Прокляття мумії, або Камінь Семи Зірок
Chapter 4
Ididnotwaittolookfurtheratpresent,formyattentionwasdemandedbymorepressingthings;butIdeterminedtomakeamoreminuteexaminationwhenIshouldhavetime.ItwasevidentthatsomeofthestrangeEgyptiansmellclungtotheseoldcurios;throughthebrokenglasscameanaddedwhiffofspiceandgumandbitumen,almoststrongerthanthoseIhadalreadynoticedascomingfromothersintheroom.
Allthishadreallytakenbutafewminutes.Iwassurprisedwhenmyeyemet,throughthechinksbetweenthedarkwindowblindsandthewindowcases,thebrighterlightofthecomingdawn.WhenIwentbacktothesofaandtookthetourniquetfromMrs.Grant,shewentoverandpulleduptheblinds.
Itwouldbehardtoimagineanythingmoreghastlythantheappearanceoftheroomwiththefaintgreylightofearlymorningcominginuponit.Asthewindowsfacednorth,anylightthatcamewasafixedgreylightwithoutanyoftherosypossibilityofdawnwhichcomesintheeasternquarterofheaven.Theelectriclightsseemeddullandyetglaring;andeveryshadowwasofahardintensity.Therewasnothingofmorningfreshness;nothingofthesoftnessofnight.Allwashardandcoldandinexpressiblydreary.Thefaceofthesenselessmanonthesofaseemedofaghastlyyellow;andtheNurse’sfacehadtakenasuggestionofgreenfromtheshadeofthelampnearher.OnlyMissTrelawny’sfacelookedwhite;anditwasofapallorwhichmademyheartache.
