Прокляття мумії, або Камінь Семи Зірок

           CorbeckandDoctorWinchester,hadraisedthelidoftheironstonesarcophaguswhichcontainedthemummyoftheQueen.Itwasalargeone;butitwasnonetoobig.Themummywasbothlongandbroadandhigh;andwasofsuchweightthatitwasnoeasytask,evenforthefourofus,toliftitout.UnderMr.Trelawny’sdirectionwelaiditoutonthetablepreparedforit.

           Then,andthenonly,didthefullhorrorofthewholethingburstuponme!There,inthefullglareofthelight,thewholematerialandsordidsideofdeathseemedstaringlyreal.Theouterwrappings,tornandloosenedbyrudetouch,andwiththecoloureitherdarkenedbydustorwornlightbyfriction,seemedcreasedasbyroughtreatment;thejaggededgesofthewrapping-clothslookedfringed;thepaintingwaspatchy,andthevarnishchipped.Thecoveringswereevidentlymany,forthebulkwasgreat.Butthroughall,showedthatunhidablehumanfigure,whichseemstolookmorehorriblewhenpartiallyconcealedthanatanyothertime.WhatwasbeforeuswasDeath,andnothingelse.Alltheromanceandsentimentoffancyhaddisappeared.Thetwoeldermen,enthusiastswhohadoftendonesuchwork,werenotdisconcerted;andDoctorWinchesterseemedtoholdhimselfinabusiness-likeattitude,asifbeforetheoperating-table.ButIfeltlow-spirited,andmiserable,andashamed;andbesidesIwaspainedandalarmedbyMargaret’sghastlypallor.

           Thentheworkbegan.