Tales of Terror and Mystery
The Jew's Breastplate
HowcouldIexposehimwithoutinjuringher—andhowfarwasIjustifiedinexposinghimwhenhehadvoluntarilyputhimselfintomypower?IthoughtandthoughtuntilatlastIformedaresolutionwhichmayseemtoyoutobeafoolishone,andyet,ifIhadtodoitagain,Ibelieveitwouldbethebestcourseopentome.
"Myideawastoreturnthestoneswithoutanyonebeingthewiser.WithmykeysIcouldgetintothemuseumatanytime,andIwasconfidentthatIcouldavoidSimpson,whosehoursandmethodswerefamiliartome.Ideterminedtotakenooneintomyconfidence—notevenmydaughter—whomItoldthatIwasabouttovisitmybrotherinScotland.Iwantedafreehandforafewnights,withoutinquiryastomycomingsandgoings.TothisendItookaroominHardingStreetthatverynight,withanintimationthatIwasaPressman,andthatIshouldkeepverylatehours.
"ThatnightImademywayintothemuseum,andIreplacedfourofthestones.Itwashardwork,andtookmeallnight.WhenSimpsoncameroundIalwaysheardhisfootsteps,andconcealedmyselfinthemummy-case.Ihadsomeknowledgeofgold-work,butwasfarlessskilfulthanthethiefhadbeen.HehadreplacedthesettingsoexactlythatIdefyanyonetoseethedifference.Myworkwasrudeandclumsy.However,Ihopedthattheplatemightnotbecarefullyexamined,ortheroughnessofthesettingobserved,untilmytaskwasdone.NextnightIreplacedfourmorestones
