Проклятие мумии, или Камень Семи Звезд

           MyonlyfearisthatImayhavemisinterpretedsomeofhercrypticinstructions,orhaveomittedoroverlookedsomething.ButofthisIamcertain;IhaveleftundonenothingthatIcanimaginerighttobedone;andIhavedonenothingthatIknowoftoclashwithQueenTera’sarrangement.IwantherGreatExperimenttosucceed.TothisendIhavenotsparedlabourortimeormoney—ormyself.Ihaveenduredhardship,andbraveddanger.Allmybrains;allmyknowledgeandlearning,suchastheyare;allmyendeavourssuchastheycanbe,havebeen,are,andshallbedevotedtothisend,tillweeitherwinorlosethegreatstakethatweplayfor."

           "Thegreatstake?"Irepeated;"theresurrectionofthewoman,andthewoman’slife?Theproofthatresurrectioncanbeaccomplished;bymagicalpowers;byscientificknowledge;orbyuseofsomeforcewhichatpresenttheworlddoesnotknow?"

           ThenMr.Trelawnyspokeoutthehopesofhisheartwhichuptonowhehadindicatedratherthanexpressed.OnceortwiceIhadheardCorbeckspeakofthefieryenergyofhisyouth;but,saveforthenoblewordsofMargaretwhenshehadspokenofQueenTera’shope—whichcomingfromhisdaughtermadepossibleabeliefthatherpowerwasinsomesenseduetoheredity—Ihadseennomarkedsignofit.Butnowhiswords,sweepingbeforethemlikeatorrentallantagonisticthought,gavemeanewideaoftheman.