Проклятие мумии, или Камень Семи Звезд

           Trelawny’sdaughter,mightbeplacedinadifficultpositionwithhimafterwardifshetookpartin,orevenhadapersonalknowledgeof,thedisregardingofhisexpressedwishes.ButwhenIrememberedthatshedidnotcomeonnursingdutytilltwoo’clock,thefearofinterruptionpassedaway.Ihadstillnearlythreehousebeforeme.NurseKennedysatinherchairbythebedside,patientandalert.Aclocktickedonthelanding;otherclocksinthehouseticked;thelifeofthecitywithoutmanifesteditselfinthedistanthum,nowandagainswellingintoaroarasabreezefloatingwestwardtooktheconcourseofsoundswithit.Butstillthedominantideawasofsilence.Thelightonmybook,andthesoothingfringeofgreensilkroundtheshadeintensified,wheneverIlookedup,thegloomofthesick-room.WitheverylineIread,thisseemedtogrowdeeperanddeeper;sothatwhenmyeyescamebacktothepagethelightseemedtodazzleme.Istucktomywork,however,andpresentlybegantogetsufficientlyintothesubjecttobecomeinterestedinit.

           ThebookwasbyoneNicholasvanHuynofHoorn.Intheprefacehetoldhow,attractedbytheworkofJohnGreavesofMertonCollege,Pyramidographia,hehimselfvisitedEgypt,wherehebecamesointerestedinitswondersthathedevotedsomeyearsofhislifetovisitingstrangeplaces,andexploringtheruinsofmanytemplesandtombs.HehadcomeacrossmanyvariantsofthestoryofthebuildingofthePyramidsastoldbytheArabianhistorian,IbnAbdAlhokin,someofwhichhesetdown.