Прокляття мумії, або Камінь Семи Зірок
Chapter 19
Corbeckwerebecomingindistinctinthesmokewhichrolledroundtheminthickbillowyclouds.FinallyIlostsightofthemaltogether.Thecofferstillcontinuedtoglow;butthelampsbegantogrowdim.AtfirstIthoughtthattheirlightwasbeingoverpoweredbythethickblacksmoke;butpresentlyIsawthattheywere,onebyone,burningout.Theymusthaveburnedquicklytoproducesuchfierceandvividflames.
Iwaitedandwaited,expectingeveryinstanttohearthecommandtoturnupthelight;butnonecame.Iwaitedstill,andlookedwithharrowingintensityattherollingbillowsofsmokestillpouringoutoftheglowingcasket,whilstthelampssankdownandwentoutonebyone.
Finallytherewasbutonelampalight,andthatwasdimlyblueandflickering.Theonlyeffectivelightintheroomwasfromtheglowingcasket.IkeptmyeyesfixedtowardMargaret;itwasforhernowthatallmyanxietywasclaimed.Icouldjustseeherwhitefrockbeyondthestillwhiteshroudedfigureonthecouch.Silviowastroubled;hispiteousmewingwastheonlysoundintheroom.Deeperanddensergrewtheblackmistanditspungencybegantoassailmynostrilsaswellasmyeyes.Nowthevolumeofsmokecomingfromthecofferseemedtolessen,andthesmokeitselftobelessdense.AcrosstheroomIsawsomethingwhitemovewherethecouchwas.Therewereseveralmovements.Icouldjustcatchthequickglintofwhitethroughthedensesmokeinthefadinglight;fornowtheglowofthecofferbeganquicklytosubside.
