Прокляття мумії, або Камінь Семи Зірок

           Headdedthatneverthelesshewouldliketostayinthehousethatnightishemight.MissTrelawnylookedglad,andsentwordtoMrs.Granttogetaroomreadyforhim.Laterintheday,whenheandIhappenedtobealonetogether,hesaidsuddenly:

           "IhavearrangedtostayheretonightbecauseIwanttohaveatalkwithyou.AndasIwishittobequiteprivate,IthoughttheleastsuspiciouswaywouldbetohaveacigartogetherlateintheeveningwhenMissTrelawnyiswatchingherfather."Westillkepttoourarrangementthateitherthesickman’sdaughterorIshouldbeonwatchallnight.Weweretosharethedutyattheearlyhoursofthemorning.Iwasanxiousaboutthis,forIknewfromourconversationthattheDetectivewouldwatchinsecrethimself,andwouldbeparticularlyalertaboutthattime.

           Thedaypasseduneventfully.MissTrelawnysleptintheafternoon;andafterdinnerwenttorelievetheNurse.Mrs.Grantremainedwithher,SergeantDawbeingondutyinthecorridor.DoctorWinchesterandItookourcoffeeinthelibrary.Whenwehadlitourcigarshesaidquietly:

           "NowthatwearealoneIwanttohaveaconfidentialtalk.Weare’tiled,’ofcourse;forthepresentatallevents?"

           "Quiteso!"Isaid,myheartsinkingasIthoughtofmyconversationwithSergeantDawinthemorning,andofthedisturbingandharrowingfearswhichithadleftinmymind.Hewenton:

           "Thiscaseisenoughtotrythesanityofallofusconcernedinit.