The Strand Magazine, Vol. 17, February 1899, No. 98.

In the hushed corridors of a venerable museum, a young scholar of Oriental archaeology steps into the shoes of a celebrated predecessor. The seasoned professor, his eyes still bright with pride, guides the newcomer through rooms filled with ancient scarabs, mummies, and delicate papyri, each piece whispering stories of lost civilizations. Accompanying them are the professor’s cultured daughter and a poised captain, whose presence adds a subtle social current to the scholarly tour.

At the heart of the collection lies a compact, dazzling object—a breast‑plate set with twelve gemstones of every hue, each etched with mysterious hieroglyphs. Its provenance is hinted at with reverence: could it be the legendary urim and thummim once worn by the high priest of ancient Israel? The scholars debate its age and value, their curiosity sparked by the possibility that this glittering relic may have once rested upon Solomon’s own temple altar.