Прокляття мумії, або Камінь Семи Зірок

           Grant’ssottovoceremarkasshelefttheroom:

           "NowonderthehouseislikeaKing’shouse,whenthemistressisaPrincess!"

           "APrincess!"Thatwasit.Theideaseemedtosatisfymymind,andtobringbackinawaveoflightthefirstmomentwhenshesweptacrossmyvisionattheballinBelgraveSquare.Aqueenlyfigure!tallandslim,bending,swaying,undulatingasthelilyorthelotos.Cladinaflowinggownofsomefilmyblackmaterialshotwithgold.ForornamentinherhairsheworeanoldEgyptianjewel,atinycrystaldisk,setbetweenrisingplumescarvedinlapislazuli.Onherwristwasabroadbangleorbraceletofantiquework,intheshapeofapairofspreadingwingswroughtingold,withthefeathersmadeofcolouredgems.Forallhergraciousbearingtowardme,whenourhostessintroducedme,Iwasthenafraidofher.Itwasonlywhenlater,atthepicnicontheriver,Ihadcometorealisehersweetandgentle,thatmyawechangedtosomethingelse.

           Forawhileshesat,makingsomenotesormemoranda.Thenputtingthemaway,shesentforthefaithfulservants.Ithoughtthatshehadbetterhavethisinterviewalone,andsolefther.WhenIcamebackthereweretracesoftearsinhereyes.

           ThenextphaseinwhichIhadapartwasevenmoredisturbing,andinfinitelymorepainful.LateintheafternoonSergeantDawcameintothestudywhereIwassitting.Afterclosingthedoorcarefullyandlookingallroundtheroomtomakecertainthatwewerealone,hecameclosetome.