Проклятие мумии, или Камень Семи Звезд

           Themereflashofhispiercingeyes,orthesetofhisresolutemouth,ortheloweringofhisgreateyebrows,seemedtocompelimmediateandwillingobediencetohiswishes.Somehow,whenwehadallbeenintroducedandhewaswellamongstus,allsenseofmysteryseemedtomeltaway.ItwaswithahopefulspiritthatIsawhimpassintothesick-roomwithDoctorWinchester.

           Theyremainedintheroomalongtime;oncetheysentfortheNurse,thenewone,SisterDoris,butshedidnotremainlong.AgaintheybothwentintoNurseKennedy’sroom.Hesentoutthenurseattendantonher.DoctorWinchestertoldmeafterwardthatNurseKennedy,thoughshewasignorantoflatermatters,gavefullandsatisfactoryanswerstoallDoctorFrere’squestionsrelatingtoherpatientuptothetimeshebecameunconscious.Thentheywenttothestudy,wheretheyremainedsolong,andtheirvoicesraisedinheateddiscussionseemedinsuchdeterminedopposition,thatIbegantofeeluneasy.AsforMissTrelawny,shewasalmostinastateofcollapsefromnervousnessbeforetheyjoinedus.Poorgirl!shehadhadasadlyanxioustimeofit,andhernervousstrengthhadalmostbrokendown.

           Theycameoutatlast,SirJamesfirst,hisgravefacelookingasunenlighteningasthatofthesphinx.DoctorWinchesterfollowedhimclosely;hisfacewaspale,butwiththatkindofpallorwhichlookedlikeareaction.Itgavemetheideathatithadbeenrednotlongbefore.SirJamesaskedthatMissTrelawnywouldcomeintothestudy.