Ужас в музее

           Accordingtohisbibulousharangue,hehadgonefartherthananyoneelseininterpretingtheobscureandprimalbookshestudied,andhadbeendirectedbythemtocertainremoteplaceswherestrangesurvivalsarehidden—survivalsofaeonsandlife-cyclesearlierthanmankind,andinsomecasesconnectedwithotherdimensionsandotherworlds,communicationwithwhichwasfrequentintheforgottenpre-humandays. Jonesmarvelledatthefancywhichcouldconjureupsuchnotions,andwonderedjustwhatRogers’mentalhistoryhadbeen. HadhisworkamidstthemorbidgrotesqueriesofMadameTussaud’sbeenthestartofhisimaginativeflights,orwasthetendencyinnate,sothathischoiceofoccupationwasmerelyoneofitsmanifestations? Atanyrate,theman’sworkwasverycloselylinkedwithhisnotions. Evennowtherewasnomistakingthetrendofhisblackesthintsaboutthenightmaremonstrositiesinthescreened-off“Adultsonly”alcove. Heedlessofridicule,hewastryingtoimplythatnotallofthesedaemoniacabnormalitieswereartificial. 

           ItwasJones’sfrankscepticismandamusementattheseirresponsibleclaimswhichbrokeupthegrowingcordiality. Rogers,itwasclear,tookhimselfveryseriously;forhenowbecamemoroseandresentful,continuingtotolerateJonesonlythroughadoggedurgetobreakdownhiswallofurbaneandcomplacentincredulity.