Прокляття мумії, або Камінь Семи Зірок

           "Idobelieve,"shewhispered,"thatmydearandthoughtfulFatherhaskeptbackonpurpose,sothatImightmeetyoufirst,andalone!"

           AfterbreakfastMr.Trelawnytookusintothestudy,sayingashepassedin:

           "IhaveaskedMargarettocometoo."Whenwewereseated,hesaidgravely:

           "Itoldyoulastnightthatwemighthavesomethingtosaytoeachother.IdaresaythatyoumayhavethoughtthatitwasaboutMargaretandyourself.Isn’tthatso?"

           "Ithoughtso."

           "Well,myboy,thatisallright.MargaretandIhavebeentalking,andIknowherwishes."Heheldouthishand.WhenIwrungit,andhadkissedMargaret,whodrewherchairclosetomine,sothatwecouldholdhandsaswelistened,hewenton,butwithacertainhesitation—itcouldhardlybecallednervousness—whichwasnewtome.

           "Youknowagooddealofmyhuntafterthismummyandherbelongings;andIdaresayyouhaveguessedagooddealofmytheories.ButtheseatanyrateIshallexplainlater,conciselyandcategorically,ifitbenecessary.WhatIwanttoconsultyouaboutnowisthis:MargaretandIdisagreeononepoint.Iamabouttomakeanexperiment;theexperimentwhichistocrownallthatIhavedevotedtwentyyearsofresearch,anddanger,andlabourtopreparefor.Throughitwemaylearnthingsthathavebeenhiddenfromtheeyesandtheknowledgeofmenforcenturies;forscoresofcenturies.