Tales of Terror and Mystery

The Jew's Breastplate

           Thenheapproachedacasewhichstoodintheverycentreofthehall,andhelookeddownthroughtheglasswithreverenceinhisattitudeandmanner.

           "Thisisnonoveltytoanexpertlikeyourself,Mr.Mortimer,"saidhe;"butIdaresaythatyourfriend,Mr.Jackson,willbeinterestedtoseeit."

           LeaningoverthecaseIsawanobject,somefiveinchessquare,whichconsistedoftwelvepreciousstonesinaframeworkofgold,withgoldenhooksattwoofthecorners.Thestoneswereallvaryinginsortandcolour,buttheywereofthesamesize.Theirshapes,arrangement,andgradationoftintmademethinkofaboxofwater-colourpaints.Eachstonehadsomehieroglyphicscratcheduponitssurface.

           "Youhaveheard,Mr.Jackson,oftheurimandthummim?"

           Ihadheardtheterm,butmyideaofitsmeaningwasexceedinglyvague.

           "TheurimandthummimwasanamegiventothejewelledplatewhichlayuponthebreastofthehighpriestoftheJews.Theyhadaveryspecialfeelingofreverenceforit—somethingofthefeelingwhichanancientRomanmighthavefortheSibyllinebooksintheCapitol.Thereare,asyousee,twelvemagnificentstones,inscribedwithmysticalcharacters.Countingfromtheleft-handtopcorner,thestonesarecarnelian,peridot,emerald,ruby,lapislazuli,onyx,sapphire,agate,amethyst,topaz,beryl,andjasper."

           Iwasamazedatthevarietyandbeautyofthestones.

           "Hasthebreastplateanyparticularhistory?"Iasked.

           "Itisofgreatageandofimmensevalue,"saidProfessorAndreas.

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