Проклятие мумии, или Камень Семи Звезд

           "Iknownotwhatbecameofthemummyhand,orofthosewhohadit.Whatstrife,orsuspicion,ordisaster,orgreedwentwithitIknownot;butsomesuchcausetheremusthavebeen,sincethosewhohaditfledwithit.Itdoubtlessisusedasacharmofpotencebysomedeserttribe.

           "AttheearliestopportunityImadeexaminationoftheStarRuby,asIwishedtotrytounderstandwhatwasgravenonit.Thesymbols—whosemeaning,however,Icouldnotunderstand—wereasfollows..."

           Twice,whilstIhadbeenreadingthisengrossingnarrative,IhadthoughtthatIhadseenacrossthepagestreaksofshade,whichtheweirdnessofthesubjecthadmadetoseemliketheshadowofahand.OnthefirstoftheseoccasionsIfoundthattheillusioncamefromthefringeofgreensilkaroundthelamp;butonthesecondIhadlookedup,andmyeyeshadlitonthemummyhandacrosstheroomonwhichthestarlightwasfallingundertheedgeoftheblind.ItwasoflittlewonderthatIhadconnecteditwithsuchanarrative;forifmyeyestoldmetruly,here,inthisroomwithme,wastheveryhandofwhichthetravellerVanHuynhadwritten.Ilookedoveratthebed;anditcomfortedmetothinkthattheNursestillsatthere,calmandwakeful.Atsuchatime,withsuchsurrounds,duringsuchanarrative,itwaswelltohaveassuranceofthepresenceofsomelivingperson.

           Isatlookingatthebookonthetablebeforeme;andsomanystrangethoughtscrowdedonmethatmymindbegantowhirl.