Прокляття мумії, або Камінь Семи Зірок

           "Wehadonlycomeacrossthem,byaccident,thatverymoment!"

           Mr.CorbeckdrewbackandlookedhardatMissTrelawnyandmyself;turninghiseyesfromonetotheotherasheasked:

           "Doyoumeantotellmethatnoonebroughtthemhere;thatyoufoundtheminthatdrawer?That,sotospeak,nooneatallbroughtthemback?"

           "Isupposesomeonemusthavebroughtthemhere;theycouldn’thavecomeoftheirownaccord.Butwhoitwas,orwhen,orhow,neitherofusknows.Weshallhavetomakeinquiry,andseeifanyoftheservantsknowanythingofit."

           Weallstoodsilentforseveralseconds.Itseemedalongtime.ThefirsttospeakwastheDetective,whosaidinanunconsciousway:

           "Well,I’mdamned!Ibegyourpardon,miss!"Thenhismouthshutlikeasteeltrap.

           Wecalleduptheservants,onebyone,andaskedthemiftheyknewanythingofsomearticlesplacedinadrawerintheboudoir;butnoneofthemcouldthrowanylightonthecircumstance.Wedidnottellthemwhatthearticleswere;orletthemseethem.

           Mr.Corbeckpackedthelampsincottonwool,andplacedtheminatinbox.This,Imaymentionincidentally,wasthenbroughtuptothedetectives’room,whereoneofthemenstoodguardoverthemwitharevolverthewholenight.Nextdaywegotasmallsafeintothehouse,andplacedtheminit.Thereweretwodifferentkeys.OneofthemIkeptmyself;theotherIplacedinmydrawerintheSafeDepositvault.