Тень над Иннсмутом
Chapter 8
Vaguelegendsofbadluckclusteredaroundthem,andmygreat-grandmother’sFrenchgovernesshadsaidtheyoughtnottobeworninNewEngland,thoughitwouldbequitesafetoweartheminEurope.
Asmyunclebeganslowlyandgrudginglytounwrapthethingsheurgedmenottobeshockedbythestrangenessandfrequenthideousnessofthedesigns.Artistsandarchaeologistswhohadseenthempronouncedtheirworkmanshipsuperlativelyandexoticallyexquisite,thoughnooneseemedabletodefinetheirexactmaterialorassignthemtoanyspecificarttradition.Thereweretwoarmlets,atiara,andakindofpectoral;thelatterhavinginhighreliefcertainfiguresofalmostunbearableextravagance.
DuringthisdescriptionIhadkeptatightreinonmyemotions,butmyfacemusthavebetrayedmymountingfears.Myunclelookedconcerned,andpausedinhisunwrappingtostudymycountenance.Imotionedtohimtocontinue,whichhedidwithrenewedsignsofreluctance.Heseemedtoexpectsomedemonstrationwhenthefirstpiece—thetiara—becamevisible,butIdoubtifheexpectedquitewhatactuallyhappened.Ididnotexpectit,either,forIthoughtIwasthoroughlyforewarnedregardingwhatthejewellerywouldturnouttobe.WhatIdidwastofaintsilentlyaway,justasIhaddoneinthatbrier-chokedrailwaycutayearbefore.
FromthatdayonmylifehasbeenanightmareofbroodingandapprehensionnordoIknowhowmuchishideoustruthandhowmuchmadness.
