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.
