Прокляття мумії, або Камінь Семи Зірок

           I—I"—heseemedslightlyatalosshowtobegin,andthisgavemehope—"IsupposeIamtotakeit,fromwhatyouhavesaidtomeofyourfeelingstowardsmygirl,thatitisinyourmindtobeasuitorforherhand,lateron?"Iansweredatonce:

           "Absolutely!Firmandfixed;itwasmyintentiontheeveningafterIhadbeenwithherontheriver,toseekyou,ofcourseafteraproperandrespectfulinterval,andtoaskyouifImightapproachheronthesubject.EventsforcedmeintocloserrelationshipmorequicklythanIhadtohopewouldbepossible;butthatfirstpurposehasremainedfreshinmyheart,andhasgrowninintensity,andmultiplieditselfwitheveryhourwhichhaspassedsincethen."Hisfaceseemedtosoftenashelookedatme;thememoryofhisownyouthwascomingbacktohiminstinctively.Afterapausehesaid:

           "IsupposeImaytakeit,too,MalcolmRoss"—thereturntothefamiliarityofaddresssweptthroughmewithagloriousthrill—"thatasyetyouhavenotmadeanyprotestationtomydaughter?"

           "Notinwords,sir."Thearrierepenseeofmyphrasestruckme,notbyitsownhumour,butthroughthegrave,kindlysmileonthefather’sface.Therewasapleasantsarcasminhiscomment:

           "Notinwords!Thatisdangerous!Shemighthavedoubtedwords,orevendisbelievedthem.