Tales of Terror and Mystery
The Jew's Breastplate
Astoher,Icouldnothavebelievedthatanywomancouldbesocompletelyundertheinfluenceofamanasshewas.Hisstrongernatureseemedtoentirelydominateher.Ihadnotrealizedhowfarthiswasthecase,ortheextentoftheconfidencewhichexistedbetweenthem,untilthatveryeveningwhenhistruecharacterforthefirsttimewasmadecleartome.Ihadgivenordersthatwhenhecalledheshouldbeshownintomystudyinsteadoftothedrawing-room.ThereItoldhimbluntlythatIknewallabouthim,thatIhadtakenstepstodefeathisdesigns,andthatneitherInormydaughterdesiredevertoseehimagain.IaddedthatIthankedGodthatIhadfoundhimoutbeforehehadtimetoharmthosepreciousobjectswhichithadbeentheworkofmylife-timetoprotect.
"Hewascertainlyamanofironnerve.Hetookmyremarkswithoutasigneitherofsurpriseorofdefiance,butlistenedgravelyandattentivelyuntilIhadfinished.Thenhewalkedacrosstheroomwithoutawordandstruckthebell.
"’AskMissAndreastobesokindastostepthisway,’saidhetotheservant.
"Mydaughterentered,andthemanclosedthedoorbehindher.Thenhetookherhandinhis.
"’Elise,’saidhe,’yourfatherhasjustdiscoveredthatIamavillain.Heknowsnowwhatyouknewbefore.’
"Shestoodinsilence,listening.
"’Hesaysthatwearetopartforever,’saidhe.
"Shedidnotwithdrawherhand.
"’Willyoubetruetome,orwillyouremovethelastgoodinfluencewhichiseverlikelytocomeintomylife?’
"’John,’shecried,passionately.
