Випадок Чарльза Декстера Варда

           Thatmidnight,afterthefamilyhadretired,thebutlerwasnightlockingthefrontdoorwhenaccordingtohisstatementCharlesappearedsomewhatblunderinglyanduncertainlyatthefootofthestairswithalargesuitcaseandmadesignsthathewishedegress.Theyouthspokenoword,buttheworthyYorkshiremancaughtonesightofhisfeveredeyesandtrembledcauselessly.HeopenedthedoorandyoungWardwentout,butinthemorninghepresentedhisresignationtoMrs.Ward.Therewas,hesaid,somethingunholyintheglanceCharleshadfixedonhim.Itwasnowayforayounggentlemantolookatanhonestperson,andhecouldnotpossiblystayanothernight.Mrs.Wardallowedthemantodepart,butshedidnotvaluehisstatementhighly.TofancyCharlesinasavagestatethatnightwasquiteridiculous,foraslongasshehadremainedawakeshehadheardfaintsoundsfromthelaboratoryabove;soundsasifofsobbingandpacing,andofasighingwhichtoldonlyofdespair’sprofoundestdepths.Mrs.Wardhadgrownusedtolisteningforsoundsinthenight,forthemysteryofhersonwasfastdrivingallelsefromhermind.

           Thenextevening,muchasonanothereveningnearlythreemonthsbefore,CharlesWardseizedthenewspaperveryearlyandaccidentallylostthemainsection.Thismatterwasnotrecalledtilllater,whenDr.Willettbegancheckinguplooseendsandsearchingoutmissinglinkshereandthere.IntheJournalofficehefoundthesectionwhichCharleshadlost,andmarkedtwoitemsasofpossiblesignificance.