Прокляття мумії, або Камінь Семи Зірок

           Hiswasthatcommandingnaturewhichlookssototheendofanundertakingthatallelseisofsecondaryimportance.Evennow,thoughhisterriblesternnessrelaxedundertherelieffromthestrain,heneverflaggednorfalteredforamomentinhispurpose.Heaskedusmentocomewithhim;andgoingtothehallwepresentlymanagedtolowerintothecaveanoaktable,fairlylongandnottoowide,whichstoodagainstthewallinthehall.Thisweplacedunderthestrongclusterofelectriclightsinthemiddleofthecave.Margaretlookedonforawhile;thenallatonceherfaceblanched,andinanagitatedvoiceshesaid:

           "Whatareyougoingtodo,Father?"

           "Tounrollthemummyofthecat!QueenTerawillnotneedherFamiliartonight.Ifsheshouldwanthim,itmightbedangeroustous;soweshallmakehimsafe.Youarenotalarmed,dear?"

           "Ohno!"sheansweredquickly."ButIwasthinkingofmySilvio,andhowIshouldfeelifhehadbeenthemummythatwastobeunswathed!"

           Mr.Trelawnygotknivesandscissorsready,andplacedthecatonthetable.Itwasagrimbeginningtoourwork;anditmademyheartsinkwhenIthoughtofwhatmighthappeninthatlonelyhouseinthemid-gloomofthenight.Thesenseoflonelinessandisolationfromtheworldwasincreasedbythemoaningofthewindwhichhadnowrisenominously,andbythebeatingofwavesontherocksbelow.Butwehadtoograveataskbeforeustobeswayedbyexternalmanifestations:theunrollingofthemummybegan.