Прокляття мумії, або Камінь Семи Зірок

           Therewasanincrediblenumberofbandages;andthetearingsound—theybeingstuckfasttoeachotherbybitumenandgumsandspices—andthelittlecloudofredpungentdustthatarose,pressedonthesensesofallofus.Asthelastwrappingscameaway,wesawtheanimalseatedbeforeus.Hewasallhunkeredup;hishairandteethandclawswerecomplete.Theeyeswereclosed,buttheeyelidshadnotthefiercelookwhichIexpected.Thewhiskershadbeenpresseddownonthesideofthefacebythebandaging;butwhenthepressurewastakenawaytheystoodout,justastheywouldhavedoneinlife.Hewasamagnificentcreature,atiger-catofgreatsize.Butaswelookedathim,ourfirstglanceofadmirationchangedtooneoffear,andashudderranthrougheachoneofus;forherewasaconfirmationofthefearswhichwehadendured.

           Hismouthandhisclawsweresmearedwiththedry,redstainsofrecentblood!

           DoctorWinchesterwasthefirsttorecover;bloodinitselfhadsmalldisturbingqualityforhim.Hehadtakenouthismagnifying-glassandwasexaminingthestainsonthecat’smouth.Mr.Trelawnybreathedloudly,asthoughastrainhadbeentakenfromhim.

           "ItisasIexpected,"hesaid."Thispromiseswellforwhatistofollow."

           BythistimeDoctorWinchesterwaslookingattheredstainedpaws."AsIexpected!"hesaid.