Проклятие мумии, или Камень Семи Звезд

           Herewehaveamaninhishome;amidsthisownhousehold;plentyofservantsofdifferentclassesinthehouse,whichforbidsthepossibilityofanorganisedattemptmadefromtheservants"hall.Heiswealthy,learned,clever.Fromhisphysiognomythereisnodoubtingthatheisamanofironwillanddeterminedpurpose.Hisdaughter—hisonlychild,Itakeit,ayounggirlbrightandclever—issleepingintheverynextroomtohis.Thereisseeminglynopossiblereasonforexpectinganyattackordisturbanceofanykind;andnoreasonableopportunityforanyoutsidertoeffectit.Andyetwehaveanattackmade;abrutalandremorselessattack,madeinthemiddleofthenight.Discoveryismadequickly;madewiththatrapiditywhichincriminalcasesgenerallyisfoundtobenotaccidental,butofpremeditatedintent.Theattacker,orattackers,aremanifestlydisturbedbeforethecompletionoftheirwork,whatevertheirultimateintentmayhavebeen.Andyetthereisnopossiblesignoftheirescape;noclue,nodisturbanceofanything;noopendoororwindow;nosound.Nothingwhatevertoshowwhohaddonethedeed,oreventhatadeedhasbeendone;exceptthevictim,andhissurroundingsincidentaltothedeed!

           "Thenextnightasimilarattemptismade,thoughthehouseisfullofwakefulpeople;andthoughthereareonwatchintheroomandarounditadetectiveofficer,atrainednurse,anearnestfriend,andtheman’sowndaughter.