Проклятие мумии, или Камень Семи Звезд

           Evenifweweretobarourselvesin,weshouldnotbefreefrominterruption,possiblyfromintrusion.Eitherwouldruinourplans,andsowemusttakemeasurestoeffectaretreat,carryingallourimpedimentawithus.ForthisIamprepared.ForalongtimepastIhaveforeseensuchapossibility,andhavemadepreparationforit.Ofcourse,Ihadnoforeknowledgeofwhathashappened;butIknewsomethingwould,ormight,happen.FormorethantwoyearspastmyhouseinCornwallhasbeenmadereadytoreceiveallthecurioswhicharepreservedhere.WhenCorbeckwentoffonhissearchforthelampsIhadtheoldhouseatKyllionmadeready;itisfittedwithelectriclightallover,andalltheappliancesformanufactureofthelightarecomplete.Ihadperhapsbettertellyou,fornoneofyou,notevenMargaret,knowsanythingofit,thatthehouseisabsolutelyshutoutfrompublicaccessorevenfromview.Itstandsonalittlerockypromontorybehindasteephill,andexceptfromtheseacannotbeseen.Ofolditwasfencedinbyahighstonewall,forthehousewhichitsucceededwasbuiltbyanancestorofmineinthedayswhenagreathousefarawayfromacentrehadtobepreparedtodefenditself.Here,then,isaplacesowelladaptedtoourneedsthatitmighthavebeenpreparedonpurpose.Ishallexplainittoyouwhenweareallthere.Thiswillnotbelong,foralreadyourmovementisintrain.IhavesentwordtoMarvintohaveallpreparationforourtransportready.Heistohaveaspecialtrain,whichistorunatnightsoastoavoidnotice.