We Occidentals laugh at Orientals and their superstitions.

We don't believe in the curse.

And yet, by George, those emeralds were accursed!" "Piffle!" snorted Burlingame.

"Mush! It's greed, pure and simple, that gives precious stones their sinister histories.

You'd have been hit by that horse if you had picked up nothing more valuable than a rhinestone buckle.