Проклятие мумии, или Камень Семи Звезд

           InoldtimesatBrum,whichhadalotofsmallmetalindustries,thegold-andsilver-smithsusedtobuymetalfromalmostanyonewhocamealong.Andasmetalinsmallquantitiescouldgenerallybehadcheapwhentheydidn’taskwhereitcamefrom,itgottobeacustomtoaskonlyonething—whetherthecustomerwantedthegoodsmelted,inwhichcasethebuyermadetheprice,andthemelting-potwasalwaysonthefire.Ifitwastobepreservedinitspresentstateatthebuyer’soption,itwentintothescaleandfetchedstandardpriceforoldmetal.

           "Thereisagooddealofsuchworkdonestill,andinotherplacesthanBrum.Whenwe’relookingforstolenwatchesweoftencomeacrosstheworks,andit’snotpossibletoidentifywheelsandspringsoutofaheap;butit’snotoftenthatwecomeacrosscasesthatarewanted.Now,inthepresentinstancemuchwilldependonwhetherthethiefisagoodman—that’swhattheycallamanwhoknowshiswork.Afirst-classcrookwillknowwhetherathingisofmorevaluethanmerelythemetalinit;andinsuchcasehewouldputitwithsomeonewhocouldplaceitlateron—inAmericaorFrance,perhaps.Bytheway,doyouthinkanyonebutyourselfcouldidentifyyourlamps?"

           "Noonebutmyself!"

           "Arethereotherslikethem?"

           "NotthatIknowof,"answeredMr.Corbeck;"thoughtheremaybeothersthatresembletheminmanyparticulars.