Прокляття мумії, або Камінь Семи Зірок

           Itiswithintheboundsofpossibilitythattheymighthavebeenmadebyawildanimalifithadtakencaretosharpenitsclaws.Thattoois,Itakeit,impossible.Bytheway,haveyouanystrangepetshereinthehouse;anythingofanexceptionalkind,suchasatiger-catoranythingoutofthecommon?"MissTrelawnysmiledasadsmilewhichmademyheartache,asshemadeanswer:

           "Ohno!Fatherdoesnotlikeanimalsaboutthehouse,unlesstheyaredeadandmummied."Thiswassaidwithatouchofbitterness—orjealousy,Icouldhardlytellwhich."Evenmypoorkittenwasonlyallowedinthehouseonsufferance;andthoughheisthedearestandbest-conductedcatintheworld,heisnowonasortofparole,andisnotallowedintothisroom."

           Asshewasspeakingafaintrattlingofthedoorhandlewasheard.InstantlyMissTrelawny’sfacebrightened.Shesprangupandwentovertothedoor,sayingasshewent:

           "Thereheis!ThatismySilvio.Hestandsonhishindlegsandrattlesthedoorhandlewhenhewantstocomeintoaroom."Sheopenedthedoor,speakingtothecatasthoughhewereababy:"Didhimwanthismovver?Comethen;buthemuststaywithher!"Sheliftedthecat,andcamebackwithhiminherarms.Hewascertainlyamagnificentanimal.AchinchillagreyPersianwithlongsilkyhair;areallylordlyanimalwithahaughtybearingdespitehisgentleness;andwithgreatpawswhichspreadoutasheplacedthemontheground.