Проклятие мумии, или Камень Семи Звезд

           Afterwardsshewasgoodenoughtoconsidermetobeafriend,andtoallowmetoremaininaccordancewithyourexpressedwishthatsomeoneshouldremaintowatch."

           Mr.Trelawnywasmanifestlyamanofquickthought,andoffewwords.HegazedatmekeenlyasIspoke,andhispiercingeyesseemedtoreadmythought.Tomyreliefhesaidnomoreonthesubjectjustthen,seemingtoacceptmywordsinsimplefaith.Therewasevidentlyinhisownmindsomecausefortheacceptancedeeperthanmyownknowledge.Hiseyesflashed,andtherewasanunconsciousmovementofthemouth—itcouldhardlybecalledatwitch—whichbetokenedsatisfaction.Hewasfollowingoutsometrainofreasoninginhisownmind.Suddenlyhesaid:

           "ShethoughtIhadbeenmurdered!Wasthatlastnight?"

           "No!fourdaysago."Heseemedsurprised.Whilsthehadbeenspeakingthefirsttimehehadsatupinbed;nowhemadeamovementasthoughhewouldjumpout.Withaneffort,however,herestrainedhimself;leaningbackonhispillowshesaidquietly:

           "Tellmeallaboutit!Allyouknow!Everydetail!Omitnothing!Butstay;firstlockthedoor!Iwanttoknow,beforeIseeanyone,exactlyhowthingsstand."

           Somehowhislastwordsmademyheartleap."Anyone!"Heevidentlyacceptedme,then,asanexception.Inmypresentstateoffeelingforhisdaughter,thiswasacomfortingthought.IfeltexultantasIwentovertothedoorandsoftlyturnedthekey.WhenIcamebackIfoundhimsittingupagain.