Проклятие мумии, или Камень Семи Звезд

           Hereisadeadcat—thatisall;itisperhapsfourorfivethousandyearsold—andanothercatofanotherbreed,inwhatispracticallyanotherworld,isreadytoflyatit,justasitwouldifitwerenotdead.Ishouldliketoexperimentabitaboutthatcatifyoudon’tmind,MissTrelawny."Shehesitatedbeforereplying:

           "Ofcourse,doanythingyoumaythinknecessaryorwise;butIhopeitwillnotbeanythingtohurtorworrymypoorSilvio."TheDoctorsmiledasheanswered:

           "Oh,Silviowouldbeallright:itistheotheronethatmysympathieswouldbereservedfor."

           "Howdoyoumean?"

           "MasterSilviowilldotheattacking;theotheronewilldothesuffering."

           "Suffering?"Therewasanoteofpaininhervoice.TheDoctorsmiledmorebroadly:

           "Oh,pleasemakeyourmindeasyastothat.Theotherwon’tsufferasweunderstandit;exceptperhapsinhisstructureandoutfit."

           "Whatonearthdoyoumean?"

           "Simplythis,mydearyounglady,thattheantagonistwillbeamummycatlikethisone.Thereare,Itakeit,plentyofthemtobehadinMuseumStreet.Ishallgetoneandplaceithereinsteadofthatone—youwon’tthinkthatatemporaryexchangewillviolateyourFather’sinstructions,Ihope.Weshallthenfindout,tobeginwith,whetherSilvioobjectstoallmummycats,oronlytothisoneinparticular."

           "Idon’tknow,"shesaiddoubtfully.