Tales of Terror and Mystery
The Jew's Breastplate
ThisstateofthingswasonlyterminatedbythefactofmyresignationofmyofficialdutiesandmyretirementtoNorwood,whereIhopedtohavetheleisuretowriteaconsiderableworkwhichIhadplanned.
"Itwasimmediatelyafterthis—withinaweekorso—thatIfirstrealizedthetruenatureandcharacterofthemanwhomIhadsoimprudentlyintroducedintomyfamily.Thediscoverycametomethroughlettersfrommyfriendsabroad,whichshowedmethathisintroductionstomehadbeenforgeries.Aghastattherevelation,Iaskedmyselfwhatmotivethismancouldoriginallyhavehadinpractisingthiselaboratedeceptionuponme.Iwastoopooramanforanyfortune-huntertohavemarkedmedown.Why,then,hadhecome?IrememberedthatsomeofthemostpreciousgemsinEuropehadbeenundermycharge,andIrememberedalsotheingeniousexcusesbywhichthismanhadmadehimselffamiliarwiththecasesinwhichtheywerekept.Hewasarascalwhowasplanningsomegiganticrobbery.HowcouldI,withoutstrikingmyowndaughter,whowasinfatuatedabouthim,preventhimfromcarryingoutanyplanwhichhemighthaveformed?Mydevicewasaclumsyone,andyetIcouldthinkofnothingmoreeffective.IfIhadwrittenaletterundermyownname,youwouldnaturallyhaveturnedtomefordetailswhichIdidnotwishtogive.Iresortedtoananonymousletter,beggingyoutobeuponyourguard.
"ImaytellyouthatmychangefromBelmoreStreettoNorwoodhadnotaffectedthevisitsofthisman,whohad,Ibelieve,arealandoverpoweringaffectionformydaughter.
