Прокляття мумії, або Камінь Семи Зірок

           Imustdescribesomeofthelamps,especiallyone,foritisofgold;andmyfearislestthethief,ignorantofitshistoricworth,may,inordertocoveruphiscrime,haveitmelted.Iwouldwillinglypayten,twenty,ahundred,athousandtimesitsintrinsicvalueratherthanhaveitdestroyed.Ishalltellhimonlywhatisnecessary.So,please,letmeansweranyquestionshemayask;unless,ofcourse,Iaskyouorrefertoeitherofyoufortheanswer."Webothnoddedacquiescence.ThenathoughtstruckmeandIsaid:

           "Bytheway,ifitbenecessarytokeepthismatterquietitwillbebettertohaveitifpossibleaprivatejobfortheDetective.IfonceathinggetstoScotlandYarditisoutofourpowertokeepitquiet,andfurthersecrecymaybeimpossible.IshallsoundSergeantDawbeforehecomesup.IfIsaynothing,itwillmeanthatheacceptsthetaskandwilldealwithitprivately."Mr.Corbeckansweredatonce:

           "Secrecyiseverything.TheonethingIdreadisthatthelamps,orsomeofthem,maybedestroyedatonce."TomyintenseastonishmentMissTrelawnyspokeoutatonce,butquietly,inadecidedvoice:

           "Theywillnotbedestroyed;noranyofthem!"Mr.Corbeckactuallysmiledinamazement.

           "Howonearthdoyouknow?"heasked.Heranswerwasstillmoreincomprehensible:

           "Idon’tknowhowIknowit;butknowitIdo.Ifeelitallthroughme;asthoughitwereaconvictionwhichhasbeenwithmeallmylife!"