Прокляття мумії, або Камінь Семи Зірок

           "SergeantDawwasamanofcourage;heevidentlydidnotshrinkfromanyconclusionofhisreasoningonfacts.

           Wewerebothsilentforawhile.Fearsbegancrowdinginonmyownmind.NotdoubtsofMissTrelawny,orofanyactofhers;butfearslestsuchactsshouldbemisunderstood.Therewasevidentlyamysterysomewhere;andifnosolutiontoitcouldbefound,thedoubtwouldbecastonsomeone.Insuchcasestheguessesofthemajorityareboundtofollowthelineofleastresistance;andifitcouldbeprovedthatanypersonalgaintoanyonecouldfollowMr.Trelawny’sdeath,shouldsuchensue,itmightproveadifficulttaskforanyonetoproveinnocenceinthefaceofsuspiciousfacts.Ifoundmyselfinstinctivelytakingthatdeferentialcoursewhich,untiltheplanofbattleoftheprosecutionisunfolded,issosafeanattitudeforthedefence.Itwouldneverdoforme,atthisstage,tocombatanytheorieswhichadetectivemightform.IcouldbesthelpMissTrelawnybylisteningandunderstanding.Whenthetimeshouldcomeforthedissipationandobliterationofthetheories,Ishouldbequitewillingtouseallmymilitantardour,andalltheweaponsatmycommand.

           "Youwillofcoursedoyourduty,Iknow,"Isaid,"andwithoutfear.Whatcoursedoyouintendtotake?"

           "Idon’tknowasyet,sir.Yousee,uptonowitisn’twithmeevenasuspicion.Ifanyoneelsetoldmethatthatsweetyoungladyhadahandinsuchamatter,Iwouldthinkhimafool;butIamboundtofollowmyownconclusions.