Tales of Terror and Mystery
The Jew's Breastplate
"MydearJackson,"hecried,"Iamsodelightedthatyouhavecome,forthisisamostinexplicablebusiness."
"Whathashappened,then?"
Hewavedhishandtowardsthecasewhichcontainedthebreastplate.
"Lookatit,"saidhe.
Ididso,andcouldnotrestrainacryofsurprise.Thesettingofthemiddlerowofpreciousstoneshadbeenprofanedinthesamemannerastheupperones.Ofthetwelvejewelseighthadbeennowtamperedwithinthissingularfashion.Thesettingofthelowerfourwasneatandsmooth.Theothersjaggedandirregular.
"Havethestonesbeenaltered?"Iasked.
"No,Iamcertainthattheseupperfourarethesamewhichtheexpertpronouncedtobegenuine,forIobservedyesterdaythatlittlediscolorationontheedgeoftheemerald.Sincetheyhavenotextractedtheupperstones,thereisnoreasontothinkthelowerhavebeentransposed.Yousaythatyouheardnothing,Simpson?"
"No,sir,"thecommissionaireanswered."ButwhenImademyroundafterdaylightIhadaspeciallookatthesestones,andIsawatoncethatsomeonehadbeenmeddlingwiththem.ThenIcalledyou,sir,andtoldyou.Iwasbackwardsandforwardsallnight,andIneversawasoulorheardasound."
"Comeupandhavesomebreakfastwithme,"saidMortimer,andhetookmeintohisownchambers.—"Now,whatDOyouthinkofthis,Jackson?"heasked.
"Itisthemostobjectless,futile,idioticbusinessthateverIheardof.Itcanonlybetheworkofamonomaniac."
"Canyouputforwardanytheory?"
Acuriousideacameintomyhead."ThisobjectisaJewishrelicofgreatantiquityandsanctity,"saidI.
