Tales of Terror and Mystery
The Jew's Breastplate
’Iwillneverabandonyou!Never,never,notifthewholeworldwereagainstyou.’
"InvainIarguedandpleadedwithher.Itwasabsolutelyuseless.Herwholelifewasboundupinthismanbeforeme.Mydaughter,gentlemen,isallthatIhavelefttolove,anditfilledmewithagonywhenIsawhowpowerlessIwastosaveherfromherruin.Myhelplessnessseemedtotouchthismanwhowasthecauseofmytrouble.
"’Itmaynotbeasbadasyouthink,sir,’saidhe,inhisquiet,inflexibleway.’IloveElisewithalovewhichisstrongenoughtorescueevenonewhohassucharecordasIhave.ItwasbutyesterdaythatIpromisedherthatneveragaininmywholelifewouldIdoathingofwhichsheshouldbeashamed.Ihavemadeupmymindtoit,andneveryetdidImakeupmymindtoathingwhichIdidnotdo.’
"Hespokewithanairwhichcarriedconvictionwithit.Asheconcludedheputhishandintohispocketandhedrewoutasmallcardboardbox.
"’Iamabouttogiveyouaproofofmydetermination,’saidhe.’This,Elise,shallbethefirst-fruitsofyourredeeminginfluenceoverme.Youareright,sir,inthinkingthatIhaddesignsuponthejewelsinyourpossession.Suchventureshavehadacharmforme,whichdependedasmuchupontheriskrunasuponthevalueoftheprize.ThosefamousandantiquestonesoftheJewishpriestwereachallengetomydaringandmyingenuity.Ideterminedtogetthem.’
"’Iguessedasmuch.’
"’Therewasonlyonethingthatyoudidnotguess.’
"’Andwhatisthat?’
"’ThatIgotthem.Theyareinthisbox.
