Прокляття мумії, або Камінь Семи Зірок

           Therewas,too,anaddedwonderthatonthisancienthandwerenolessthansevenfingers,thesameallbeingfineandlong,andofgreatbeauty.Soothtosay,itmademeshudderandmyfleshcreeptotouchthathandthathadlainthereundisturbedforsomanythousandsofyears,andyetwaslikeuntolivingflesh.Underneaththehand,asthoughguardedbyit,layahugejewelofruby;agreatstoneofwondrousbigness,fortherubyisinthemainasmalljewel.Thisonewasofwondrouscolour,beingasoffinebloodwhereonthelightshineth.Butitswonderlaynotinitssizeorcolour,thoughthesewere,asIhavesaid,ofpricelessrarity;butinthatthelightofitshonefromsevenstars,eachofsevenpoints,asclearlyasthoughthestarswereinrealitythereimprisoned.Whenthatthehandwaslifted,thesightofthatwondrousstonelyingtherestruckmewithashockalmosttomomentaryparalysis.Istoodgazingonit,asdidthosewithme,asthoughitwerethatfadedheadoftheGorgonMedusawiththesnakesinherhair,whosesightstruckintostonethosewhobeheld.SostrongwasthefeelingthatIwantedtohurryawayfromtheplace.So,too,thosewithme;therefore,takingthisrarejewel,togetherwithcertainamuletsofstrangenessandrichnessbeingwroughtofjewel-stones,Imadehastetodepart.Iwouldhaveremainedlonger,andmadefurtherresearchinthewrappingsofthemummy,butthatIfearedsotodo.ForitcametomeallatoncethatIwasinadesertplace,withstrangemenwhowerewithmebecausetheywerenotover-scrupulous.