Прокляття мумії, або Камінь Семи Зірок

           Trelawny’sownroom—fromthegreatsarcophagidowntothescarabsofallkindsinthecabinets—thegreathall,thestaircaselandings,thestudy,andeventheboudoirwerefullofantiquepieceswhichwouldhavemadeacollector’smouthwater.

           MissTrelawnyfromthefirstcamewithme,andlookedwithgrowinginterestateverything.Afterhavingexaminedsomecabinetsofexquisiteamuletsshesaidtomeinquiteanaiveway:

           "YouwillhardlybelievethatIhaveoflateseldomevenlookedatanyofthesethings.ItisonlysinceFatherhasbeenillthatIseemtohaveevenanycuriosityaboutthem.Butnow,theygrowandgrowonmetoquiteanabsorbingdegree.Iwonderifitisthatthecollector’sbloodwhichIhaveinmyveinsisbeginningtomanifestitself.Ifso,thestrangethingisthatIhavenotfeltthecallofitbefore.OfcourseIknowmostofthebigthings,andhaveexaminedthemmoreorless;butreally,inasortofwayIhavealwaystakenthemforgranted,asthoughtheyhadalwaysbeenthere.Ihavenoticedthesamethingnowandagainwithfamilypictures,andthewaytheyaretakenforgrantedbythefamily.Ifyouwillletmeexaminethemwithyouitwillbedelightful!"

           Itwasajoytometohearhertalkinsuchaway;andherlastsuggestionquitethrilledme.Togetherwewentroundthevariousroomsandpassages,examiningandadmiringthemagnificentcurios.