 Tales of Terror and Mystery by Arthur Conan Doyle The Black Doctor This is a LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please visit LibriVox.org Recording by Reynard This ship's crossing is a small village lying 10 miles in a south-westerly direction from Liverpool. Here, in the early 70s, there settled a doctor named Aloysius Larner. Nothing was known locally either of his antecedents or of the reasons which had prompted him to come to this Lancashire hamlet. Two facts only were certain about him. The one that he had gained his medical qualification with some distinction at Glasgow. The other that he came undoubtedly of a tropical race and was so dark that he might almost have had a strain of the Indian in his composition. His predominant features were, however, European, and he possessed a stately courtesy and carriage which suggested a Spanish extraction. A swarthy skin, raven black hair, and dark sparkling eyes under a pair of heavily tufted brows made a strange contrast to the flaxen or chestnut rustics of England. And the newcomer was soon known as the Black Doctor of Bishop's Crossing. At first it was a term of ridicule and reproach. As the years went on, it became a title of honour which was familiar to the whole countryside and extended far beyond the narrow confines of the village. For the newcomer proved himself to be a capable surgeon and an accomplished physician. The practices of that district had been in the hands of Edward Rowe, the son of Sir William Rowe, the Liverpool consultant. But he had not inherited the talents of his father and Dr Larner, with his advantages of presence and of manner, soon beat him out of the field. Dr Larner's social success was as rapid as his professional. A remarkable surgical cure in the case of the honourable James Lowry, the second son of Lord Belton, was the means of introducing him to country society. Where he became a favourite through the charm of his conversation and the elegance of his manners. An absence of antecedence and of relatives is sometimes an aid rather than an impediment to social advancement. And the distinguished individuality of the handsome doctor was its own recommendation. His patients had one fault and one fault only to find with him. He appeared to be a confirmed bachelor. This was the more remarkable since the house which he occupied was a large one and it was known that his success in practice had enabled him to save considerable sums. At first the local matchmakers were continually coupling his name with one or other of the eligible ladies. But as years passed and Dr Larner remained unmarried, it came to be generally understood that for some reason he must remain a bachelor. Some even went so far as to assert that he was already married and that it was in order to escape the consequence of an early misalliance that he had buried himself at Bishop's Crossing. And then, just as the matchmakers had finally given him up in despair, his engagement was suddenly announced to Miss Frances Morton of Lee Hall. Miss Morton was a young lady who was well known upon the countryside, her father, James Haldane Morton, having been the squire of Bishop's Crossing. Both her parents were, however, dead and she lived with her only brother, Arthur Morton, who had inherited the family estate. In person, Miss Morton was tall and stately and she was famous for her quick, impetuous nature and for her strength of character. She met Dr Larner at a garden party and a friendship which quickly ripened into love sprang up between them. Nothing could exceed their devotion to each other. There was some discrepancy in age, he being 37 and she 24, but, saving that one respect, there was no possible objection to be found with the match. The engagement was in February and it was arranged that the marriage should take place in August. Upon the 3rd of June, Dr Larner received a letter from abroad. In a small village, the postmaster is also in a position to be the gossip master and Mr Bankley of Bishop's Crossing had many of the secrets of his neighbours in his possession. Of this particular letter, he remarked only that it was in a curious envelope, that it was in a man's handwriting, that the post-script was Buenos Aires and the stamp of the Argentine Republic. It was the first letter which he had ever known Dr Larner to have from abroad and this was the reason why his attention was particularly called to it before he handed it to the local postman. It was delivered by the evening delivery of that date. Next morning, that is upon the 4th of June, Dr Larner called upon Miss Morton and a long interview followed from which he was observed to return in a state of great agitation. Miss Morton remained in her room all that day and her maid found her several times in tears. In the course of a week it was an open secret to the whole village that the engagement was at an end, that Dr Larner had behaved shamefully to the young lady and that Arthur Morton, her brother, was talking of horse whipping him. In what particular respect the doctor had behaved badly was unknown. Some surmised one thing and some another, but it was observed and taken as the obvious sign of a guilty conscience that he would go for miles round rather than past the windows of Lee Hall and that he gave up attending morning service upon Sundays where he might have met the young lady. There was an advertisement also in the Lancet as to the sale of a practice which mentioned no names but which was thought by some to refer to Bishop's Crossing and to mean that Dr Larner was thinking of abandoning the scene of his success. Such was the position of affairs when, upon the evening of Monday, June 21st, there came a fresh development which changed what had been a mere village scandal into a tragedy which arrested the attention of the whole nation. Some detail is necessary to cause the facts of that evening to present their full significance. The sole occupants of the doctor's house were his housekeeper, an elderly and most respectable woman named Martha Woods, and a young servant, Mary Pilling. The coachman and the surgery boy slept out. It was the custom of the doctor to sit at night in his study which was next to the surgery in the wing of the house which was farthest from the servant's quarters. This side of the house had a door of its own for the convenience of patients so that it was possible for the doctor to admit and receive a visitor there without the knowledge of anyone. As a matter of fact, when patients came late, it was quite usual for him to let them in and out by the surgery entrance for the maid and the housekeeper were in the habit of retiring early. On this particular night, Martha Woods went into the doctor's study at half past nine and found him writing at his desk. She bade him good night, sent the maid to bed and then occupied herself until a quarter to eleven in household matters. It was striking eleven upon the whole clock when she went to her own room. She had been there about a quarter of an hour or twenty minutes when she heard a cry or call which appeared to come from within the house. She waited some time but it was not repeated. Much alarmed for the sound was loud and urgent, she put on a dressing gown and ran at the top of her speed to the doctor's study. Who's there? cried a voice as she tapped out the door. I am here, sir, Mrs Woods. I beg that you'll leave me in peace. Go back to your room this instance, cried the voice, which was to the best of her belief that of her master. The tone was so harsh and so unlike her master's usual manner that she was surprised and hurt. I thought I heard you calling, sir, she explained. But no answer was given to her. Mrs Woods looked at the clock as she returned to her room and it was then half past eleven. At some period between eleven and twelve she could not be positive as to the exact hour. A patient called upon the doctor and was unable to get any reply from him. This late visitor was Mrs Madding, the wife of the visitage grocer who was dangerously ill of typhoid fever. Dr Lana had asked her to look in the last thing and let him know how her husband was progressing. She observed that the light was burning in the study, but having knocked several times at the surgery door without any response, she concluded that the doctor had been called out and so returned home. There is a short, winding drive with a lamp at the end of it leading down from the house to the road. As Mrs Madding emerged from the gate, a man was coming along the footpath. Thinking that it might be Dr Lana returning from some professional visit, she waited for him and was surprised to see that it was Mr Arthur Morton, the young squire. In the light of the lamp she observed that his manner was excited and that he carried in his hand a heavy hunting crop. He was turning in at the gate when she addressed him. The doctor is not in, sir, she said. How do you know that? he asked harshly. I have been to the surgery door, sir. I see a light, said the young squire, looking up at the drive. That is in his study, is it not? Yes, sir, but I am sure that he is out. Well, he must come again, said young Morton, and pass through the gate while Mrs Madding went upon her homeward way. At three o'clock that morning, her husband suffered a sharp relapse and she was so alarmed by his symptoms that she determined to call the doctor without delay. As she passed through the gate, she was surprised to see someone lurking among the laurel bushes. It was certainly a man and to the best of her belief, Mr Arthur Morton. Pre-occupied with her own troubles, she gave no particular attention to the incident but hurried on upon her errand. When she reached the house, she perceived to her surprise that the light was still burning in the study. She therefore tapped at the surgery door. There was no answer. She repeated the knocking several times without effect. It appeared to her to be unlikely that the doctor would either go to bed or go out, leaving so brilliant a light behind him. And it struck Mrs Madding that it was possible that he might have dropped asleep in his chair. She tapped at the study window, therefore, but without result. Then finding that there was an opening between the curtain and the woodwork, she looked through. The small room was brilliantly lighted from a large lamp on the central table, which was littered with the doctor's books and instruments. No one was visible, nor did she see anything unusual, except that in the father's shadow thrown by the table, a dingy white glove was lying upon the carpet. And then, suddenly, as her eyes became more accustomed to the light, a boot emerged from the other end of the shadow. And she realised with a thrill of horror that what she had taken to be a glove was the hand of a man who was prostrate across the floor. Understanding that something terrible had occurred, she rang at the front doorbell, roused Mrs Woods to the housekeeper, and the two women made their way into the study, having first dispatched the maid servant to the police station. At the side of the table, away from the window, Dr Lana was discovered stretched upon his back and quite dead. It was evident that he had been subjected to violence, for one of his eyes was blackened, and there were marks of bruises about his face and neck. A slight thickening and swelling of his features appeared to suggest that the cause of his death had been strangulation. He was dressed in his usual professional clothes, but wore cloth slippers, the soles of which were perfectly clean. The carpet was marked all over, especially on the side of the door, with traces of dirty boots, which were presumably left by the murderer. It was evident that someone had entered by the surgery door, had killed the doctor, and had then made his escape unseen. That the assailant was a man was certain, from the size of the footprints and from the nature of the injuries. But beyond that point, the police found it very difficult to go. There were no signs of robbery, and the doctor's gold watch was safe in his pocket. He kept a heavy cash box in the room, and this was discovered to be locked but empty. Mrs Woods had an impression that a large sum was usually kept there, but the doctor had paid a heavy corn bill in cash only that very day, and it was conjectured that it was to this, and not to a robber that the emptiness of the box was due. One thing in the room was missing, but that one thing was suggestive. The portrait of Miss Morton, which had always stood upon the side table, had been taken from its frame and carried off. Mrs Woods had observed it there when she waited upon her employer that evening, and now it was gone. On the other hand, there was picked up from the floor a green eye patch, which the housekeeper could not remember to have seen before. Such a patch might, however, be in the possession of a doctor, and there was nothing to indicate that it was in any way connected with the crime. Suspicion could only turn in one direction, and Arthur Morton, the young squire, was immediately arrested. The evidence against him was circumstantial, but damning. He was devoted to his sister, and it was shown that since the rupture between her and Dr Lana, he had been heard again and again to express himself in the most vindictive terms towards her former lover. He had, as stated, been seen somewhere about 11 o'clock entering the doctor's drive with a hunting crop in his hand. He had then, according to the theory of the police, broken in upon the doctor, whose exclamation of fear or of anger had been loud enough to attract the attention of Mrs Woods. When Mrs Woods descended, Dr Lana had made up his mind to talk it over with his visitor, and had therefore sent his housekeeper back to her room. This conversation had lasted a long time, had become more and more fiery, and had ended by a personal struggle in which the doctor lost his life. The fact, revealed by a post mortem, that his heart was much diseased, an ailment quite unsuspected during his life, would make it possible that death might, in his case, ensue from injuries which would not be fatal to a healthy man. Arthur Morton had then removed his sister's photograph and had made his way homeward, stepping aside into the laurel bushes to avoid Mrs Madding at the gate. This was the theory of the prosecution, and the case which they presented was a formidable one. On the other hand, there were now some strong points for the defence. Morton was high-spirited and impetuous, like his sister, but he was respected and liked by everyone, and his frank and honest nature seemed to be incapable of such a crime. His own explanation was that he was anxious to have a conversation with Dr Lana about some urgent family matters. From first to last, he refused even to mention the name of his sister. He did not attempt to deny that this conversation would probably have been of an unpleasant nature. He had heard from a patient that the doctor was out, and he therefore waited until about three in the morning for his return. But, as he had seen nothing of him up to that hour, he had given it up and had returned home. As to his death, he knew no more about it than the constable who arrested him. He had formerly been an intimate friend of the deceased man, but circumstances which he would prefer not to mention had brought about a change in his sentiments. There were several facts which supported his innocence. It was certain that Dr Lana was alive and in his study at half past eleven o'clock, Mrs Woods was prepared to swear that it was at that hour that she had heard his voice. The friends of the prisoner contended that it was probable that at that time Dr Lana was not alone. The sound which had originally attracted the attention of the housekeeper and her master's unusual impatience that she should leave him in peace seemed to point to that. If this were so, it seemed to be probable that he had met his end between the moment when the housekeeper heard his voice and the time when Mrs Madding made her first call and found it impossible to attract his attention. But if this were the time of his death, then it was certain that Mr Arthur Morton could not be guilty as it was after this that she had met the young squire at the gate. If this hypothesis were correct and someone was with Dr Lana before Mrs Madding met Mr Arthur Morton, then who was this someone and what motives had he for wishing evil to the doctor? It was universally admitted that if the friends of the accused could throw light upon this they would have gone a long way towards establishing his innocence. But in the meanwhile it was open to the public to say as they did say that there was no proof that anyone had been there at all except the young squire. While on the other hand there was ample proof that his motives in going were of a sinister kind. When Mrs Madding called the doctor might have retired to his room or he might as she thought at the time have gone out and returned afterwards to find Mr Arthur Morton waiting for him. Some of the supporters of the accused laid stress upon the fact that the photograph of his sister Francis which had been removed from the doctor's room had not been found in her brother's possession. This argument however did not count for much as he had ample time before his arrest to burn it or to destroy it. As to the only positive evidence in the case the muddy footprints upon the floor they were so blurred by the softness of the carpet that it was impossible to make any trustworthy deduction from them. The most that could be said was that their appearance was not inconsistent with the theory that they were made by the accused and it was further shown that his boots were very muddy upon that night. There had been a heavy shower in the afternoon and all boots were probably in the same condition. Such is a bold statement of the singular and romantic series of events which centered public attention upon this Lancashire tragedy. The unknown origin of the doctor his curious and distinguished personality the position of the man who was accused of the murder and the love affair which had preceded the crimes all combined to make the affair one of those dramas which absorbed the whole interest of a nation. Throughout the three kingdoms men discussed the case of the black doctor of Bishops crossing and many were the theories put forward to explain the facts but it may safely be said that among them all there was not one which prepared the minds of the public for the extraordinary sequel which caused so much excitement upon the first day of the trial and came to a climax upon the second. The long files of the Lancaster weekly with their report of the case lie before me as I write but I must content myself with a synopsis of the case up to the point when upon the evening of the first day the evidence of Miss Francis Morton threw a singular light upon the case. Mr. Paulot Carr, the counsel for the prosecution had marshaled his facts with unusual skill and as the day wore on it became more and more evident how difficult was the task before Mr. Humphrey who had been retained for the defence had before him. Several witnesses were put up to square to the intemperate expressions which the young squire had been heard to utter about the doctor in a fiery manner in which he resented the alleged ill treatment of his sister. Mrs. Madding repeated her evidence as to the visit which had been paid late at night by the prisoner to the deceased and it was shown by another witness that the prisoner was aware that the doctor was in the habit of sitting up alone in this isolated wing of the house and that he had chosen his very late hour to call because he knew that his victim would then be at his mercy. The witness at the squire's house was compelled to admit that he had heard his master return about three that morning which corroborated Mrs. Madding's statement that she had seen him among the Laurel bushes near the gates upon the occasion of her second visit. The muddy boots and an alleged similarity in the footprint were duly dwelt upon and it was felt when the case of the prosecution had been presented that however circumstantial it might be nonetheless so complete and so convincing that the fate of the prisoner was sealed unless something quite unexpected should be disclosed by the defence. It was three o'clock when the prosecution closed at half past four when the court rose a new and unlooked for development had occurred. I extract the incident or part of it from the journal which I have already mentioned omitting the preliminary observations of the council considerable sensation was caused in the crowded court when the first witness called to the defence proved to be Miss Frances Morton, the sister of the prisoner. Our readers will remember that the young lady had been engaged to Dr. Lana and that it was his anger over the sudden termination of this engagement which was thought to have driven her brother to the perpetration of this crime. Miss Morton had not however been directly implicated in the case in any way either at the inquest or at the police court proceedings and her appearance as the leading witness for the defence came as a surprise to the public. Miss Frances Morton, who was a tall and handsome brunette gave her evidence in a low but clear voice though it was evident throughout that she was suffering from extreme emotion. She alluded to her engagement to the doctor touched briefly upon its termination which was due, she said, to personal matters connected with his family and surprised the court by asserting that she had always considered her brother's resentment to be unreasonable and intemperate. In answer to a direct question from her council she replied that she did not feel that she had any grievances whatever against Dr. Lana and that in her opinion he had acted in a perfectly honourable manner. Her brother, on an insufficient knowledge of the facts had taken another view and she was compelled to acknowledge that in spite of her entreaties he had uttered threats of personal violence against the doctor and had, upon the evening of the tragedy announced his intention of having it out with him. She had done her best to bring him to a more reasonable frame of mind but he was very headstrong where his emotions or prejudices were concerned. Up to this point the young lady's evidence had appeared to make against the prisoner rather than in his favour. The questions of her council however soon put a very different light upon the matter and disclosed an unexpected line of defence. Mr Humphrey Do you believe your brother to be guilty of this crime? The judge. I cannot permit that question Mr Humphrey. We are here to decide upon questions of fact, not of belief. Mr Humphrey Do you know that your brother is not guilty of the death of Dr Lana? Ms Morton Yes Mr Humphrey How do you know it? Ms Morton Because Dr Lana is not dead. They followed a prolonged sensation in court which interrupted the examination of the witness. Mr Humphrey And how do you know Ms Morton that Dr Lana is not dead? Ms Morton Because I have received a letter from him since the date of his supposed death. Mr Humphrey Have you this letter? Ms Morton Yes, but I should prefer not to show it. Mr Humphrey Have you the envelope? Ms Morton Yes, it is here. Mr Humphrey What is the postmark? Ms Morton And the date? Ms Morton June the 22nd Mr Humphrey That being the day after his alleged death Are you prepared to swear to this handwriting Ms Morton? Ms Morton Certainly Mr Humphrey I am prepared to call six other witnesses, my lord, to testify that this letter is in the writing of Dr Lana The judge Then you must call them tomorrow Mr Paulot Carr Counsel for the prosecution In the meantime, my lord We claim possession of this document so that we may obtain expert evidence as to how far it is an imitation of the handwriting of the gentleman who we still confidently assert to be deceased I need not point out that the theory so unexpectedly sprung upon us may prove to be a very obvious device adopted by the friends of the prisoner in order to divert this inquiry I withdraw attention to the fact that the young lady must according to her own account have possessed this letter during the proceedings at the inquest and at the police court She desires us to believe that she permitted these to proceed although she held in her pocket evidence which would at any moment have brought them to an end Mr Humphrey Can you explain this Ms Morton? Ms Morton Dr Lana The secret to be preserved Mr Paulot Carr Then why have you made this public? Ms Morton To save my brother A member of sympathy broke out in court which was instantly suppressed by the judge the judge Admitting this line of defence it lies with you Mr Humphrey to throw a light upon who this man is whose body has been recognised by so many friends and patients of Dr Lana as being that of the doctor himself A jury man Has anyone up to now expressed any doubt about the matter? Mr Paulot Carr Not to my knowledge Mr Humphrey We hope to make the matter clear The judge Then the court will adjourn until tomorrow This new development of the case excited the utmost interest among the general public Press comment was prevented by the fact that the trial was still undecided but the question was everywhere argued as to how far there could be truth in Ms Morton's declaration and how far it might be a daring ruse for the purpose of saving her brother The obvious dilemma in which the missing doctor stood was that if by any extraordinary chance he was not dead then he must be held responsible for the death of this unknown man who resembled him so exactly and who was found in his study This letter Morton refused to produce was possibly a confession of guilt and she might find herself in the terrible position of only being able to save her brother from the gallows by the sacrifice of her former lover The court next morning was crammed to overflowing and a murmur of excitement passed over it when Mr Humphrey was observed to enter in a state of emotion which even his trained nerves could not conceal with the opposing counsel A few hurried words words which left a look of amazement upon Mr Paulock Carr's face passed between them and then the counsel for the defence addressing the judge announced that with the consent of the prosecution the young lady who had given evidence upon the sitting before would not be recalled the judge but you appear Mr Humphrey in a very unsatisfactory state Mr Humphrey perhaps my lord my next witness may help to clear them up the judge then call your next witness Mr Humphrey I call Dr Aloysius Lana The learned counsel has made many telling remarks in his day but he has certainly never produced such a sensation with so short a sentence the court was simply stunned with amazement as the very man whose face had been the subject of so much contention appeared bodily before them in the witness box those among the spectators who had known him at bishops crossing saw him now gaunt and thin with deep lines of care upon his face but in spite of his melancholy bearing and despondent expression there were few who could say that they had ever seen a man of more distinguished presence bowing to the judge he asked if he might be allowed to make a statement and having been duly informed that whatever he said might be used against him he bowed once more and proceeded my wish, said he is to hold nothing back but to tell with perfect frankness all that occurred upon the night of the 21st of June had I known that the innocent had suffered and that so much trouble had been brought upon those whom I love best in the world I should have come forward long ago but there were reasons which prevented these things from coming to my ears it was my desire that an unhappy man should vanish from the world which had known him but I had not foreseen that others would be affected by my actions let me to the best of my ability repair the evil which I have done to anyone who is acquainted with the history of the Argentine Republic the name of Lana is well known my father who came of the best blood of old Spain filled all the highest offices of the state and would have been president but for his death in the riots of San Juan a brilliant career might have been opened to my twin brother Ernest and myself and I had no financial losses which made it necessary that we should earn our own living I apologise sir if these details appear to be irrelevant but they are a necessary introduction to that which is to follow I had, as I have said a twin brother named Ernest whose resemblance to me was so great that even when we were together people could see no difference between us down to the smallest detail as we grew older this likeness became less marked because our expression was not the same but with our features in repose the points of difference were very slight it does not become me to say too much of one who is dead the more so as he is my only brother but I leave his character to those who knew him best I will only say for I have to say it that in my early manhood I conceived a horror of him and that I had good reason for the aversion which filled me my own reputation suffered from his actions for our close resemblance caused me to be credited with many of them eventually in a peculiarly disgraceful business he contrived to throw the whole odium upon me in such a way that I was forced to leave the Argentine forever and to seek a career in Europe the freedom from his hated presence more than compensated me for the loss of my native land I had enough money to defray my medical studies at Glasgow and I finally settled in practice at Bishop's Crossing in the firm conviction that in that remote Lancashire hamlet I should never hear of him again for years my hopes were fulfilled and then at last he discovered me some Liverpool man who visited Bona's Aries put him upon my track he had lost all his money and he thought that he would come over and share mine knowing my horror of him he rightly thought that I would be willing to buy him off I received a letter from him saying that he was coming it was at a crisis in my own affairs and his arrival might conceivably bring trouble and even disgrace upon some whom I was especially bound to shield from anything of the kind I took steps to ensure that any evil which might come should fall on me only and that here he turned and looked at the prisoner was the cause of my conduct upon my part which has been too harshly judged my only motive was to screen those who were dear to me from any possible connection with scandal or disgrace that scandal and disgrace would come with my brother was only to say that what had been would be again my brother arrived himself one night not very long after my receipt of the letter I was sitting in my study after the servants had gone to bed when I heard a footstep upon the gravel outside and an instant later I saw his face looking in at me through the window he was a clean shaven man like myself and the resemblance between us was still so great that in an instant I thought it was my own reflection in the glass he had a dark patch over his eye but our features were absolutely the same then he smiled in a sardonic way which had been a trick of his from his boyhood and I knew that he was the same brother who had driven me from my native land and brought disgrace upon what had been an honourable name I went to the door and admitted him that would be about ten o'clock that night when he came into the glare of the lamp I saw at once that he had fallen upon evil days he had walked from Liverpool and he was tired and ill I was quite shocked by the expression upon his face my medical knowledge told me that there was some serious internal malady he had been drinking also and his face was bruised as the result of a scuffle which he had had with some sailors it was to cover his injured eye that he wore this patch which he removed when he entered the room he was himself dressed in a pea jacket and flannel shirt and his feet were bursting through his boots but his poverty had only made him more savagely vindictive towards me his hatred rose to the height of a mania I had been rolling in money in England according to his account while he had been starving in South America I cannot describe to you the threats which he uttered or the insults he poured upon me my impression is that hardships and debauchery had unhinged his reason he paced about the room like a wild beast demanding drink, demanding money and all in the foulest language I am a hot tempered man but I thank God that I am able to say that I remained master of myself and that I never raised a hand against him my coolness only irritated him the more he raved, he cursed he shook his fists in my face and then suddenly a horrible spasm passed over his features he clapped his hand to his side and with a loud cry he fell in a heap at my feet I raced him up and stretched him upon the sofa but no answer came to my exclamations and the hand which I held in mine was cold and clammy his diseased heart had broken down his own violence had killed him for a long time I sat as if I were in some dreadful dream staring at the body of my brother I was aroused by the knocking of Mrs Woods who had been disturbed by that dying cry I sent her away to bed shortly afterwards a patient tapped on my surgery door but as I took no notice he or she went off again slowly and gradually as I sat there a plan was forming itself in my head in the curious automatic way in which plans do form when I rose from my chair my future movements were finally decided upon without my having been conscious of any process of thought it was an instinct which irresistibly inclined me toward one course ever since that changing my affairs to which I have eluded bishops crossing had become hateful to me my plans of life had been ruined and I had met with hasty judgments and unkind treatment where I had expected sympathy it is true that any danger of scandal from my brother had passed away with his life but still I was sore about the past and felt that things could never be as they had been it may be that I was unduly sensitive and that I had not made sufficient allowance for others but my feelings were as I describe any chance of getting away from bishops crossing and of everyone in it would be most welcome to me and here was such a chance as I could never have dared to hope for a chance which would enable me to make a clean break with the past there was this dead man lying upon the sofa no like me that say for some little thickness and coarseness of the features there was no difference at all no one had seen him come and no one would miss him we were both clean shaven and his hair was about the same length as my own if I changed clothes to him then Dr. Aloysius Larner would be found lying dead in his study and there would be an end of an unfortunate fellow and of a blighted career there was plenty of ready money in the room and this I could carry away with me to help me start once more in some other land in my brother's clothes I could walk by night unobserved as far as Liverpool and in that great seaport I would soon find some means of leaving the country after my lost hopes the humblest existence where I was unknown was far preferable in my estimation to a practice however successful in bishops crossing where at any moment I might come face to face with those whom I should wish if it were possible to forget I determined to effect the change and I did so I will not go into particulars for the recollection is as painful as the experience but in an hour my brother lay dressed down to the smallest detail in my clothes while I slunk out by the surgery door and taking the back path which led across some fields I started off to make the best of my way to Liverpool where I arrived the same night my bag of money and a certain portrait were all I carried out of the house and I left behind me in my hurry the shade which my brother had been wearing over his eye everything else of his I took with me I give you my word sir that never for one instant did the idea occur to me that people might think that I had been murdered nor did I imagine that anyone might be caused serious danger through this stratagem by which I had endeavoured to gain a fresh start in the world on the contrary it was the thought of relieving others from the burden of my presence which was always uppermost in my mind a sailing vessel was leaving Liverpool that very day for Corona and in this I took my passage thinking that the voyage would give me time to recover my balance and to consider the future but before I left my resolution softened I befought me that there was one person in the world to whom I would not cause an hour of sadness she would mourn me in her heart however harsh and unsympathetic her relatives might be she understood and appreciated the motives upon which I had acted and if the rest of her family condemned me she at least would not forget and so I sent her a note under the seal of secrecy to save her from her baseless grief if under the pressure of events she broke that seal she has my entire sympathy and forgiveness it was only last night that I returned to England and during all this time there was nothing of the sensation which my supposed death had caused nor of the accusation that Mr Arthur Morton had been concerned in it it was in a late evening paper that I read an account of the proceedings of yesterday and I have come this morning as fast as an express train could bring me to testify to the truth such was a remarkable statement of Dr Aloysius Lana which brought the trial to a sudden termination a subsequent investigation corroborated it to the extent of finding out the vessel in which his brother Ernest Lana had come over from South America the ship's doctor was able to testify that he had complained of a weak heart during the voyage and that his symptoms were consistent with such a death as was described as to Dr Aloysius Lana he returned to the village from which he had made so dramatic a disappearance and a complete reconciliation was effected between him and the young squire the latter having acknowledged that he had entirely misunderstood the other's motives in withdrawing from his engagement that another reconciliation followed may be judged from a notice extracted from a prominent column in the morning post a marriage was solemnized upon September 19th by the reverent Stephen Johnson at the parish church of Bishops Crossing between Aloysius Xavier Lana son of Don Alfredo Lana formerly Foreign Minister of the Argentine Republic and Francis Morton only daughter of the late James Morton JP of Lee Hall Bishops Crossing Lancashire End of The Black Doctor Tales of Terror and Mystery by Arthur Conan Doyle The Jew's Breastplate This is a LibriVox recording All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain For more information or to volunteer please visit LibriVox.org Recording by Jeremy Pavier Tales of Terror and Mystery by Arthur Conan Doyle The Jew's Breastplate My particular friend, Ward Mortimer was one of the best men of his day at everything connected with oriental archeology He had written largely upon the subject He had lived two years in a tomb at Thebes in the Old Town He had lived two years in a tomb at Thebes while he excavated in the Valley of the Kings and finally he had created a considerable sensation by his exhumation of the alleged mummy of Cleopatra in the inner room of the Temple of Horus at Philae With such a record at the age of 31 it was felt that a considerable career lay before him and no one was surprised when he was elected to the Curatorship of the Belmore Street Museum which carries with it the lectureship at the Oriental College an income which is sunk with the falling land but which still remains that ideal sum which is large enough to encourage an investigator but not so large as to innovate him There was only one reason which made Ward Mortimer's position a little difficult at the Belmore Street Museum and that was the extreme eminence of the man whom he had to succeed Professor Andreas was a profound scholar and a man of European reputation His lectures were frequented by students from every part of the world and his admirable management of the collection entrusted to his care was a commonplace in all learned societies There was therefore considerable surprise when, at the age of 55 he suddenly resigned his position and retired from those duties which had been both his livelihood and his pleasure He and his daughter left the comfortable suite of rooms with official residents in connection with the museum and my friend Mortimer who was a bachelor, took up his quarters there On hearing of Mortimer's appointment Professor Andreas had written him a very kindly and flattering congratulatory letter I was actually present at their first meeting and I went with Mortimer round the museum when the professor showed us the admirable collection which he had cherished so long The professor's beautiful daughter and a young man, Captain Wilson who was, as I understood, soon to be a husband accompanied us in our inspection There were 15 rooms but the Babylonian, the Syrian and the central hall which contained the Jewish and Egyptian collection were the finest of all Professor Andreas was a quiet, dry, elderly man with a clean-shaven face and an impassive manner but his dark eyes sparkled and his features quickened into enthusiastic life as he pointed out to us the rarity and the beauty of some of his specimens His hand lingered so fondly over them that one could read his pride in them and the grief in his heart now that they were passing from his care into that of another He had shown us, in turn, his mummies his papyri, his rare scarabs his inscriptions, his Jewish relics and his duplication of the famous seven-branched candlestick of the temple which was brought to Rome by Titus and which is supposed, by some to be lying at this instant in the bed of the Tiber then he approached a case which stood at the very centre of the hall and he looked down through the glass with reverence in his attitude and manner This is no novelty to an expert like yourself, Mr. Morton said he But I dare say that your friend Mr. Jackson will be interested to see it Leaning over the case I saw an object some five inches square which consisted of twelve precious stones in a framework of gold with golden hooks at two of the corners The stones were all varying in sort and colour but they were of the same size Their shapes, arrangement and gradation of tint made me think of a box of watercolour paints Each stone had some hieroglyphics scratched upon its surface You have heard, Mr. Jackson of the Urim and Thumim I had heard the term but my idea of its meaning was exceedingly vague The Urim and Thumim was a name given to the jewelled plate which lay upon the breast of the high priest of the Jews They had a very special feeling of reverence for it, something of the feeling which an ancient Roman might have had for the Sibyline books in the capital They are, as you see twelve magnificent stones inscribed with mystical characters Counting from the left-hand top corner the stones are Carnelian, Peridot Emerald, Ruby Lapis Lazuli, Onyx Sapphire, Agate, Amethyst Topaz, Beryl and Jasper I was amazed at the variety and beauty of the stones Has the breastplate any particular history, I asked It is of great age and of immense value Without being able to make an absolute assertion we have many reasons to think that it is possible for the original Urim and Thumim of Solomon's temple There is certainly nothing so fine in any collection in Europe My friend Captain Wilson here is a practical authority upon precious stones and he would tell you how pure these are Captain Wilson, a man with a dark, hard incisive face was standing beside his fiance at the other side of the case Yes, said he curtly I have never seen finer stones And the goldwork is also worthy of attention The ancients excelled in He was apparently about to indicate the setting of the stones when Captain Wilson interrupted him You will see a final example of their goldwork in his candlestick, said he turning to another table And we all joined him in his admiration of its embossed stem and delicately ornamented branches Altogether it was an interesting and a novel experience to have objects that were rarely explained by so great an expert And when finally Professor Andreas finished our inspection by formally handing over the precious collection to the care of my friend I could not help pitting him and envying his successor whose life was to pass in so pleasant a duty Within a week Ward Mortimer was duly installed in his new set of rooms and had become the autocrat of the Belmore Street Museum About a fortnight afterwards he went from dinner to half a dozen bachelor friends to celebrate his promotion When his guests were departing he pulled my sleeve and signalled to me that he wished me to remain You have only a few hundred hours to go, said he I was living in chambers in the Albany You may as well stay and have a quiet cigar with me I very much want your advice I relapsed into an armchair and lit one of his excellent matronas When he had returned from seeing the last of his guests out he drew a letter from his dress jacket and sat down opposite to me This is an anonymous letter which I received this morning, said he I want to read it to you to have your advice You're welcome to it for what it's worth This is how the note runs Sir I should strongly advise you to keep a very careful watch over the many valuable things which are committed to your charge I do not think that the present system of a single watchman is sufficient Be upon your guard or an irreparable misfortune may occur Is that all? Yes, that is all Well, said I It is at least obvious that it was written by one of the limited number of people who are aware that you have only one watchman at night Lord Mortimer handed me the note with a peculiar smile Have you an eye for handwriting? said he Now look at this He put another letter in front of me Look at the scene congratulate and the scene committed Look at the capital I Look at the trick of putting in a dash instead of a stop They are undoubtedly from the same hand with some attempt to disguise in the case of this first one The second, said Lord Mortimer is the letter of congratulation which was written to me by Professor Andreas upon my obtaining my appointment I stared at him in amazement Then I turned over the letter in my hand and there, sure enough was Martin Andreas signed upon the other side There could be no doubt in the mind of anyone who had the slightest knowledge of the science of graphology Professor had written an anonymous letter warning his successor against thieves It was inexplicable But it was certain Why should he do it? I asked Precisely what I should wish to ask you If he had any such misgivings why could he not come and tell me direct? Will you speak to him about it? There again I am in doubt he might choose to deny that he wrote it At any rate, said I this warning is meant in a friendly spirit and I should certainly act upon it Are the present precautions enough to ensure you were against robbery? I should have thought so The public are only admitted from ten till five and there is a guardian to every two rooms He stands at the door between them and so commands them both But at night when the public are gone we at once put up the great iron shutters which are absolutely burglar-proof The watchman is a capable fellow He sits in the lodge but he walks round every three hours We keep one electric light burning in each room all night It's difficult to suggest anything more short of keeping your day watches all night We could not afford that At least I should communicate with the police and have a special constable put on outside in Belmore Street, said I As to the letter If the writer wishes to be anonymous I think he has a right to do it We must trust to the future to show some reason for the curious course which he has adopted So, we dismiss the subject But all that night after my return to my chambers I was puzzling my brain as to what possible motive Professor Andreas could have from writing an anonymous warning letter to his successor For that the writing was his was as certain to me as if I had seen him actually doing it He foresaw some danger to the collection Was it because he foresaw it that he abandoned his charge of it? If so, why should he hesitate to warn Mortimer in his own name? I puzzled and puzzled until at last I fell into a troubled sleep which carried me beyond my usual hour of rising I was aroused in a singular and effective method For about nine o'clock my friend Mortimer rushed into my room with an expression of consternation upon his face He was usually one of the most tidy men of my acquaintance but now his collar was undone at one end his tie was flying and his hat at the back of his head I read his whole story in his frantic eyes The museum has been robbed I cried, springing up in bed I fear so those jewels, the jewels of the orium and thumb in He gasped for he was out of breath running I'm going on to the police station Come to the museum as soon as you can Jackson Goodbye Goodbye He rushed distractedly out of the room and I heard him clatter down the stairs It was not long in following his directions but I found when I arrived that he had already returned with a police inspector and another elderly gentleman who proved to be Mr Purvis one of the partners of Morsen & Company the well-known diamond merchants As an expert in stones he was always prepared to advise the police They were grouped round the case in which the breastplate of the Jewish priest had been exposed The plate had been taken out and laid upon the glass top of the case and the three heads were bent over it It is obvious that it has been tampered with said Mortimer It caught my eye the moment that I passed through the room this morning I examined it yesterday evening so that it is certain that this happened during the night It was, as he had said obvious that someone had been at work upon it The settings of the uppermost row of four stones the Carnelian, Peridot, Emerald and Ruby were rough and jagged as if someone had scraped all round them The stones were in their places but the beautiful goldwork which we had admired only a few days before had been very clumsily pulled about It looks to me, said the police inspector as if someone had been trying to take out the stones My fear is, said Mortimer that he not only tried, but succeeded I believe these four stones to be skillful imitations which have been put in place the originals My fear is, said Mortimer that he not only tried, but succeeded and had been put in place the originals The same suspicion had evidently been in the mind of the expert for he had been carefully examining the four stones with the aid of a lens He now submitted them to several tests and finally turned cheerfully to Mortimer I congratulate you sir said he huddley I will pledge my reputation that all four of these stones are genuine and of a most unusual degree of purity The collar began to come back to my poor friend's frightened face and he drew a long breath of relief Thank God he cried Then what in the world did the thief want? Probably he meant to take the stones but was interrupted In that case one would expect him to take them out one at a time but the setting of each of these has been loosened and yet the stones are all here It is certainly most extraordinary said the inspector I never remember a case like it Let us see the watchman The commissioner was called a soldierly, honest faced man who seemed as concerned as Ward Mortimer at the instant No sir I never heard a sound he answered in reply to the questions of the inspector I made my rounds four times as usual but I saw nothing suspicious I've been in my position ten years but nothing of the kind has ever occurred before No thief could have come through the windows? Impossible sir Or passed you at the door No sir I never left my post except when I walked my rounds What other openings are there in the museum? There is the door into Mr Ward Mortimer's private rooms That is locked at night, my friend explained and in order to reach it anyone from the street would have to open the outside door as well Your servants? Their quarters are entirely separate Well well said the inspector This is certainly very obscure However there has been no harm done according to Mr Purvis I will swear that those stones are genuine so that the case appears to be merely one of malicious damage But nonetheless I should be very glad to go carefully round the premises and to see if we can find any trace to show us who your visitor may have been His investigation which lasted all the morning was careful and intelligent But it led in the end to nothing He pointed out to us that there were two possible entrances to the museum which we had not considered The one was from the cellars by a trap door opening in the passage The other threw a skylight from the lumber room overlooking that very chamber to which the intruder had penetrated As neither the cellar nor the lumber room could be entered unless the thief was already within the locked doors The matter was not of any practical importance and neither the cellar nor the lumber room had any practical importance and the dust of cellar and attic assured us that no one had used either one or the other Finally we ended as we began without the slightest clue as to how, why, or by whom the setting of these four jewels had been tampered with There remained one cause for Mortimer to take and he took it Leaving the police to continue their fruitless researches he asked me to accompany him that afternoon in a visit to Professor Andreas He took with him the two letters and it was his intention to openly tax his predecessor with having written the anonymous warning and to ask him to explain the fact that he should have anticipated so exactly that which had actually occurred The Professor was living in a small villa in Upper Norwood but we were informed by the servant that he was away from home Seeing our disappointment she asked us if we should like to see Miss Andreas and showed us into the modest drawing room I have mentioned incidentally that the Professor's daughter was a very beautiful girl She was a blonde tall and graceful with a skin of that delicate tint which the French call ma The colour of old ivory were of the lighter petals of the sulphur rose I was shocked however as she entered the room to see how much she had changed in the last fortnight her young face was haggard and her bright eyes heavy with trouble Father has gone to Scotland she said He seems to be tired and has a good deal to worry him He only left us yesterday You look a little tired yourself Miss Andreas said my friend I have been so anxious about Father Can you give me his scotch address? Yes He is with his brother the Reverend David Andreas one Aaron Villa's Androssen Ward Mortimer made a note of the address and we left without saying anything to the object of our visit We found ourselves in Belmore Street in the evening in exactly the same position in which we had been in the morning Our only clue was the Professor's letter and my friend had made up his mind to start for Ardrossen the next day and to get to the bottom of the anonymous letter when a new development came to alter our plans Very early on the following morning I was aroused from my sleep by a tap upon my bedroom door It was a messenger with a note from Mortimer Do come round it said The matter is becoming more and more extraordinary When I obeyed his summons I found him pacing excitedly up and down the central room while the old soldier who guarded the premises stood with military stiffness in a corner My dear Jackson he cried I am so delighted that you have come to my little business What has happened then? He waved his hand towards the case which contained the breastplate Look at it said he I did so and could not restrain a cry of surprise The setting of the middle row of precious stones had been profaned in the same manner as the upper ones Of the twelve jewels eight had been now tampered with in this singular fashion The setting of the lower four have been smooth The others, jagged and irregular Have the stones been altered? I asked I am certain that these upper four are the same which the expert pronounced to be genuine For I observed yesterday that little discoloration on the edge of the emerald Since they have not extracted the upper stones there is no reason to think the lower have been transposed You say that you heard nothing, Simpson No sir, the commissioner answered But when I made my round after daylight I had a special look at day stones and I saw at once that someone had been meddling with them Then I called you sir and told you I was backwards and forwards all night and I never saw soul or heard a sound Come up and have some breakfast with me said Mortimer and he took me into his own chambers Now, what do you think of this Jackson? He asked It's the most objectless, futile idiotic business that ever I heard of It can only be the work of a monomaniac Can you put forward any theory? A curious idea came into my head This object is a Jewish relic of great antiquity and sanctity said I How about the anti-Semitic movement? Could one conceive that a fanatic of that way of thinking might desecrate? No, no, no, cried Mortimer That will never do Such a man might push his lunacy destroying a Jewish relic But why on earth should he nibble around every stone so carefully that he can only do four stones in a night? We must have a better solution than that and we must find it for ourselves for I do not think that our inspector is likely to help us First of all What do you think of Simpson Porter? Have you any reason to suspect him? Only that he is the one person on the premises But why should he indulge in such wanton destruction? Nothing has been taken away He has no motive Mania? No, I will swear to his sanity Have you any other theory? Well, yourself for example You're not a somnambulist by any chance Nothing of the sort, I assure you Then I give it up But I don't And I have a plan by which we will make it all clear To visit Professor Andreas? No, we shall find our solution nearer than Scotland I will tell you what we shall do You know that skylight which overlooks the central hall We will leave the electric lights in the hall and we will keep watch in the lumber room, you and I and solve the mystery for ourselves If our mysterious visitor is doing four stones at a time there is still still to do and there is every reason to think that he will return to night and complete the job Excellent, I cried We will keep our own secret and say nothing either to the police or to Simpson Will you join me? With the utmost pleasure, said I and so it was agreed It was ten o'clock that night when I returned to the Belmore Street Museum Mortimer was, as I could see in a state of suppressed nervous excitement But it was still too early to begin our vigil So we remained for an hour or so in his chambers discussing all the possibilities of the singular business which we had met to solve At last the roaring stream of handsome cabs and the rush of hurrying feet became lower and more intermittent as the pleasure seekers passed on their way to their stations or their homes It was nearly twelve when Mortimer led the way to the lumber room which overlooked the central hall of the museum He had visited it during the day and had spread some sacking down so that we could lie at our ease and look straight down into the museum The skylight was of unfrosted glass but was so covered with dust that it would be impossible for anyone looking up from below to detect that he was overlooked We cleared a small piece at each corner which gave us a complete view of the room beneath us In the cold white light of the electric lamps everything stood out hard and clear and I could see the smallest detail of the contents of the various cases Such a vigil is an excellent lesson since one has no choice but to look hard at those objects which we usually pass with such half-hearted interest Through my little peephole I employed the hours in studying every specimen from the huge mummy case which leaned against the wall to those very jewels which had brought us there in their glass case immediately beneath us There was much precious gold work and many valuable stones scattered through the numerous cases but those wonderful 12 which made up the Urim and Thumin glowed and burned with irradiance which far eclipsed the others I studied in turn the tomb pictures of Sikara the freezes from Karnak the statues of Memphis and the inscriptions of Thebes But my eyes would always come back to that wonderful Jewish relic and my mind to the singular mystery that surrounded it I was lost in the thought of it when my companion suddenly drew his breath sharply in and seized my arm in a convulsive grip At the same instance I saw what it was which had excited him I have said that against the wall on the right-hand side of the doorway the right-hand side as we looked at it but the left as one entered there stood a large mummy case To our unutterable amazement it was slowly opening gradually gradually the lid was swinging back and the black slit which marked the opening was becoming wider and wider so gently and carefully was it done that the movement was almost imperceptible then as we breathlessly watched it a white thin hand appeared at the opening pushing back a painted lid then another hand and finally a face a face which was familiar to us both that of Professor Andreas stealthily he slunk out of the mummy case like a fox dealing from its burrow his head turning incessantly to left and to right stepping then pausing then stepping again the very image of craft and of caution once some sound in the street struck emotionless and he stood listening with his ear turned ready to dart back to the shelter behind him then he crept onwards again upon tiptoe very very softly slowly until he had reached the case in the centre of the room there he took a bunch of keys from his pocket unlocked the case took out the Jewish breastplate and laying it upon the glass in front of him began to work upon it with some sort of small glistening tool he was so directly underneath us that his bent head covered his work but we could guess from the movement of his hand that he was engaged in finishing the strange disfigurement which he had begun I could realise from the heavy breathing of my companion and the twitchings of the hand which still clutched my wrist the furious indignation which filled his heart he saw this vandalism in the quarter of all others where he could least have expected it he, the very man who a fortnight before had reverently bent over this unique relic and who had impressed his antiquity and its sanctity upon us was now engaged in this outrageous profanation it was impossible unthinkable and yet there in the white glare of the electric light beneath us was that dark figure with the bent grey head and the twitching elbow what in human hypocrisy what hateful depth of malice against his successor must underline these sinister nocturnal labours it was painful to think of and dreadful to watch even I who had none of the acute feelings of a virtuoso could not bear to look on and see this deliberate mutilation of so ancient a relic it was a relief to me when my companion tugged at my sleeve as a signal that I was to follow him as he softly crept out of the room it was not until we were within his own quarters that he opened his lips and then I saw by his agitated face how deep was his consternation the abominable goth he cried could you have believed it it is amazing he is a villain or a lunatic one or the other we shall very soon see which come with me Jackson and we shall get to the bottom of this black business a door opened out of the passage which was the private entrance from his rooms into the museum this he opened softly with his key having first kicked off his shoes an example which I followed we crept together through room after room until the large hall lay before us with that dark figure still stooping and working at the central case with an advance as cautious as his own we closed in upon him but softly as we went we could not take him entirely unawares we were still a dozen yards from him when he looked round with the start and uttering a husky cry of terror ran frantically down the museum Simpson! Simpson! roared Mortimer and far away down the vista of electric lighted doors we saw the stiff figure of the old soldier suddenly appear Professor Andreas saw him also and stopped running with a gesture of despair at the same instant we each laid a hand upon his shoulder Yes, yes, gentlemen, he panted I will come with you to your room, Mr. Ward Mortimer if you please I feel that I owe you an explanation my companion's indignation was so great that I could see that he dared not trust himself to reply we walked on each side of the old Professor the astonished commissioner bringing up the rear when we reached the violated case Mortimer stopped and examined the breastplate already one of the stones of the lower row had had its setting turned back in the same manner as the others my friend held it up and glanced furiously at his prisoner How could you? he cried How could you? It is horrible, horrible, said the Professor I don't wonder at your feelings take me to your room but this shall not be left exposed, cried Mortimer he picked the breastplate up and carried it tenderly in his hand while I walked beside the Professor like a policeman with a male factor we passed into Mortimer's chambers leaving the amazed old soldier to understand better as best he could the Professor sat down in Mortimer's armchair and turned so ghastly a colour that for the instant all our resentment was changed to concern a stiff glass of brandy brought the life back to him once more there I am better now, said he these last few days have been too much for me I am convinced that I could not stand it any longer it is a nightmare, a horrible nightmare that I should be arrested as a burglar in what has been for so long my own museum and yet I cannot blame you you could not have done otherwise my hope always was that I should get it all over before I was detected this would have been my last night's work how did you get in? asked Mortimer by taking a very great liberty with your private door but the object justified it the object justified everything you will not be angry when you know everything at least you will not be angry with me I had a key to your side door and also to the museum door I did not give them up when I left and so you see it was not difficult for me to let myself into the museum I used to come in early before the crowd cleared from the street then I hid myself in the mummy case and took refuge there whenever Simpson came round I could always hear him coming I used to leave in the same way as I came you ran a risk I had to but why? what on earth was your object? you to do a thing like that Mortimer pointed reproachfully the plate which lay before him on the table I could devise no other means I thought and thought it was an alternate except a hideous public scandal and a private sorrow which would have clouded our lives I acted for the best incredible as it may seem to you and I only ask your attention to enable me to prove it I will hear what you have to say before I take any further steps said Mortimer grimly I am determined to hold back nothing and to take you both completely into my confidence I will leave it to your own generosity how far you will use the facts with which I supply you we have the essential facts already then yet you understand nothing let me go back to what passed a few weeks ago and I will make it all clear to you believe me that what I say is the absolute and exact truth you have met the person who calls himself Captain Wilson I say calls himself because I have reason now to believe that it is not his correct name it would take me too long if I were to describe all the means by which he obtained an introduction to me he initiated himself into my friendship and the affection of my daughter he brought letters from foreign colleagues which compelled me to show him some attention and then by his own attainments which are considerable he succeeded in making himself a very welcome visitor at my rooms when I learned that my daughter's affection had been gained by him I may have thought it premature but I certainly was not surprised for he had a charm of manner and of conversation which would have made him conspicuous in any society he was much interested in oriental antiquities and his knowledge of the subject justified his interest often when he spent the evening with us he would ask permission to go down into the museum and have an opportunity of privately inspecting the various specimens you can imagine that I, as an enthusiast was in sympathy with such a request and that I felt no surprise at the constancy of his visits after his actual engagement to Elise there was hardly an evening which he did not pass with us and an hour or two were generally devoted to the museum he had the free run of the place and when I have been away for the evening I had no objection to his doing whatever he wished here this state of things was only terminated by the fact of my resignation of my official duties and my retirement to Norwood while I hoped to have the leisure to write a considerable work which I had planned it was immediately after this, within a week or so that I first realised the true nature and character of the man whom I had so imprudently introduced into my family this discovery came to me through letters from my friends abroad which showed me that his introductions to me had been forgeries aghast at the revelation I asked myself what motive this man could originally have had in practising this elaborate deception upon me I was too poor a man for any fortune-hunter to have marked me down why then had he come? I remembered that some of the most precious gems in Europe had been under my charge and I remembered also the ingenious excuses by which this man had made himself familiar with the cases in which they were kept he was a rascal who was planning some gigantic robbery how could I, without striking my own daughter who was infatuated about him prevent him from carrying out any plan which he might have formed my device was a clumsy one and yet I could think of nothing more effective if I had written a letter under my own name you would naturally have turned to me for details which I did not wish to give I resorted to an anonymous letter begging you to be on your guard I may tell you that my change from Belmore Street to Norwood had not affected the visits of this man who had, I believe, a real and overpowering affection for my daughter as to her, I could not have believed that any woman could be so completely under the influence of a man as she was his stronger nature seemed to entirely dominate her I had not realised how far this was the case or the extent of the confidence which existed between them until that very evening when his true character for the first time was made clear to me I had given orders that when he called he should be shown into my study instead of to the drawing-room there I told him bluntly that I knew all about him that I had taken steps to defeat his designs and that neither I nor my daughter desired ever to see him again I added that I thanked God that I had found him out before he had time to harm those precious objects which had been the work of my lifetime to protect he was certainly a man of iron nerve he took my remarks without a sign either of surprise or of defiance but listened gravely and attentively until I had finished then he walked across the room without a word and struck the bell asked Miss Andreus to be so kind as to step this way said he to the servant my daughter entered and the man closed the door behind her then he took her hand in his Elise said he your father has just discovered that I'm a villain he knows now what you knew before she stood in silence listening he says that we are to part forever said he she did not withdraw her hand will you be true to me or will you remove the last good influence which is ever likely to come into my life John, she cried passionately I will never abandon you never, never, not if the whole world were against you in vain I argued and pleaded with her it was absolutely useless her whole life was bound up in this man before me my daughter, gentlemen is all that I have left to love and it filled me with agony when I saw how powerless I was to save her from her ruin my helplessness seemed to touch this man who was the cause of my trouble it may not be as bad as you think, sir said he in his quiet, inflexible way I love Elise with a love which is strong enough to ask you even one who has such a record as I have it was but yesterday that I promised that never again in my whole life would I do a thing of which she should be ashamed I have made up my mind to it and never yet did I make up my mind to a thing which I did not do he spoke with an air which carried conviction with it as he concluded he put his hand into his pocket and he drew out a small cardboard box I am about to give you a proof of my determination, said he this, Elise, shall be the first fruits of your redeeming influence over me you are right, sir, in thinking that I had designs upon the jewels in your possession such ventures have had charm for me which depended as much upon the risk run as upon the value of the prize those famous and antique stones of the Jewish priest were a challenge to my daring and my ingenuity I determined to get them I guessed as much there was only one thing that you did not guess and what is that? that I got them they are in this box he opened the box and tilted out the contents upon the corner of my desk my hair rose and my flesh grew cold as I looked there were twelve magnificent square stones engraved with mystical characters there could be no doubt that they were the jewels of the Urim and Thumim good god, I cried how have you escaped discovery? by the substitution of twelve others made especially to my order in which the originals are so carefully imitated that I defy the eye to detect the difference then the present stones are false, I cried they have been for some weeks we all stood in silence my daughter white with emotion but still holding this man by the hand you see what I am capable of Elise? said he I see that you are capable of repentance and restitution she answered yes, thanks to your influence I leave the stones in your hand sir do what you like about it but remember that whatever you do against me is done against the future husband of your only daughter you will hear from me soon again Elise it is the last time that I will ever cause pain to your tender heart and with those words he left both the room and the house my position was a dreadful one here I was with these precious relics in my possession and how could I return them without a scandal and an exposure? I knew the depth of my daughter's nature too well to suppose that I would ever be able to detach her from this man now that she had entirely given him her heart I was not even sure how far it was right to detach her if she had such an ameliorating influence over him how could I expose him without injuring her and how far was I justified in exposing him when he had voluntarily put himself into my power I thought and thought until at last I formed a resolution which may seem to you to be a foolish one and yet if I had to do it again I believe it would be the best course open to me my idea was to return the stones without anyone being the wiser with my keys I could get into the museum at any time I was confident that I could avoid Simpson whose hours and methods were familiar to me I determined to take no one into my confidence not even my daughter whom I told that I was about to visit my brother in Scotland I wanted a free hand for a few nights without inquiries to my comings and go-ins to this end I took a room in Harding Street that very night with an intimation that I was a pressman and that I should keep very late hours that night I made my way into the museum but I replaced four of the stones it was hard work and took me all night when Simpson came round I always heard his footsteps and concealed myself in the mummy case I had some knowledge of goldwork but was far less skillful than the thief had been he had replaced the setting so exactly that I defy anyone to see the difference my work was rude and clumsy however I hoped that the plate might not be carefully examined or the roughness of the setting observed until my task was done next night I replaced four more stones and tonight I should have finished my task had it not been for the unfortunate circumstance which has caused me to reveal so much which I should have wished to keep concealed I appeal to you gentlemen to your sense of honour and of compassion whether what I have told you should go any farther or not my own happiness my daughter's future the hopes of this man's regeneration will depend upon your decision which is, said my friend that all is well that ends well and that the whole matter ends here and at once tomorrow the loose setting shall be tightened by an expert goldsmith and so passes the greatest danger to which since the destruction of the temple the Urim and Thulmim has been exposed here is my hand Professor Andreas and I can only hope that under such difficult circumstances I should have carried myself as unselfishly and as well just one footnote to this narrative within a month Elise Andreas was married to a man whose name had either discretion to mention it would appeal to my readers as one who is now widely and deservedly honoured but if the truth were known that honour is due not to him but to the gentle girl who plucked him back when he had gone so far down that dark road along which few return End of The Jew's Breastplate by Arthur Conan Doyle Recording by Jeremy Pavier