Tales of Terror and Mystery
The Jew's Breastplate
Stealthilyheslunkoutofthemummy-case,likeafoxstealingfromitsburrow,hisheadturningincessantlytoleftandtoright,stepping,thenpausing,thensteppingagain,theveryimageofcraftandofcaution.Oncesomesoundinthestreetstruckhimmotionless,andhestoodlistening,withhisearturned,readytodartbacktotheshelterbehindhim.Thenhecreptonwardsagainupontiptoe,very,verysoftlyandslowly,untilhehadreachedthecaseinthecentreoftheroom.Therehetookabunchofkeysfromhispocket,unlockedthecase,tookouttheJewishbreastplate,and,layingitupontheglassinfrontofhim,begantoworkuponitwithsomesortofsmall,glisteningtool.Hewassodirectlyunderneathusthathisbentheadcoveredhiswork,butwecouldguessfromthemovementofhishandthathewasengagedinfinishingthestrangedisfigurementwhichhehadbegun.
Icouldrealizefromtheheavybreathingofmycompanion,andthetwitchingsofthehandwhichstillclutchedmywrist,thefuriousindignationwhichfilledhisheartashesawthisvandalisminthequarterofallotherswherehecouldleasthaveexpectedit.He,theverymanwhoafortnightbeforehadreverentlybentoverthisuniquerelic,andwhohadimpresseditsantiquityanditssanctityuponus,wasnowengagedinthisoutrageousprofanation.Itwasimpossible,unthinkable—andyetthere,inthewhiteglareoftheelectriclightbeneathus,wasthatdarkfigurewiththebentgreyhead,andthetwitchingelbow.Whatinhumanhypocrisy,whathatefuldepthofmaliceagainsthissuccessormustunderliethesesinisternocturnallabours.
