Проклятие мумии, или Камень Семи Звезд

           Itwasalmostasifthelightonthewhitefingersinfrontofmewasbeginningtohavesomehypnoticeffect.Allatonce,allthoughtsseemedtostop;andforaninstanttheworldandtimestoodstill.

           Therelayarealhandacrossthebook!Whatwastheretosoovercomeme,aswasthecase?IknewthehandthatIsawonthebook—andlovedit.MargaretTrelawny’shandwasajoytometosee—totouch;andyetatthatmoment,comingafterothermarvellousthings,ithadastrangelymovingeffectonme.Itwasbutmomentary,however,andhadpassedevenbeforehervoicehadreachedme.

           "Whatdisturbsyou?Whatareyoustaringatthebookfor?Ithoughtforaninstantthatyoumusthavebeenovercomeagain!"Ijumpedup.

           "Iwasreading,"Isaid,"anoldbookfromthelibrary."AsIspokeIcloseditandputitundermyarm."Ishallnowputitback,asIunderstandthatyourFatherwishesallthings,especiallybooks,keptintheirproperplaces."Mywordswereintentionallymisleading;forIdidnotwishhertoknowwhatIwasreading,andthoughtitbestnottowakehercuriositybyleavingthebookabout.Iwentaway,butnottothelibrary;IleftthebookinmyroomwhereIcouldgetitwhenIhadhadmysleepintheday.WhenIreturnedNurseKennedywasreadytogotobed;soMissTrelawnywatchedwithmeintheroom.Ididnotwantanybookwhilstshewaspresent.Wesatclosetogetherandtalkedinawhisperwhilstthemomentsflewby.