Прокляття мумії, або Камінь Семи Зірок

           Tounderstandthepassionofthesetwogreat,silent,reservednatures,thatsuccessfullyconcealedtheburninghungerfortheother’slove!Itdidnotsurprisemewhenpresentlyhemurmuredtohimself:

           "Margaret,mychild!Tender,andthoughtful,andstrong,andtrue,andbrave!Likeherdearmother!likeherdearmother!"

           AndthentotheverydepthsofmyheartIrejoicedthatIhadspokensofrankly.

           PresentlyMr.Trelawnysaid:

           "Fourdays!Thesixteenth!ThenthisisthetwentiethofJuly?"Inoddedaffirmation;hewenton:

           "SoIhavebeenlyinginatranceforfourdays.Itisnotthefirsttime.Iwasinatranceonceunderstrangeconditionsforthreedays;andneverevensuspectedittillIwastoldofthelapseoftime.Ishalltellyouallaboutitsomeday,ifyoucaretohear."

           Thatmademethrillwithpleasure.Thathe,Margaret’sfather,wouldsotakemeintohisconfidencemadeitpossible....Thebusiness-like,every-dayalertnessofhisvoiceashespokenextquiterecalledme:

           "Ihadbettergetupnow.WhenMargaretcomesin,tellheryourselfthatIamallright.Itwillavoidanyshock!AndwillyoutellCorbeckthatIwouldliketoseehimassoonasIcan.Iwanttoseethoselamps,andhearallaboutthem!"

           Hisattitudetowardsmefilledmewithdelight.Therewasapossiblefather-in-lawaspectthatwouldhaveraisedmefromadeath-bed.