Tales of Terror and Mystery
The Jew's Breastplate
Butnonetheless,Ishouldbeverygladtogocarefullyroundthepremises,andtoseeifwecanfindanytracetoshowuswhoyourvisitormayhavebeen."
Hisinvestigation,whichlastedallthemorning,wascarefulandintelligent,butitledintheendtonothing.Hepointedouttousthatthereweretwopossibleentrancestothemuseumwhichwehadnotconsidered.Theonewasfromthecellarsbyatrap-dooropeninginthepassage.Theotherthroughaskylightfromthelumber-room,overlookingthatverychambertowhichtheintruderhadpenetrated.Asneitherthecellarnorthelumber-roomcouldbeenteredunlessthethiefwasalreadywithinthelockeddoors,thematterwasnotofanypracticalimportance,andthedustofcellarandatticassuredusthatnoonehadusedeitheroneortheother.Finally,weendedaswebegan,withouttheslightestclueastohow,why,orbywhomthesettingofthesefourjewelshadbeentamperedwith.
ThereremainedonecourseforMortimertotake,andhetookit.Leavingthepolicetocontinuetheirfruitlessresearches,heaskedmetoaccompanyhimthatafternooninavisittoProfessorAndreas.Hetookwithhimthetwoletters,anditwashisintentiontoopenlytaxhispredecessorwithhavingwrittentheanonymouswarning,andtoaskhimtoexplainthefactthatheshouldhaveanticipatedsoexactlythatwhichhadactuallyoccurred.TheProfessorwaslivinginasmallvillainUpperNorwood,butwewereinformedbytheservantthathewasawayfromhome.Seeingourdisappointment,sheaskedusifweshouldliketoseeMissAndreas,andshowedusintothemodestdrawing-room.
