Проклятие мумии, или Камень Семи Звезд

           Corbeckwerebecomingindistinctinthesmokewhichrolledroundtheminthickbillowyclouds.FinallyIlostsightofthemaltogether.Thecofferstillcontinuedtoglow;butthelampsbegantogrowdim.AtfirstIthoughtthattheirlightwasbeingoverpoweredbythethickblacksmoke;butpresentlyIsawthattheywere,onebyone,burningout.Theymusthaveburnedquicklytoproducesuchfierceandvividflames.

           Iwaitedandwaited,expectingeveryinstanttohearthecommandtoturnupthelight;butnonecame.Iwaitedstill,andlookedwithharrowingintensityattherollingbillowsofsmokestillpouringoutoftheglowingcasket,whilstthelampssankdownandwentoutonebyone.

           Finallytherewasbutonelampalight,andthatwasdimlyblueandflickering.Theonlyeffectivelightintheroomwasfromtheglowingcasket.IkeptmyeyesfixedtowardMargaret;itwasforhernowthatallmyanxietywasclaimed.Icouldjustseeherwhitefrockbeyondthestillwhiteshroudedfigureonthecouch.Silviowastroubled;hispiteousmewingwastheonlysoundintheroom.Deeperanddensergrewtheblackmistanditspungencybegantoassailmynostrilsaswellasmyeyes.Nowthevolumeofsmokecomingfromthecofferseemedtolessen,andthesmokeitselftobelessdense.AcrosstheroomIsawsomethingwhitemovewherethecouchwas.Therewereseveralmovements.Icouldjustcatchthequickglintofwhitethroughthedensesmokeinthefadinglight;fornowtheglowofthecofferbeganquicklytosubside.