Tales of Terror and Mystery
The Jew's Breastplate
Heandhisdaughterleftthecomfortablesuiteofroomswhichhadformedhisofficialresidenceinconnectionwiththemuseum,andmyfriend,Mortimer,whowasabachelor,tookuphisquartersthere.
OnhearingofMortimer’sappointmentProfessorAndreashadwrittenhimaverykindlyandflatteringcongratulatoryletter.Iwasactuallypresentattheirfirstmeeting,andIwentwithMortimerroundthemuseumwhentheProfessorshowedustheadmirablecollectionwhichhehadcherishedsolong.TheProfessor’sbeautifuldaughterandayoungman,CaptainWilson,whowas,asIunderstood,soontobeherhusband,accompaniedusinourinspection.Therewerefifteenrooms,buttheBabylonian,theSyrian,andthecentralhall,whichcontainedtheJewishandEgyptiancollection,werethefinestofall.ProfessorAndreaswasaquiet,dry,elderlyman,withaclean-shavenfaceandanimpassivemanner,buthisdarkeyessparkledandhisfeaturesquickenedintoenthusiasticlifeashepointedouttoustherarityandthebeautyofsomeofhisspecimens.Hishandlingeredsofondlyoverthem,thatonecouldreadhisprideinthemandthegriefinhisheartnowthattheywerepassingfromhiscareintothatofanother.
Hehadshownusinturnhismummies,hispapyri,hisrarescarabs,hisinscriptions,hisJewishrelics,andhisduplicationofthefamousseven-branchedcandlestickoftheTemple,whichwasbroughttoRomebyTitus,andwhichissupposedbysometobelyingatthisinstantinthebedoftheTiber.
