Tales of Terror and Mystery
The Jew's Breastplate
Itwaspainfultothinkofanddreadfultowatch.EvenI,whohadnoneoftheacutefeelingsofavirtuoso,couldnotbeartolookonandseethisdeliberatemutilationofsoancientarelic.ItwasarelieftomewhenmycompaniontuggedatmysleeveasasignalthatIwastofollowhimashesoftlycreptoutoftheroom.Itwasnotuntilwewerewithinhisownquartersthatheopenedhislips,andthenIsawbyhisagitatedfacehowdeepwashisconsternation.
"TheabominableGoth!"hecried."Couldyouhavebelievedit?"
"Itisamazing."
"Heisavillainoralunatic—oneortheother.Weshallverysoonseewhich.Comewithme,Jackson,andweshallgettothebottomofthisblackbusiness."
Adooropenedoutofthepassagewhichwastheprivateentrancefromhisroomsintothemuseum.Thisheopenedsoftlywithhiskey,havingfirstkickedoffhisshoes,anexamplewhichIfollowed.Wecrepttogetherthroughroomafterroom,untilthelargehalllaybeforeus,withthatdarkfigurestillstoopingandworkingatthecentralcase.Withanadvanceascautiousashisownweclosedinuponhim,butsoftlyaswewentwecouldnottakehimentirelyunawares.Wewerestilladozenyardsfromhimwhenhelookedroundwithastart,andutteringahuskycryofterror,ranfranticallydownthemuseum.
"Simpson!Simpson!"roaredMortimer,andfarawaydownthevistaofelectriclighteddoorswesawthestifffigureoftheoldsoldiersuddenlyappear.ProfessorAndreassawhimalso,andstoppedrunning,withagestureofdespair.Atthesameinstantweeachlaidahanduponhisshoulder.
