Випадок Чарльза Декстера Варда

           Ward’scryhadevidentlybeenheardbyothersthanhe,andtherehadcomeinresponsetoitfrombehindthelockeddoorthefirstdistinguishablewordswhichthatmaskedandterriblecolloquyhadyielded.TheyweremerelyanexcitedcautioninCharles’sownvoice,butsomehowtheirimplicationsheldanamelessfrightforthefatherwhooverheardthem.Thephrasewasjustthis:’Sshh!—write!’

           Mr.andMrs.Wardconferredatsomelengthafterdinner,andtheformerresolvedtohaveafirmandserioustalkwithCharlesthatverynight.Nomatterhowimportanttheobject,suchconductcouldnolongerbepermitted;fortheselatestdevelopmentstranscendedeverylimitofsanityandformedamenacetotheorderandnervouswell-beingoftheentirehousehold.Theyouthmustindeedhavetakencompleteleaveofhissenses,sinceonlydownrightmadnesscouldhavepromptedthewildscreamsandimaginaryconversationsinassumedvoiceswhichthepresentdayhadbroughtforth.Allthismustbestopped,orMrs.Wardwouldbemadeillandthekeepingofservantsbecomeanimpossibility.

           Mr.WardroseatthecloseofthemealandstartedupstairsforCharles’slaboratory.Onthethirdfloor,however,hepausedatthesoundswhichheheardproceedingfromthenowdisusedlibraryofhisson.Bookswereapparentlybeingflungaboutandpaperswildlyrustled,anduponsteppingtothedoorMr.Wardbeheldtheyouthwithin,excitedlyassemblingavastarmfulofliterarymatterofeverysizeandshape.