Проклятие мумии, или Камень Семи Звезд

           Igotapieceofwood,and,standingatasafedistance,pressedwiththeendofituponthestar.

           "Instantlythestoneflewback.Thehiddenfigurewithindartedforwardandthrustoutitslance.Thenitroseupanddisappeared.IthoughtImightnowsafelypressonthesevenstars;anddidso.Againthestonerolledback;andthe’Treasurer’flashedbytohishiddenlair.

           "Irepeatedbothexperimentsseveraltimes;withalwaysthesameresult.Ishouldhavelikedtoexaminethemechanismofthatfigureofsuchmalignantmobility;butitwasnotpossiblewithoutsuchtoolsascouldnoteasilybehad.Itmightbenecessarytocutintoawholesectionoftherock.SomedayIhopetogoback,properlyequipped,andattemptit.

           "Perhapsyoudonotknowthattheentrancetoaserdabisalmostalwaysverynarrow;sometimesahandcanhardlybeinserted.TwothingsIlearnedfromthisserdab.Thefirstwasthatthelamps,iflampsatalltherehadbeen,couldnothavebeenoflargesize;andsecondly,thattheywouldbeinsomewayassociatedwithHathor,whosesymbol,thehawkinasquarewiththerighttopcornerformingasmallersquare,wascutinreliefonthewallwithin,andcolouredthebrightvermilionwhichwehadfoundontheStele.HathoristhegoddesswhoinEgyptianmythologyanswerstoVenusoftheGreeks,inasfarassheisthepresidingdeityofbeautyandpleasure.IntheEgyptianmythology,however,eachGodhasmanyforms;andinsomeaspectsHathorhastodowiththeideaofresurrection.