Read "The Day of Temptation" by William le Queux online for free on Textopian. Full text with search, annotations, highlights, and AI-powered reading aids.
As all drew back aghast and terrified from the little face of carved stone, Gemma, who had tried the door only to discover the truth of Tristram's appalling assertion, dashed instantly back to the table, and, regardless of the imminent risk she ran, took the small image in her hands.
"No, no! " they cried with one voice, haunted by the fear that at any second it might explode and blow them out of all recognition. "Don't touch it! don't touch it!"