Випадок Чарльза Декстера Варда

           Wardhimselftriedtobemoreaffable,butsucceededonlyinprovokingcuriositywithhisramblingaccountsofchemicalresearch.Beforelongqueertalesbegantocirculateregardingtheall-nightburningoflights;andsomewhatlater,afterthisburninghadsuddenlyceased,thererosestillqueerertalesofdisproportionateordersofmeatfromthebutcher’sandofthemuffledshouting,declamation,rhythmicchanting,andscreamingsupposedtocomefromsomeverycellarbelowtheplace.Mostdistinctlythenewandstrangehouseholdwasbitterlydislikedbythehonestbourgeoisieofthevicinity,anditisnotremarkablethatdarkhintswereadvancedconnectingthehatedestablishmentwiththecurrentepidemicofvampiristicattacksandmurders;especiallysincetheradiusofthatplagueseemednowconfinedwhollytoPawtuxetandtheadjacentstreetsofEdgewood.

           Wardspentmostofhistimeatthebungalow,butsleptoccasionallyathomeandwasstillreckonedadwellerbeneathhisfather’sroof.Twicehewasabsentfromthecityonweek-longtrips,whosedestinationshavenotyetbeendiscovered.Hegrewsteadilypalerandmoreemaciatedeventhanbefore,andlackedsomeofhisformerassurancewhenrepeatingtoDr.Willetthisold,oldstoryofvitalresearchandfuturerevelations.Willettoftenwaylaidhimathisfather’shouse,fortheelderWardwasdeeplyworriedandperplexed,andwishedhissontogetasmuchsoundoversightascouldbemanagedinthecaseofsosecretiveandindependentanadult.