Tales of Terror and Mystery
The Jew's Breastplate
AndtonightIshouldhavefinishedmytaskhaditnotbeenfortheunfortunatecircumstancewhichhascausedmetorevealsomuchwhichIshouldhavewishedtokeepconcealed.Iappealtoyou,gentlemen,toyoursenseofhonourandofcompassion,whetherwhatIhavetoldyoushouldgoanyfartherornot.Myownhappiness,mydaughter’sfuture,thehopesofthisman’sregeneration,alldependuponyourdecision.
"Whichis,"saidmyfriend,"thatalliswellthatendswellandthatthewholematterendshereandatonce.Tomorrowtheloosesettingsshallbetightenedbyanexpertgoldsmith,andsopassesthegreatestdangertowhich,sincethedestructionoftheTemple,theurimandthummimhasbeenexposed.Hereismyhand,ProfessorAndreas,andIcanonlyhopethatundersuchdifficultcircumstancesIshouldhavecarriedmyselfasunselfishlyandaswell."
Justonefootnotetothisnarrative.WithinamonthEliseAndreaswasmarriedtoamanwhosename,hadItheindiscretiontomentionit,wouldappealtomyreadersasonewhoisnowwidelyanddeservedlyhonoured.Butifthetruthwereknownthathonourisduenottohim,buttothegentlegirlwhopluckedhimbackwhenhehadgonesofardownthatdarkroadalongwhichfewreturn.
