Прокляття мумії, або Камінь Семи Зірок

           UnhappilyIamingreatignoranceofmyFatherandhislife.Ionlycametolivewithhimayearago;andIknownothingwhateverofhisaffairs.Idonotevenknowwhoyouare,orinwhatwayyourbusinessisassociatedwithhim."Shesaidthiswithalittledeprecatingsmile,allconventionalandaltogethergraceful;asthoughtoexpressinthemostgenuinewayherabsurdignorance.

           Helookedsteadilyatherforperhapsaquarterofaminute;thenhespoke,beginningatonceasthoughhismindweremadeupandhisconfidenceestablished:

           "MynameisEugeneCorbeck.IamaMasterofArtsandDoctorofLawsandMasterofSurgeryofCambridge;DoctorofLettersofOxford;DoctorofScienceandDoctorofLanguagesofLondonUniversity;DoctorofPhilosophyofBerlin;DoctorofOrientalLanguagesofParis.Ihavesomeotherdegrees,honoraryandotherwise,butIneednottroubleyouwiththem.ThoseIhavenamewillshowyouthatIamsufficientlyfeatheredwithdiplomastoflyintoevenasick-room.Earlyinlife—fortunatelyformyinterestsandpleasures,butunfortunatelyformypocket—IfellinwithEgyptology.Imusthavebeenbittenbysomepowerfulscarab,forItookitbad.Iwentouttomb-hunting;andmanagedtogetalivingofasort,andtolearnsomethingsthatyoucan’tgetoutofbooks.IwasinprettylowwaterwhenImetyourFather,whowasdoingsomeexplorationsonhisownaccount;andsincethenIhaven’tfoundthatIhavemanyunsatisfiedwants.