Прокляття мумії, або Камінь Семи Зірок
Chapter 1
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TurningtoMissTrelawnyhesaidpresently:
"Doyouthinkwemightremovethisbangle?Itisnotabsolutelynecessary,asitwillfallloweronthewristwhereitcanhangloosely;butitmightaddtothepatient’scomfortlateron."Thepoorgirlflusheddeeplyassheansweredinalowvoice:
"Idonotknow.I—IhaveonlyrecentlycometolivewithmyFather;andIknowsolittleofhislifeorhisideasthatIfearIcanhardlyjudgeinsuchamatter.TheDoctor,afterakeenglanceather,saidinaverykindlyway:
"Forgiveme!Ididnotknow.Butinanycaseyouneednotbedistressed.Itisnotrequiredatpresenttomoveit.WereitsoIshoulddosoatonceonmyownresponsibility.Ifitbenecessarylateron,wecaneasilyremoveitwithafile.YourFatherdoubtlesshassomeobjectinkeepingitasitis.See!thereisatinykeyattachedtoit...."Ashewasspeakinghestoppedandbentlower,takingfrommyhandthecandlewhichIheldandloweringittillitslightfellonthebangle.Thenmotioningmetoholdthecandleinthesameposition,hetookfromhispocketamagnifying-glasswhichheadjusted.Whenhehadmadeacarefulexaminationhestoodupandhandedthemagnifying-glasstoDolan,sayingashedidso:
"Youhadbetterexamineityourself.Thatisnoordinarybangle.Thegoldiswroughtovertriplesteellinks;seewhereitiswornaway.Itismanifestlynotmeanttoberemovedlightly;anditwouldneedmorethananordinaryfiletodoit.