthelasttimethatIwillevercausepaintoyourtenderheart,’andwiththesewordsheleftboththeroomandthehouse.

           "Mypositionwasadreadfulone.HereIwaswiththesepreciousrelicsinmypossession,andhowcouldIreturnthemwithoutascandalandanexposure?Iknewthedepthofmydaughter’snaturetoowelltosupposethatIwouldeverbeabletodetachherfromthismannowthatshehadentirelygivenhimherheart.Iwasnotevensurehowfaritwasrighttodetachherifshehadsuchanamelioratinginfluenceoverhim.

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