Проклятие мумии, или Камень Семи Звезд

           WefoundthegreatcoilofchainwhichVanHuynhaddescribedfastenedintotherock.Therewere,however,abundantevidencesamidthewreckageofthegreatstonedoor,whichhadrevolvedonironhingesattopandbottom,thatampleprovisionhadbeenoriginallymadeforclosingandfasteningitfromwithin.

           "Mr.TrelawnyandIwentaloneintothetomb.Wehadbroughtplentyoflightswithus;andwefixedthemaswewentalong.Wewishedtogetacompletesurveyatfirst,andthenmakeexaminationofallindetail.Aswewenton,wewerefilledwithever-increasingwonderanddelight.Thetombwasoneofthemostmagnificentandbeautifulwhicheitherofushadeverseen.Fromtheelaboratenatureofthesculptureandpainting,andtheperfectionoftheworkmanship,itwasevidentthatthetombwaspreparedduringthelifetimeofherforwhoseresting-placeitwasintended.Thedrawingofthehieroglyphicpictureswasfine,andthecolouringsuperb;andinthathighcavern,farawayfromeventhedampoftheNile-flood,allwasasfreshaswhentheartistshadlaiddowntheirpalettes.Therewasonethingwhichwecouldnotavoidseeing.Thatalthoughthecuttingontheoutsiderockwastheworkofthepriesthood,thesmoothingoftheclifffacewasprobablyapartofthetomb-builder’soriginaldesign.Thesymbolismofthepaintingandcuttingwithinallgavethesameidea.Theoutercavern,partlynaturalandpartlyhewn,wasregardedarchitecturallyasonlyanante-chamber.