Прокляття мумії, або Камінь Семи Зірок

           "Onemorningearlyhesentformeinahurry;IwasthenstudyingintheBritishMuseum,andhadroomsinHartStreet.WhenIcame,hewasallonfirewithexcitement.Ihadnotseenhiminsuchaglowsincebeforethenewsofhiswife’sdeath.Hetookmeatonceintohisroom.Thewindowblindsweredownandtheshuttersclosed;notarayofdaylightcamein.Theordinarylightsintheroomwerenotlit,buttherewerealotofpowerfulelectriclamps,fiftycandle-poweratleast,arrangedononesideoftheroom.Thelittlebloodstonetableonwhichtheheptagonalcofferstandswasdrawntothecentreoftheroom.Thecofferlookedexquisiteintheglareoflightwhichshoneonit.Itactuallyseemedtoglowasiflitinsomewayfromwithin.

           "’Whatdoyouthinkofit?’heasked.

           "’Itislikeajewel,’Ianswered.’Youmaywellcallitthe’sorcerer’sMagicCoffer’,ifitoftenlookslikethat.Italmostseemstobealive.’

           "’Doyouknowwhyitseemsso?’

           "’Fromtheglareofthelight,Isuppose?’

           "’Lightofcourse,’heanswered,’butitisratherthedispositionoflight.’Ashespokeheturneduptheordinarylightsoftheroomandswitchedoffthespecialones.Theeffectonthestoneboxwassurprising;inaseconditlostallitsglowingeffect.Itwasstillaverybeautifulstone,asalways;butitwasstoneandnomore.

           "’Doyounoticeanythingaboutthearrangementofthelamps?’heasked.