Прокляття мумії, або Камінь Семи Зірок

           Thosewhichhaveasyetbeenexaminedbearnoinscriptions,andcontainonlyeffigiesofthedeadforwhomthetombwasmade."Thenhewentonwithhisnarrative:

           "Trelawny,whenhesawthatIhadcaughthismeaning,wentonspeakingwithsomethingofhisoldenthusiasm:

           "’Ihavecometotheconclusionthattheremustbeaserdab—asecretone.Weweredullnottohavethoughtofitbefore.Wemighthaveknownthatthemakerofsuchatomb—awoman,whohadshowninotherwayssuchasenseofbeautyandcompleteness,andwhohadfinishedeverydetailwithafemininerichnessofelaboration—wouldnothaveneglectedsuchanarchitecturalfeature.Evenifithadnotitsownspecialsignificanceinritual,shewouldhavehaditasanadornment.Othershadhadit,andshelikedherownworktobecomplete.Dependuponit,therewas—thereis—aserdab;andthatinit,whenitisdiscovered,weshallfindthelamps.Ofcourse,hadweknownthenwhatwenowknoworatalleventssurmise,thattherewerelamps,wemighthavesuspectedsomehiddenspot,somecachet.IamgoingtoaskyoutogoouttoEgyptagain;toseekthetomb;tofindtheserdab;andtobringbackthelamps!’"

           "’AndifIfindthereisnoserdab;orifdiscoveringitIfindnolampsinit,whatthen?’Hesmiledgrimlywiththatsaturninesmileofhis,sorarelyseenforyearspast,ashespokeslowly:

           "’Thenyouwillhavetohustletillyoufindthem!’

           "’Good!’Isaid.