Проклятие мумии, или Камень Семи Звезд

           IsupposeitwasbecauseIhadbeenthinkingofthepistolbeforeIwenttosleep,andbecausewhenIcameinhereIwashalfdazedandonlyhalfawake—whichIhopeyouwillinfuture,sir,alwaysremember."Heclungtothatformulaofexcuseasthoughitwerehissheet-anchor.Ididnotwanttoantagonisetheman;onthecontraryIwantedtohavehimwithus.Besides,Ihadonmeatthattimemyselftheshadowofmyowndefault;soIsaidaskindlyasIknewhow:

           "Quiteright!Sergeant.Yourimpulsewascorrect;thoughofcourseinthehalf-somnolentconditioninwhichyouwere,andperhapspartlyaffectedbythesameinfluence—whateveritmaybe—whichmademesleepandwhichhasputtheNurseinthatcataleptictrance,itcouldnotbeexpectedthatyouwouldpausedtoweighmatters.Butnow,whilstthematterisfresh,letmeseeexactlywhereyoustoodandwhereIsat.Weshallbeabletotracethecourseofyourbullets."Theprospectofactionandtheexerciseofhishabitualskillseemedtobracehimatonce;heseemedadifferentmanashesetabouthiswork.IaskedMrs.Granttoholdthetourniquet,andwentandstoodwherehehadstoodandlookedwhere,inthedarkness,hehadpointed.Icouldnotbutnoticethemechanicalexactnessofhismind,aswhenheshowedmewherehehadstood,ordrew,asamatterofcourse,therevolverfromhispistolpocket,andpointedwithit.ThechairfromwhichIhadrisenstillstoodinitsplace.ThenIaskedhimtopointwithhishandonly,asIwishedtomoveinthetrackofhisshot.