Tales of Terror and Mystery
The Jew's Breastplate
Letmegobacktowhatpassedafewweeksago,andIwillmakeitallcleartoyou.BelievemethatwhatIsayistheabsoluteandexacttruth.
"YouhavemetthepersonwhocallshimselfCaptainWilson.Isay’callshimself’becauseIhavereasonnowtobelievethatitisnothiscorrectname.ItwouldtakemetoolongifIweretodescribeallthemeansbywhichheobtainedanintroductiontomeandingratiatedhimselfintomyfriendshipandtheaffectionofmydaughter.Hebroughtlettersfromforeigncolleagueswhichcompelledmetoshowhimsomeattention.Andthen,byhisownattainments,whichareconsiderable,hesucceededinmakinghimselfaverywelcomevisitoratmyrooms.WhenIlearnedthatmydaughter’saffectionshadbeengainedbyhim,Imayhavethoughtitpremature,butIcertainlywasnotsurprised,forhehadacharmofmannerandofconversationwhichwouldhavemadehimconspicuousinanysociety.
"HewasmuchinterestedinOrientalantiquities,andhisknowledgeofthesubjectjustifiedhisinterest.Oftenwhenhespenttheeveningwithushewouldaskpermissiontogodownintothemuseumandhaveanopportunityofprivatelyinspectingthevariousspecimens.YoucanimaginethatI,asanenthusiast,wasinsympathywithsucharequest,andthatIfeltnosurpriseattheconstancyofhisvisits.AfterhisactualengagementtoElise,therewashardlyaneveningwhichhedidnotpasswithus,andanhourortwoweregenerallydevotedtothemuseum.Hehadthefreerunoftheplace,andwhenIhavebeenawayfortheeveningIhadnoobjectiontohisdoingwhateverhewishedhere.
