Проклятие мумии, или Камень Семи Звезд

           Withmanlikefortitudetheywerecontenttobestillwhentheyfelttheyhaddoneallintheirpower.Andsowewaited.

           Thestrikingoftwoo’clockseemedtofreshenusallup.Whatevershadowshadbeensettlingoverusduringthelonghoursprecedingseemedtoliftatonce;andwewentaboutourseparatedutiesalertandwithalacrity.Welookedfirsttothewindowstoseethattheywereclosed,andwegotreadyourrespiratorstoputthemonwhenthetimeshouldbecloseathand.Wehadfromthefirstarrangedtousethemforwedidnotknowwhethersomenoxiousfumemightnotcomefromthemagiccofferwhenitshouldbeopened.Somehow,itneverseemedtooccurtoanyofusthattherewasanydoubtastoitsopening.

           Then,underMargaret’sguidance,wecarriedthemummiedbodyofQueenTerafromherroomintoherfather’s,andlaiditonacouch.Weputthesheetlightlyoverit,sothatifsheshouldwakeshecouldatonceslipfromunderit.Theseveredhandwasplacedinitstruepositiononherbreast,andunderittheJewelofSevenStarswhichMr.Trelawnyhadtakenfromthegreatsafe.Itseemedtoflashandblazeasheputitinitsplace.

           Itwasastrangesight,andastrangeexperience.Thegroupofgravesilentmencarriedthewhitestillfigure,whichlookedlikeanivorystatuewhenthroughourmovingthesheetfellback,awayfromthelightedcandlesandthewhiteflowers.