Tales of Terror and Mystery
The Jew's Breastplate
’
"Heopenedthebox,andtiltedoutthecontentsuponthecornerofmydesk.MyhairroseandmyfleshgrewcoldasIlooked.Thereweretwelvemagnificentsquarestonesengravedwithmysticalcharacters.Therecouldbenodoubtthattheywerethejewelsoftheurimandthummim.
"’GoodGod!’Icried.’Howhaveyouescapeddiscovery?’
"’Bythesubstitutionoftwelveothers,madeespeciallytomyorder,inwhichtheoriginalsaresocarefullyimitatedthatIdefytheeyetodetectthedifference.’
"’Thenthepresentstonesarefalse?’Icried.
"’Theyhavebeenforsomeweeks.’
"Weallstoodinsilence,mydaughterwhitewithemotion,butstillholdingthismanbythehand.
"’YouseewhatIamcapableof,Elise,’saidhe.
"’Iseethatyouarecapableofrepentanceandrestitution,’sheanswered.
"’Yes,thankstoyourinfluence!Ileavethestonesinyourhands,sir.Dowhatyoulikeaboutit.Butrememberthatwhateveryoudoagainstme,isdoneagainstthefuturehusbandofyouronlydaughter.Youwillhearfrommesoonagain,Elise.ItisthelasttimethatIwillevercausepaintoyourtenderheart,’andwiththesewordsheleftboththeroomandthehouse.
"Mypositionwasadreadfulone.HereIwaswiththesepreciousrelicsinmypossession,andhowcouldIreturnthemwithoutascandalandanexposure?Iknewthedepthofmydaughter’snaturetoowelltosupposethatIwouldeverbeabletodetachherfromthismannowthatshehadentirelygivenhimherheart.Iwasnotevensurehowfaritwasrighttodetachherifshehadsuchanamelioratinginfluenceoverhim.
