Проклятие мумии, или Камень Семи Звезд

           Trelawny’sinstructions,therewouldalwaysbeamanandawomanintheroom;andeachoneofuswouldoverlap,sothatatnotimewouldanewsetofwatcherscomeondutywithoutsomeonetotellofwhat—ifanything—hadoccurred.Ilaydownonasofainmyownroom,havingarrangedthatoneoftheservantsshouldcallmealittlebeforetwelve.InafewmomentsIwasasleep.

           WhenIwaswaked,ittookmeseveralsecondstogetbackmythoughtssoastorecognisemyownidentityandsurroundings.Theshortsleephad,however,donemegood,andIcouldlookonthingsaroundmeinamorepracticallightthanIhadbeenabletodoearlierintheevening.Ibathedmyface,andthusrefreshedwentintothesick-room.Imovedverysoftly.TheNursewassittingbythebed,quietandalert;theDetectivesatinanarm-chairacrosstheroomindeepshadow.HedidnotmovewhenIcrossed,untilIgotclosetohim,whenhesaidinadullwhisper:

           "Itisallright;Ihavenotbeenasleep!"Anunnecessarythingtosay,Ithought—italwaysis,unlessitbeuntrueinspirit.WhenItoldhimthathiswatchwasover;thathemightgotobedtillIshouldcallhimatsixo’clock,heseemedrelievedandwentwithalacrity.Atthedoorheturnedand,comingbacktome,saidinawhisper:

           "IsleeplightlyandIshallhavemypistolswithme.Iwon’tfeelsoheavy-headedwhenIgetoutofthismummysmell.