"Some Words With a Mummy" - читать интересную книгу автора (Poe Edgar Allan)

a little carbuncle-nosed gentleman, out at elbows, standing upon a
stump, with his left leg drawn back, right arm thrown forward, with
his fist shut, the eyes rolled up toward Heaven, and the mouth open at
an angle of ninety degrees. Just in the same way Mr. Buckingham failed
to convey the absolutely modern idea "wig," until (at Doctor
Ponnonner's suggestion) he grew very pale in the face, and consented
to take off his own.
It will be readily understood that Mr. Gliddon's discourse turned
chiefly upon the vast benefits accruing to science from the
unrolling and disembowelling of mummies; apologizing, upon this score,
for any disturbance that might have been occasioned him, in
particular, the individual Mummy called Allamistakeo; and concluding
with a mere hint (for it could scarcely be considered more) that, as
these little matters were now explained, it might be as well to
proceed with the investigation intended. Here Doctor Ponnonner made
ready his instruments.
In regard to the latter suggestions of the orator, it appears that
Allamistakeo had certain scruples of conscience, the nature of which I
did not distinctly learn; but he expressed himself satisfied with
the apologies tendered, and, getting down from the table, shook
hands with the company all round.
When this ceremony was at an end, we immediately busied ourselves in
repairing the damages which our subject had sustained from the
scalpel. We sewed up the wound in his temple, bandaged his foot, and
applied a square inch of black plaster to the tip of his nose.
It was now observed that the Count (this was the title, it seems, of
Allamistakeo) had a slight fit of shivering- no doubt from the cold.
The Doctor immediately repaired to his wardrobe, and soon returned
with a black dress coat, made in Jennings' best manner, a pair of
sky-blue plaid pantaloons with straps, a pink gingham chemise, a
flapped vest of brocade, a white sack overcoat, a walking cane with
a hook, a hat with no brim, patent-leather boots, straw-colored kid
gloves, an eye-glass, a pair of whiskers, and a waterfall cravat.
Owing to the disparity of size between the Count and the doctor (the
proportion being as two to one), there was some little difficulty in
adjusting these habiliments upon the person of the Egyptian; but
when all was arranged, he might have been said to be dressed. Mr.
Gliddon, therefore, gave him his arm, and led him to a comfortable
chair by the fire, while the Doctor rang the bell upon the spot and
ordered a supply of cigars and wine.
The conversation soon grew animated. Much curiosity was, of
course, expressed in regard to the somewhat remarkable fact of
Allamistakeo's still remaining alive.
"I should have thought," observed Mr. Buckingham, "that it is high
time you were dead."
"Why," replied the Count, very much astonished, "I am little more
than seven hundred years old! My father lived a thousand, and was by
no means in his dotage when he died."
Here ensued a brisk series of questions and computations, by means
of which it became evident that the antiquity of the Mummy had been