Проклятие мумии, или Камень Семи Звезд

           "Youhavethefullestpossiblepermissiontodoanythingwhichmayhelpusinthisdreadfultrouble—todiscoverwhatitisthatiswrongwithmyFather,orwhichmayshieldhiminthefuture!"

           Hebeganatonceasystematicsearchofthedressing-table,andafterthatofthewriting-tableintheroom.Inoneofthedrawershefoundalettersealed;thishebroughtatonceacrosstheroomandhandedtoMissTrelawny.

           "Aletter—directedtome—andinmyFather’shand!"shesaidassheeagerlyopenedit.Iwatchedherfaceasshebegantoread;butseeingatoncethatSergeantDawkepthiskeeneyesonherface,unflinchinglywatchingeveryflittingexpression,Ikeptmyeyeshenceforthfixedonhis.WhenMissTrelawnyhadreadherletterthrough,Ihadinmymindaconviction,which,however,Ikeptlockedinmyownheart.AmongstthesuspicionsinthemindoftheDetectivewasone,ratherperhapspotentialthandefinite,ofMissTrelawnyherself.

           ForseveralminutesMissTrelawnyheldtheletterinherhandwithhereyesdowncast,thinking.Thenshereaditcarefullyagain;thistimethevaryingexpressionswereintensified,andIthoughtIcouldeasilyfollowthem.Whenshehadfinishedthesecondreading,shepausedagain.Then,thoughwithsomereluctance,shehandedthelettertotheDetective.Hereaditeagerlybutwithunchangingface;readitasecondtime,andthenhandeditbackwithabow.Shepausedalittleagain,andthenhandedittome.