Прокляття мумії, або Камінь Семи Зірок

           "

           "Certainly,withthegreatestpleasure,sofarasIcan.ForImaytellyouthathieroglyphicwritingisnotquitemasteredyet;thoughwearegettingatit!Wearegettingatit!Whatistheinscription?"

           "Therearetwo,"heanswered."OneofthemIshallbringhere."

           Hewentout,andreturnedinaminutewiththemummycatwhichhehadthateveningintroducedtoSilvio.Thescholartookit;and,afterashortexamination,said:

           "Thereisnothingespecialinthis.ItisanappealtoBast,theLadyofBubastis,togivehergoodbreadandmilkintheElysianFields.Theremaybemoreinside;andifyouwillcaretounrollit,Iwilldomybest.Idonotthink,however,thatthereisanythingspecial.FromthemethodofwrappingIshouldsayitisfromtheDelta;andofalateperiod,whensuchmummyworkwascommonandcheap.Whatistheotherinscriptionyouwishmetosee?"

           "TheinscriptiononthemummycatinMr.Trelawny’sroom."

           Mr.Corbeck’sfacefell."No!"hesaid,"Icannotdothat!Iam,forthepresentatallevents,practicallyboundtosecrecyregardinganyofthethingsinMr.Trelawny’sroom."

           DoctorWinchester’scommentandmyownweremadeatthesamemoment.Isaidonlytheoneword"Checkmate!"fromwhichIthinkhemayhavegatheredthatIguessedmoreofhisideaandpurposethanperhapsIhadintentionallyconveyedtohim.Hemurmured:

           "Practicallyboundtosecrecy?"

           Mr.