Проклятие мумии, или Камень Семи Звезд
Chapter 7
Andtimeisflyingbyus!Itmaysoonbetoolate!"
"Whatisit?whatisit?"brokeinMissTrelawnyinasortofpassionofanxiety,herfacedrawnwithpain."Oh,speak!Saysomething!Thisanxiety,andhorror,andmysteryarekillingme!"Mr.Corbeckcalmedhimselfbyagreateffort.
"Imaynottellyoudetails;butIhavehadagreatloss.Mymission,inwhichIhavespentthreeyears,wassuccessful.IdiscoveredallthatIsought—andmore;andbroughtthemhomewithmesafely.Treasures,pricelessinthemselves,butdoublyprecioustohimbywhosewishesandinstructionsIsoughtthem.IarrivedinLondononlylastnight,andwhenIwokethismorningmypreciouschargewasstolen.Stoleninsomemysteriousway.NotasoulinLondonknewthatIwasarriving.NoonebutmyselfknewwhatwasintheshabbyportmanteauthatIcarried.Myroomhadbutonedoor,andthatIlockedandbolted.Theroomwashighinthehouse,fivestoriesup,sothatnoentrancecouldhavebeenobtainedbythewindow.Indeed,Ihadclosedthewindowmyselfandshutthehasp,forIwishedtobesecureineveryway.Thismorningthehaspwasuntouched....Andyetmyportmanteauwasempty.Thelampsweregone!...There!itisout.IwenttoEgypttosearchforasetofantiquelampswhichMr.Trelawnywishedtotrace.Withincrediblelabour,andthroughmanydangers,Ifollowedthem.Ibroughtthemsafehome....Andnow!"Heturnedawaymuchmoved.Evenhisironnaturewasbreakingdownunderthesenseofloss.