Проклятие мумии, или Камень Семи Звезд

           Evenasitis,Iambreakingtheletter,ifnotthespiritofthetradition;forIshouldonlytellittotheimmediatemembersofmyfamily."

           Weallgavethepromiserequired.Thenhewenton:

           "Thereisasecretplaceinthishouse,acave,naturaloriginallybutfinishedbylabour,underneaththishouse.Iwillnotundertaketosaythatithasalwaysbeenusedaccordingtothelaw.DuringtheBloodyAssizemorethanafewCornishmenfoundrefugeinit;andlater,andearlier,itformed,Ihavenodoubtwhatever,ausefulplaceforstoringcontrabandgoods.’TrePolandPen’,Isupposeyouknow,havealwaysbeensmugglers;andtheirrelationsandfriendsandneighbourshavenotheldbackfromtheenterprise.Forallsuchreasonsasafehiding-placewasalwaysconsideredavaluablepossession;andastheheadsofourHousehavealwaysinsistedonpreservingthesecret,Iaminhonourboundtoit.Lateron,ifallbewell,Ishallofcoursetellyou,Margaret,andyoutoo,Ross,undertheconditionsthatIamboundtomake."

           Heroseup,andweallfollowedhim.Leavingusintheouterhall,hewentawayaloneforafewminutes;andreturning,beckonedustofollowhim.

           Intheinsidehallwefoundawholesectionofanoutstandinganglemovedaway,andfromthecavitysawagreatholedimlydark,andthebeginningofaroughstaircasecutintherock.Asitwasnotpitchdarktherewasmanifestlysomemeansoflightingitnaturally,sowithoutpausewefollowedourhostashedescended.