Проклятие мумии, или Камень Семи Звезд

           Afewsecondsmadeaperceptiblechangeasthethick,blacksmokebegantorolloutofthewindows.ThenthelightsbegantogrowintostrengthandIcouldseetheroom.Allthemenwereovercome.BesidethecouchDoctorWinchesterlayonhisbackasthoughhehadsunkdownandrolledover;andonthefarthersideofthesarcophagus,wheretheyhadstood,layMr.TrelawnyandMr.Corbeck.Itwasarelieftometoseethat,thoughtheywereunconscious,allthreewerebreathingheavilyasthoughinastupor.Margaretstillstoodbehindthecouch.Sheseemedatfirsttobeinapartiallydazedcondition;buteveryinstantappearedtogetmorecommandofherself.Shesteppedforwardandhelpedmetoraiseherfatheranddraghimclosetoawindow.Togetherweplacedtheotherssimilarly,andsheflewdowntothedining-roomandreturnedwithadecanterofbrandy.Thisweproceededtoadministertothemallinturn.Itwasnotmanyminutesafterwehadopenedthewindowswhenallthreewerestrugglingbacktoconsciousness.Duringthistimemyentirethoughtsandeffortshadbeenconcentratedontheirrestoration;butnowthatthisstrainwasoff,Ilookedroundtheroomtoseewhathadbeentheeffectoftheexperiment.Thethicksmokehadnearlyclearedaway;buttheroomwasstillmistyandwasfullofastrangepungentacridodour.

           Thegreatsarcophaguswasjustasithadbeen.Thecofferwasopen,andinit,scatteredthroughcertaindivisionsorpartitionswroughtinitsownsubstance,wasascatteringofblackashes.