Tales of Terror and Mystery
The Jew's Breastplate
ThenIturnedovertheletterinmyhand,andthere,sureenough,was"MartinAndreas"signedupontheotherside.Therecouldbenodoubt,inthemindofanyonewhohadtheslightestknowledgeofthescienceofgraphology,thattheProfessorhadwrittenananonymousletter,warninghissuccessoragainstthieves.Itwasinexplicable,butitwascertain.
"Whyshouldhedoit?"Iasked.
"PreciselywhatIshouldwishtoaskyou.Ifhehadanysuchmisgivings,whycouldhenotcomeandtellmedirect?"
"Willyouspeaktohimaboutit?"
"ThereagainIamindoubt.Hemightchoosetodenythathewroteit."
"Atanyrate,"saidI,"thiswarningismeantinafriendlyspirit,andIshouldcertainlyactuponit.Arethepresentprecautionsenoughtoinsureyouagainstrobbery?"
"Ishouldhavethoughtso.Thepublicareonlyadmittedfromtentillfive,andthereisaguardiantoeverytworooms.Hestandsatthedoorbetweenthem,andsocommandsthemboth."
"Butatnight?"
"Whenthepublicaregone,weatonceputupthegreatironshutters,whichareabsolutelyburglar-proof.Thewatchmanisacapablefellow.Hesitsinthelodge,buthewalksroundeverythreehours.Wekeeponeelectriclightburningineachroomallnight."
"Itisdifficulttosuggestanythingmore—shortofkeepingyourdaywatchesallnight."
"Wecouldnotaffordthat."
"Atleast,Ishouldcommunicatewiththepolice,andhaveaspecialconstableputonoutsideinBelmoreStreet,"saidI."Astotheletter,ifthewriterwishestobeanonymous,Ithinkhehasarighttoremainso.
