Проклятие мумии, или Камень Семи Звезд
Chapter 19
Hiswasthatcommandingnaturewhichlookssototheendofanundertakingthatallelseisofsecondaryimportance.Evennow,thoughhisterriblesternnessrelaxedundertherelieffromthestrain,heneverflaggednorfalteredforamomentinhispurpose.Heaskedusmentocomewithhim;andgoingtothehallwepresentlymanagedtolowerintothecaveanoaktable,fairlylongandnottoowide,whichstoodagainstthewallinthehall.Thisweplacedunderthestrongclusterofelectriclightsinthemiddleofthecave.Margaretlookedonforawhile;thenallatonceherfaceblanched,andinanagitatedvoiceshesaid:
"Whatareyougoingtodo,Father?"
"Tounrollthemummyofthecat!QueenTerawillnotneedherFamiliartonight.Ifsheshouldwanthim,itmightbedangeroustous;soweshallmakehimsafe.Youarenotalarmed,dear?"
"Ohno!"sheansweredquickly."ButIwasthinkingofmySilvio,andhowIshouldfeelifhehadbeenthemummythatwastobeunswathed!"
Mr.Trelawnygotknivesandscissorsready,andplacedthecatonthetable.Itwasagrimbeginningtoourwork;anditmademyheartsinkwhenIthoughtofwhatmighthappeninthatlonelyhouseinthemid-gloomofthenight.Thesenseoflonelinessandisolationfromtheworldwasincreasedbythemoaningofthewindwhichhadnowrisenominously,andbythebeatingofwavesontherocksbelow.Butwehadtoograveataskbeforeustobeswayedbyexternalmanifestations:theunrollingofthemummybegan.