Прокляття мумії, або Камінь Семи Зірок
Chapter 3
Hereisadeadcat—thatisall;itisperhapsfourorfivethousandyearsold—andanothercatofanotherbreed,inwhatispracticallyanotherworld,isreadytoflyatit,justasitwouldifitwerenotdead.Ishouldliketoexperimentabitaboutthatcatifyoudon’tmind,MissTrelawny."Shehesitatedbeforereplying:
"Ofcourse,doanythingyoumaythinknecessaryorwise;butIhopeitwillnotbeanythingtohurtorworrymypoorSilvio."TheDoctorsmiledasheanswered:
"Oh,Silviowouldbeallright:itistheotheronethatmysympathieswouldbereservedfor."
"Howdoyoumean?"
"MasterSilviowilldotheattacking;theotheronewilldothesuffering."
"Suffering?"Therewasanoteofpaininhervoice.TheDoctorsmiledmorebroadly:
"Oh,pleasemakeyourmindeasyastothat.Theotherwon’tsufferasweunderstandit;exceptperhapsinhisstructureandoutfit."
"Whatonearthdoyoumean?"
"Simplythis,mydearyounglady,thattheantagonistwillbeamummycatlikethisone.Thereare,Itakeit,plentyofthemtobehadinMuseumStreet.Ishallgetoneandplaceithereinsteadofthatone—youwon’tthinkthatatemporaryexchangewillviolateyourFather’sinstructions,Ihope.Weshallthenfindout,tobeginwith,whetherSilvioobjectstoallmummycats,oronlytothisoneinparticular."
"Idon’tknow,"shesaiddoubtfully.