Випадок Чарльза Декстера Варда
Chapter 5
Themenhastilyplacedalargeboxinthetruckanddroveawaytowardthestreetbeforetheycouldbeovertaken;andsincenoknowngravewasdisturbed,Hartbelievesthatthisboxwasanobjectwhichtheywishedtobury.
Thediggersmusthavebeenatworkforalongwhilebeforedetection,forHartfoundanenormousholddugataconsiderabledistancebackfromtheroadwayinthelotofAmasaField,wheremostoftheoldstoneshavelongagodisappeared.Thehole,aplaceaslargeanddeepasagrave,wasempty;anddidnotcoincidewithanyintermentmentionedinthecemeteryrecords.
Sergt.RileyoftheSecondStationviewedthespotandgavetheopinionthattheholewasdugbybootleggersrathergruesomelyandingeniouslyseekingasafecacheforliquorinaplacenotlikelytobedisturbed.InreplytoquestionsHartsaidhethoughtheescapingtruckhadheadedupRochambeauAvenue,thoughhecouldnotbesure.
DuringthenextfewdaysCharlesWardwasseldomseenbyhisfamily.Havingaddedsleepingquarterstohisatticrealm,hekeptcloselytohimselfthere,orderingfoodbroughttothedoorandnottakingitinuntilaftertheservanthadgoneaway.Thedroningofmonotonousformulaeandthechantingofbizarrerhythmsrecurredatintervals,whileatothertimesoccasionallistenerscoulddetectthesoundoftinklingglass,hissingchemicals,runningwater,orroaringgasflames
