Випадок Чарльза Декстера Варда
Chapter 2
Thedoctorstillinsiststhattheyouthwassaneevenaslateasthis,andadducesmanyaconversationtoprovehispoint.
AboutSeptemberthevampirismdeclined,butinthefollowingJanuaryalmostbecameinvolvedinserioustrouble.ForsometimethenocturnalarrivalanddepartureofmotortrucksatthePawtuxetbungalowhadbeencommentedupon,andatthisjunctureanunforeseenhitchexposedthenatureofatleastoneitemoftheircontents.InalonelyspotnearHopeValleyhadoccurredoneofthefrequentsordidwaylayingoftrucksby"hi-jackers"inquestofliquorshipments,butthistimetherobbershadbeendestinedtoreceivethegreatershock.Forthelongcasestheyseizedproveduponopeningtocontainsomeexceedinglygruesomethings;sogruesome,infact,thatthemattercouldnotbekeptquietamongstthedenizensoftheunderworld.Thethieveshadhastilyburiedwhattheydiscovered,butwhentheStatePolicegotwindofthematteracarefulsearchwasmade.Arecentlyarrivedvagrant,underpromiseofimmunityfromprosecutiononanyadditionalcharge,atlastconsentedtoguideapartyoftrooperstothespot;andtherewasfoundinthathastycacheaveryhideousandshamefulthing.Itwouldnotbewellforthenational—oreventheinternational—senseofdecorumifthepublicwereevertoknowwhatwasuncoveredbythatawestruckparty.Therewasnomistakingit,evenbythosefarfromstudiousofficers;andtelegramstoWashingtonensuedwithfeverishrapidity.
