Прокляття мумії, або Камінь Семи Зірок

           Wereheroriginalintentioncarriedout,anddidshecometonewlifewithinhermummywrappings,itmightbetoexchangeacoffinforagrave!Shewoulddiethedeathoftheburiedalive!Butnow,whenshehasvoluntarilyabandonedforthetimeherastralpower,therecanbenodoubtonthesubject."

           Margaret’sfacecleared."Allright,Father!"shesaidasshekissedhim."Butoh!itseemsahorribleindignitytoaQueen,andawoman."

           Iwasmovingawaytothestaircasewhenshecalledme:

           "Whereareyougoing?"IcamebackandtookherhandandstrokeditasIanswered:

           "Ishallcomebackwhentheunrollingisover!"Shelookedatmelong,andafaintsuggestionofasmilecameoverherfaceasshesaid:

           "Perhapsyouhadbetterstay,too!Itmaybeusefultoyouinyourworkasabarrister!"Shesmiledoutasshemetmyeyes:butinaninstantshechanged.Herfacegrewgrave,anddeadlywhite.Inafarawayvoiceshesaid:

           "Fatherisright!Itisaterribleoccasion;weneedalltobeseriousoverit.Butallthesame—nay,forthatveryreasonyouhadbetterstay,Malcolm!Youmaybeglad,lateron,thatyouwerepresenttonight!"

           Myheartsankdown,down,atherwords;butIthoughtitbettertosaynothing.Fearwasstalkingopenlyenoughamongstusalready!

           BythistimeMr.Trelawny,assistedbyMr.