Прокляття мумії, або Камінь Семи Зірок

           IwasawakedbyCorbeckcallingtome,hurriedly:

           "Comedowntothecaveasquicklyasyoucan.Mr.Trelawnywantstoseeusallthereatonce.Hurry!"

           Ijumpedupandrandowntothecave.AllwerethereexceptMargaret,whocameimmediatelyaftermecarryingSilvioinherarms.Whenthecatsawhisoldenemyhestruggledtogetdown;butMargaretheldhimfastandsoothedhim.Ilookedatmywatch.Itwasclosetoeight.

           WhenMargaretwaswithusherfathersaiddirectly,withaquietinsistencewhichwasnewtome:

           "Youbelieve,Margaret,thatQueenTerahasvoluntarilyundertakentogiveupherfreedomforthisnight?Tobecomeamummyandnothingmore,tilltheExperimenthasbeencompleted?Tobecontentthatsheshallbepowerlessunderallandanycircumstancesuntilafterallisoverandtheactofresurrectionhasbeenaccomplished,ortheefforthasfailed?"AfterapauseMargaretansweredinalowvoice:

           "Yes!"

           Inthepauseherwholebeing,appearance,expression,voice,mannerhadchanged.EvenSilvionoticedit,andwithaviolenteffortwriggledawayfromherarms;shedidnotseemtonoticetheact.Iexpectedthatthecat,whenhehadachievedhisfreedom,wouldhaveattackedthemummy;butonthisoccasionhedidnot.Heseemedtoocowedtoapproachit.Heshrunkaway,andwithapiteous"miaou"cameoverandrubbedhimselfagainstmyankles.Itookhimupinmyarms,andhenestledtherecontent.Mr.