Випадок Чарльза Декстера Варда

           This,indeed,provedthebeginningofanewpolicyofsecrecy;forneverafterwardwasanyotherpersonpermittedtovisiteitherthemysteriousgarretworkroomortheadjacentstoreroomwhichhecleanedout,furnishedroughly,andaddedtohisinviolableprivatedomainasasleepingapartment.Herehelived,withbooksbroughtupfromhislibrarybeneath,tillthetimehepurchasedthePawtuxetbungalowandmovedtoitallhisscientificeffects.

           IntheeveningCharlessecuredthepaperbeforetherestofthefamilyanddamagedpartofitthroughanapparentaccident.LateronDr.Willett,havingfixedthedatefromstatementsbyvariousmembersofthehousehold,lookedupanintactcopyattheJournalofficeandfoundthatinthedestroyedsectionthefollowingsmallitemhadoccurred:

           NOCTURNALDIGGERSSURPRISEDINNORTHBURIALGROUND

           RobertHart,nightwatchmanattheNorthBurialGround,thismorningdiscoveredapartyofseveralmenwithamotortruckintheoldestpartofthecemetery,butapparentlyfrightenedthemoffbeforetheyhadaccomplishedwhatevertheirobjectmayhavebeen.

           Thediscoverytookplaceataboutfouro’clock,whenHart’sattentionwasattractedbythesoundofamotoroutsidehisshelter.Investigating,hesawalargetruckonthemaindriveseveralrodsaway;butcouldnotreachitbeforethenoiseofhisfeetonthegravelhadrevealedhisapproach.