Прокляття мумії, або Камінь Семи Зірок

           ThenandthereImadeupmymindthatIwouldwatchwithher—unless,ofcourse,Ishouldseethatshereallydidnotwishit.Isaidnothingofmyintentionsforthepresent.Wecameinontiptoe,sosilentlythattheDoctor,whowasbendingoverthebed,didnothearus,andseemedalittlestartledwhensuddenlylookinguphesawoureyesuponhim.Ifeltthatthemysteryofthewholethingwasgettingonhisnerves,asithadalreadygotonthenervesofsomeothersofus.Hewas,Ifancied,alittleannoyedwithhimselfforhavingbeensostartled,andatoncebegantotalkinahurriedmannerasthoughtogetoverourideaofhisembarrassment:

           "Iamreallyandabsolutelyatmywits’endtofindanyfitcauseforthisstupor.IhavemadeagainasaccurateanexaminationasIknowhow,andIamsatisfiedthatthereisnoinjurytothebrain,thatis,noexternalinjury.Indeed,allhisvitalorgansseemunimpaired.Ihavegivenhim,asyouknow,foodseveraltimesandithasmanifestlydonehimgood.Hisbreathingisstrongandregular,andhispulseisslowerandstrongerthanitwasthismorning.Icannotfindevidenceofanyknowndrug,andhisunconsciousnessdoesnotresembleanyofthemanycasesofhypnoticsleepwhichIsawintheCharcotHospitalinParis.Andastothesewounds"—helaidhisfingergentlyonthebandagedwristwhichlayoutsidethecoverletashespoke,"Idonotknowwhattomakeofthem.Theymighthavebeenmadebyacarding-machine;butthatsuppositionisuntenable.