The Jew's Breastplate

Name: The Jew's Breastplate
Author: Sir Arthur Conan Doyle

The narrative follows Ward Mortimer, an expert in Oriental archaeology, who takes over the curatorship of the Belmore Street Museum after the esteemed Professor Andreas resigns. Mortimer discovers an anonymous letter warning him to be vigilant about the museum's valuable artifacts, particularly a unique breastplate known as the urim and thummim, believed to be of great historical significance. Shortly after Mortimer's appointment, the museum is subjected to a mysterious tampering incident where the settings of several precious stones on the breastplate are disturbed, but the stones themselves remain intact. Despite thorough investigations by the police, no clear evidence of a thief is found, leading to confusion and concern. Mortimer decides to investigate further and, along with a friend, sets up a watch in the museum to uncover the truth. They witness Professor Andreas emerging from a mummy case, revealing that he has been secretly returning to the museum to tamper with the breastplate. The professor confesses that he had initially warned Mortimer out of concern for the safety of the artifacts, as he suspected that Captain Wilson, who was engaged to his daughter Elise, was a conman planning to steal the jewels. Andreas explains that he had been replacing the original stones with imitations to protect them from Wilson, whom he believed was a threat to both his daughter and the museum's treasures. The professor's actions stemmed from a desperate desire to shield his daughter from a man he now recognized as a fraud. In the end, Mortimer and his friend agree to keep the incident confidential, allowing Andreas to tighten the settings of the stones and restore the breastplate without scandal. The story concludes with the professor's daughter marrying a man of good reputation, highlighting the themes of protection, sacrifice, and the complexities of human relationships intertwined with the preservation of history.

By Sir Arthur Conan Doyle · First published 1892 · Genre: Mystery, Detective Fiction, Historical Fiction · 10,298 words

First lines

My particular friend, Ward Mortimer, was one of the best men of his day at everything connected with Oriental archaeology. He had written largely 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 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 thirty-one, 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, and an income which has sunk with the fall in land, but which still remains at that ideal sum which is large enough to encourage an investigator, but not so large as to enervate him.

What this Textopian page supports

The Jew's Breastplate is listed on Textopian as a short story by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, dated 1892 CE.

This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.

Work type: Short story
Author: Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
Date: 1892 CE
Language: English
Genres: Mystery, Detective Fiction, Historical Fiction, Adventure, Suspense
Length: 10,298 words
Structure: 1 section, 171 paragraphs
Reading fit: Fairly Easy (7th Grade)

Good citation fit

Work identity for The Jew's Breastplate by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
Readability and classroom-planning context
Passage-specific claims should cite the exact /read/ URL for the relevant chapter or paragraph

Discussion starters

What should a reader notice first when entering The Jew's Breastplate?
How does this short story by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
Where does Mystery first become important in the reading?

Similar titles

Genres

Mystery — The plot revolves around the theft and tampering of a valuable artifact, creating suspense and intrigue.
Detective Fiction — The narrative features a detective-like investigation into the theft and the motives behind it.
Historical Fiction — The story incorporates elements of Jewish history and artifacts, particularly the urim and thummim.
Adventure — The characters engage in a quest to uncover the truth behind the theft and the motivations of the antagonist.