Прокляття мумії, або Камінь Семи Зірок

           AsIthoughtnowafreshoverthisepisodeinthelightofsuspicioninwhichherownpowerswereinvolved,theonlyconclusionIcouldcometowas—alwayssupposingthatthetheoryoftheQueen’sastralpowerwascorrect—thatQueenTerabeinganxiousthatallshouldgowellinthemovementfromLondontoKyllionhadinherownwaytakentheJewelfromMr.Trelawny’spocket-book,findingitofsomeuseinhersupernaturalguardianshipofthejourney.Theninsomemysteriouswayshehad,throughMargaret,madethesuggestionofitslossandfinding.

           Seventhly,andlastly,wasthestrangedualexistencewhichMargaretseemedoflatetobeleading;andwhichinsomewayseemedaconsequenceorcorollaryofallthathadgonebefore.

           Thedualexistence!Thiswasindeedtheconclusionwhichovercamealldifficultiesandreconciledopposites.IfindeedMargaretwerenotinallwaysafreeagent,butcouldbecompelledtospeakoractasshemightbeinstructed;orifherwholebeingcouldbechangedforanotherwithoutthepossibilityofanyonenoticingthedoingofit,thenallthingswerepossible.Allwoulddependonthespiritoftheindividualitybywhichshecouldbesocompelled.Ifthisindividualitywerejustandkindandclean,allmightbewell.Butifnot!...Thethoughtwastooawfulforwords.Igroundmyteethwithfutilerage,astheideasofhorriblepossibilitiessweptthroughme.