Прокляття мумії, або Камінь Семи Зірок

           "Hehassevenclaws,too!"Openinghispocket-book,hetookoutthepieceofblotting-papermarkedbySilvio’sclaws,onwhichwasalsomarkedinpenciladiagramofthecutsmadeonMr.Trelawny’swrist.Heplacedthepaperunderthemummycat’spaw.Themarksfittedexactly.

           Whenwehadcarefullyexaminedthecat,finding,however,nothingstrangeaboutitbutitswonderfulpreservation,Mr.Trelawnylifteditfromthetable.Margaretstartedforward,cryingout:

           "Takecare,Father!Takecare!Hemayinjureyou!"

           "Notnow,mydear!"heansweredashemovedtowardsthestairway.Herfacefell."Whereareyougoing?"sheaskedinafaintvoice.

           "Tothekitchen,"heanswered."Firewilltakeawayalldangerforthefuture;evenanastralbodycannotmaterialisefromashes!"Hesignedtoustofollowhim.Margaretturnedawaywithasob.Iwenttoher;butshemotionedmebackandwhispered:

           "No,no!Gowiththeothers.Fathermaywantyou.Oh!itseemslikemurder!ThepoorQueen’spet...!"Thetearsweredroppingfromunderthefingersthatcoveredhereyes.

           Inthekitchenwasafireofwoodreadylaid.TothisMr.Trelawnyappliedamatch;inafewsecondsthekindlinghadcaughtandtheflamesleaped.Whenthefirewassolidlyablaze,hethrewthebodyofthecatintoit.Forafewsecondsitlayadarkmassamidsttheflames,andtheroomwasrankwiththesmellofburninghair.Thenthedrybodycaughtfiretoo.