Проклятие мумии, или Камень Семи Звезд
Chapter 9
Istherenowaywhichyoucandevisetowakethismanfromhisunnaturalstupor?"
Therewasapause;thentheanswercameslowlyanddeliberately:
"ThereisnoordinaryremedythatIknowof.Theremightpossiblybesomeextraordinaryone.Buttherewouldbenouseintryingtofindit,exceptononecondition."
"Andthat?"
"Knowledge!IamcompletelyignorantofEgyptianmatters,language,writing,history,secrets,medicines,poisons,occultpowers—allthatgotomakeupthemysteryofthatmysteriousland.Thisdisease,orcondition,orwhateveritmaybecalled,fromwhichMr.Trelawnyissuffering,isinsomewayconnectedwithEgypt.Ihavehadasuspicionofthisfromthefirst;andlateritgrewintoacertainty,thoughwithoutproof.Whatyouhavesaidtonightconfirmsmyconjecture,andmakesmebelievethataproofistobehad.Idonotthinkthatyouquiteknowallthathasgoneoninthishousesincethenightoftheattack—ofthefindingofMr.Trelawny’sbody.NowIproposethatweconfideinyou.IfMr.Rossagrees,Ishallaskhimtotellyou.HeismoreskilledthanIaminputtingfactsbeforeotherpeople.Hecanspeakbyhisbrief;andinthiscasehehasthebestofallbriefs,theexperienceofhisowneyesandears,andtheevidencethathehashimselftakenonthespotfromparticipatorsin,orspectatorsof,whathashappened.Whenyouknowall,youwill,Ihope,beinapositiontojudgeastowhetheryoucanbesthelpMr.