Прокляття мумії, або Камінь Семи Зірок

           Iknowwellthatjustasunlikelypersonshavebeenprovedguilty,whenawholecourt—allexcepttheprosecutionwhoknewthefacts,andthejudgewhohadtaughthismindtowait—wouldhavesworntoinnocence.Iwouldn’t,foralltheworld,wrongsuchayounglady;moreespecialwhenshehassuchacruelweighttobear.AndyouwillbesurethatIwon’tsayawordthat’llpromptanyoneelsetomakesuchacharge.That’swhyIspeaktoyouinconfidence,mantoman.Youareskilledinproofs;thatisyourprofession.Mineonlygetssofarassuspicions,andwhatwecallourownproofs—whicharenothingbutexparteevidenceafterall.YouknowMissTrelawnybetterthanIdo;andthoughIwatchroundthesick-room,andgowhereIlikeaboutthehouseandinandoutofit,Ihaven’tthesameopportunitiesasyouhaveofknowingtheladyandwhatherlifeis,orhermeansare;orofanythingelsewhichmightgivemeacluetoheractions.IfIweretotrytofindoutfromher,itwouldatoncearousehersuspicions.Then,ifshewereguilty,allpossibilityofultimateproofwouldgo;forshewouldeasilyfindawaytobafflediscovery.Butifshebeinnocent,asIhopesheis,itwouldbedoingacruelwrongtoaccuseher.IhavethoughtthematteroveraccordingtomylightsbeforeIspoketoyou;andifIhavetakenaliberty,sir,Iamtrulysorry."

           "Nolibertyintheworld,Daw,"Isaidwarmly,fortheman’scourageandhonestyandconsiderationcompelledrespect."Iamgladyouhavespokentomesofrankly.