Проклятие мумии, или Камень Семи Звезд

           WhilstIwasstrokingthenowquiescentcat,theDoctorwenttothetableandtoreoffapieceofblotting-paperfromthewriting-padandcameback.Helaidthepaperonhispalmand,withasimple"pardonme!"toMissTrelawny,placedthecat’spawonitandpresseditdownwithhisotherhand.Thehaughtycatseemedtoresentsomewhatthefamiliarity,andtriedtodrawitsfootaway.ThiswasplainlywhattheDoctorwanted,forintheactthecatopenedthesheathsofitsclawsandandmadeseveralreefsinthesoftpaper.ThenMissTrelawnytookherpetaway.Shereturnedinacoupleofminutes;asshecameinshesaid:

           "Itismostoddaboutthatmummy!WhenSilviocameintotheroomfirst—indeedItookhiminasakittentoshowtoFather—hewentonjustthesameway.Hejumpeduponthetable,andtriedtoscratchandbitethemummy.ThatwaswhatmadeFathersoangry,andbroughtthedecreeofbanishmentonpoorSilvio.Onlyhisparole,giventhroughme,kepthiminthehouse."

           Whilstshehadbeengone,DoctorWinchesterhadtakenthebandagefromherfather’swrist.Thewoundwasnowquiteclear,astheseparatecutsshowedoutinfierceredlines.TheDoctorfoldedtheblotting-paperacrossthelineofpuncturesmadebythecat’sclaws,andhelditdownclosetothewound.Ashedidso,helookeduptriumphantlyandbeckonedusovertohim.