Проклятие мумии, или Камень Семи Звезд

           WhenIwentin,theinjuryhadbeendone;sothatitmusthavebeenbeforeSilviocouldpossiblyhavegotin."Thisreasoningcommendeditself,especiallytomeasabarrister,foritwasprooftosatisfyajury.ItgavemeadistinctpleasuretohaveSilvioacquittedofthecrime—possiblybecausehewasMissTrelawny’scatandwaslovedbyher.Happycat!Silvio’smistresswasmanifestlypleasedasIsaid:

           "Verdict,’notguilty!’"DoctorWinchesterafterapauseobserved:

           "MyapologiestomasterSilvioonthisoccasion;butIamstillpuzzledtoknowwhyheissokeenagainstthatmummy.Ishethesametowardtheothermummiesinthehouse?Thereare,Isuppose,alotofthem.IsawthreeinthehallasIcamein."

           "Therearelotsofthem,"sheanswered."Isometimesdon’tknowwhetherIaminaprivatehouseortheBritishMuseum.ButSilvioneverconcernshimselfaboutanyofthemexceptthatparticularone.Isupposeitmustbebecauseitisofananimal,notamanorawoman."

           "Perhapsitisofacat!"saidtheDoctorashestartedupandwentacrosstheroomtolookatthemummymoreclosely."Yes,"hewenton,"itisthemummyofacat;andaveryfineone,too.Ifithadn’tbeenaspecialfavouriteofsomeveryspecialpersonitwouldneverhavereceivedsomuchhonour.See!Apaintedcaseandobsidianeyes—justlikeahumanmummy.Itisanextraordinarything,thatknowledgeofkindtokind.