Прокляття мумії, або Камінь Семи Зірок

           Margaretaloneremainedcalm;shestooderectandsilent,andstillasastatue.Shehadafar-awaylookinhereyes,asthoughshedidnoteitherknoworcarewhatwasgoingonaroundher.

           WithadespairinggestureTrelawnythrewopenthepouchofthepocket-bookwhereinhehadplacedtheJewelofSevenStars.Ashesankdownonthechairwhichstoodclosetohim,hesaidinahoarsevoice:

           "MyGod!itisgone.WithoutittheGreatExperimentcancometonothing!"

           HiswordsseemedtowakeMargaretfromherintrospectivemood.Anagonisedspasmsweptherface;butalmostontheinstantshewascalm.Shealmostsmiledasshesaid:

           "Youmayhaveleftitinyourroom,Father.Perhapsithasfallenoutofthepocket-bookwhilstyouwerechanging."Withoutawordweallhurriedintothenextroomthroughtheopendoorbetweenthestudyandthebedroom.Andthenasuddencalmfellonuslikeacloudoffear.

           There!onthetable,laytheJewelofSevenStars,shiningandsparklingwithluridlight,asthougheachofthesevenpointsofeachthesevenstarsgleamedthroughblood!

           Timidlyweeachlookedbehindus,andthenateachother.Margaretwasnowliketherestofus.Shehadlostherstatuesquecalm.Alltheintrospectiverigidityhadgonefromher;andsheclaspedherhandstogethertilltheknuckleswerewhite.

           WithoutawordMr.TrelawnyraisedtheJewel,andhurriedwithitintothenextroom.