Round the Fire Stories

argely upon the subject, he had lived two years in a tomb at Thebes, while he excavated in the Valley of the Kings, and finally he had c

o the curatorship of the Belmore Street Museum, which carries with it the lectureship at the Oriental College, and an income which has sunk with t

ented by students from every part of the world, and his admirable management 150of the collection intrusted to his care was a commonplace in all learned societies. There was, therefore, considerable surprise when, at the age of fifty-five, he suddenly resigned his position and

ung man, Captain Wilson, who was, as I understood, soon to be her husband, accompanied us in our inspection. There were fifteen 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 an

nched 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

r. Mortimer,” said he; “but I daresay that your f

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, arran

r. Jackson, of the

ut my idea of its meani

mething of the feeling which an ancient Roman might have for the Sibylline books in the Capitol. There are, as you see, twelve magnificent stones, inscribed with mystical ch

the variety and b

te any particular

to think that it is possible that it may be the original urim and thummim of Solomon’s Temple. There is certainly nothing so fine in any co

, incisive face, was standing beside hi

tly, “I have never

ts excelled in ——”—he was apparently about to indicate the

ting and a novel experience to have objects of such rarity 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 c

n bachelor friends to celebrate his promotion. When his guests were depar

iving in chambers in the Albany. “You may as well stay and

s. When he had returned from seeing the last of his guests out, h

eived this morning,” said he. “I want to

lcome to it for

the many valuable things which are committed to your charge. I do not think that the present syst

that

that i

written by one of the limited number of people who

e. “Now, look at this!” He put another letter in front of me. “Look at the c in ‘congratulate’ and t

e hand—with some attempt at disgui

of congratulation which was written to me by Pr

the other side. There could be no doubt, in the mind of any one who had the slightest knowledge of the science of graphology, t

d he do it

ou. If he had any such misgivings, why

peak to him

ubt. He might choose to

dly spirit, and I should certainly act upon it. Are the

en till five, and there is a guardian to 155every two rooms. H

at ni

tely burglar-proof. The watchman is a capable fellow. He sits in the lodge, but he wal

nything more—short of keeping

not affo

e Street,” said I. “As to the letter, if the writer wishes to be anonymous, I think he has a right to

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 h

expression of consternation upon his face. He was usually one of the most tidy men of my acquaintance, but now his collar

n robbed!” I cried,

th with running. “I’m going on to the police-station. Come to the museum as soon as you can, Jac

urvis, one of the partners of Morson and Company, the well-known diamond merchants. As an expert in stones he was always prepared to advise the police. They were grouped round th

eye the moment that I passed through the room this morning. I examined it yes

carnelian, peridot, emerald, 157and ruby-were rough and jagged as if some one had scraped all round them. The stones were i

inspector, “as if some one had b

succeeded. I believe these four stones to be skilful imi

d been carefully examining the four stones with the aid of a lens. He now

l pledge my reputation that all four of these stones

y poor friend’s frightened face, a

“Then what in the wor

o take the stones, b

t one at a time, but the setting of each of these

aid the inspector. “I never remember a

erly, honest-faced man, who seemed as co

spector. “I made my rounds four times, as usual, but I saw nothing suspicious. I’v

have come thro

sible,

d you at

t my post except when

nings are there

into Mr. Ward Morti

“and in order to reach it any one from the str

serv

rs are entire

certainly very obscure. However, there has

hat those stone

the less, I should be very glad to go carefully round the premises, and t

ing in the passage. The other through 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 wa

rs, 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 wa

delicate 160tint which the French call “mat,” the colour of old ivory or of the lighter petals of the sulphur rose. I was shocked, however, as

e seems to be tired, and has had a good dea

red yourself, Miss An

so anxious

e me his Sco

r, the Rev. David Andreas,

t 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 m

sed from my sleep by a tap upon my bedroom doo

“the matter is becoming mo

nd down the central room, while the 161old soldier who guar

o delighted that you have come, for

s happen

rds the case which con

t it,”

en profaned in the same manner as the upper ones. Of the twelve jewels, eight had been now tampered with in

nes been alte

ed yesterday that little discoloration on the edge of the emerald. Since they have not extracted the upper s

at these stones, and I saw at once that some one had been meddling with them. Then I called you, sir

Mortimer, and he took me into his own chambers.—“

iotic business that ever I heard of. I

t forward a

antiquity and sanctity,” said I. “How about the anti-Semitic movement? C

h should he nibble round every stone so carefully that he can only do four stones in a night? We must have a better solution than that, and we

y reason to

the one person

wanton destruction? Nothing has b

an

swear to h

any othe

mple. You are not a somn

the sort, I

n I giv

e a plan by which we w

Professo

ll 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

ent!” I

say nothing either to the police

easure,” said I; an

ed 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 hansom cabs and the rush of hurrying feet became lower an

so covered with dust that it would be impossible for any one looking up from below to detect that he was overlooked. We cleared a small piece at each corner, which gave us a complete v

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 twelve which made up the urim and thummim glowed and burned with a radiance which far eclipsed the others. I studied in turn the tomb-pictures of Sicara, the friezes from Karnak, the statues

shing back the 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 stealing 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 him motionless, and he stood listening, with his ear turned, ready to dart back to the shelter behind him. Then he crept onwards

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 inhuman hypocrisy, what hateful depth of malice against his successor must underlie these sinister nocturnal labours. It was painful to think of and dreadful to watch. Even I, w

!” he cried. “Could

s ama

hall very soon see which. Come with me, Jackson, and

ept 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

w the stiff figure of the old soldier suddenly appear. Professor Andreas saw him also, and stopp

with you. To your room, Mr. Ward Mortimer, if y

astonished commissionaire bringing up the rear. When we reached the violated case, Mortimer stopped and examined the breastplate. Already one of the

!” he cried. “

e Professor. “I don’t wonder at yo

iceman with a malefactor. We passed into Mortimer’s chambers, leaving the amazed old soldier to understand matters as best he could. The Professor sat down in Mortimer’s

ightmare—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

get in?” as

e. 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

ran a

had

a thing like that?” Mortimer pointed reproachful

deous public scandal, and a private sorrow which would have clouded our lives. I acted for the

say before I take any further

mpletely into my confidence. I will leave it to your own gener

essential f

ssed a few weeks ago, and I will make it all clear to you.

ratiated himself into my friendship and the affection of my daughter. He brought letters from foreign 170colleagues which compelled me to show him some attention. And then, by his own attainments, which are considerable, he succeeded in making himself a very welc

thusiast, 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 w

is 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

ntirely dominate her. I had not realized 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.

er of surprise or of defiance, but listened gravely and attentively until I h

o kind as to step this way

man closed the door behind her

just discovered that I am a villain.

in silence,

e are to part fo

ot withdra

remove the last good influence which

ill never abandon you! Never, never, n

e me. My daughter, gentlemen, is all that I have left to love, and it filled me with agony when I saw how powerl

escue even one who has such a record as I have. It was but yesterday that I promised her that never again in my whole life would I do a

with it. As he concluded he put his hand into h

sir, in thinking that I had designs upon the jewels in your possession. Such ventures have had a charm for me, which depended as much upon the risk run as

ssed as

one thing that yo

what i

them. They ar

my flesh grew cold as I looked. There were twelve magnificent square stones engraved with mys

ed. ‘How have you

to my order, in which the originals are so carefully

ent stones are

been for s

ghter white with emotion, but st

am capable of,

able of repentance and r

r you do against me, is done against the future husband of your only daughter. You will hear from me soon again, Elise. It i

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 175injuring her—and how far was I justified in

ds 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 night

tly that I defy any one 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 to-night I should have finished my task had it not been for the unfortunate circu

htened by an expert goldsmith, and so passes the greatest danger to which, since the destruction of the Temple, the urim and thummim have been exposed.

tion it, would appeal to my readers as one who is now widely and deservedly honoured. But if the truth were known, that honour i

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