Прокляття мумії, або Камінь Семи Зірок

           AllatonceIsatup.Ihadbecomelostinanabsorbingreverie.TheEgyptiansmellhadseemedtogetonmynerves—onmymemory—onmyverywill.

           AtthatmomentIhadathoughtwhichwaslikeaninspiration.IfIwasinfluencedinsuchamannerbythesmell,mightitnotbethatthesickman,wholivedhalfhislifeormoreintheatmosphere,hadgraduallyandbyslowbutsureprocesstakenintohissystemsomethingwhichhadpermeatedhimtosuchdegreethatithadanewpowerderivedfromquantity—orstrength—or...

           Iwasbecominglostagaininareverie.Thiswouldnotdo.ImusttakesuchprecautionthatIcouldremainawake,orfreefromsuchentrancingthought.Ihadhadbuthalfanight’ssleeplastnight;andthisnightImustremainawake.Withoutstatingmyintention,forIfearedthatImightaddtothetroubleanduneasinessofMissTrelawny,Iwentdownstairsandoutofthehouse.Isoonfoundachemist’sshop,andcameawaywitharespirator.WhenIgotback,itwasteno’clock;theDoctorwasgoingforthenight.TheNursecamewithhimtothedoorofthesick-room,takingherlastinstructions.MissTrelawnysatstillbesidethebed.SergeantDaw,whohadenteredastheDoctorwentout,wassomelittledistanceoff.

           WhenNurseKennedyjoinedus,wearrangedthatsheshouldsituptilltwoo’clock,whenMissTrelawnywouldrelieveher.Thus,inaccordancewithMr.