Проклятие мумии, или Камень Семи Звезд
Chapter 6
"SergeantDawwasamanofcourage;heevidentlydidnotshrinkfromanyconclusionofhisreasoningonfacts.
Wewerebothsilentforawhile.Fearsbegancrowdinginonmyownmind.NotdoubtsofMissTrelawny,orofanyactofhers;butfearslestsuchactsshouldbemisunderstood.Therewasevidentlyamysterysomewhere;andifnosolutiontoitcouldbefound,thedoubtwouldbecastonsomeone.Insuchcasestheguessesofthemajorityareboundtofollowthelineofleastresistance;andifitcouldbeprovedthatanypersonalgaintoanyonecouldfollowMr.Trelawny’sdeath,shouldsuchensue,itmightproveadifficulttaskforanyonetoproveinnocenceinthefaceofsuspiciousfacts.Ifoundmyselfinstinctivelytakingthatdeferentialcoursewhich,untiltheplanofbattleoftheprosecutionisunfolded,issosafeanattitudeforthedefence.Itwouldneverdoforme,atthisstage,tocombatanytheorieswhichadetectivemightform.IcouldbesthelpMissTrelawnybylisteningandunderstanding.Whenthetimeshouldcomeforthedissipationandobliterationofthetheories,Ishouldbequitewillingtouseallmymilitantardour,andalltheweaponsatmycommand.
"Youwillofcoursedoyourduty,Iknow,"Isaid,"andwithoutfear.Whatcoursedoyouintendtotake?"
"Idon’tknowasyet,sir.Yousee,uptonowitisn’twithmeevenasuspicion.Ifanyoneelsetoldmethatthatsweetyoungladyhadahandinsuchamatter,Iwouldthinkhimafool;butIamboundtofollowmyownconclusions.