Випадок Чарльза Декстера Варда

           ’Then,apparentlygainingboldnessthroughmeditation,hehadslippedoutsoquietlythatnoonehadseenhimdepartorknewthathehadgoneuntilhereturnedaboutoneo’clockandenteredthehousewithoutaword.Hehadgoneupstairs,whereabitofhisfearmusthavesurgedback;forhewasheardtocryoutinahighlyterrifiedfashionuponenteringhislibrary,afterwardtrailingoffintoakindofchokinggasp.When,however,thebutlerhadgonetoinquirewhatthetroublewas,hehadappearedatthedoorwithagreatshowofboldness,andhadsilentlygesturedthemanawayinamannerthatterrifiedhimunaccountably.Thenhehadevidentlydonesomerearrangingofhisshelves,foragreatclatteringandthumpingandcreakingensued;afterwhichhehadreappearedandleftatonce.Willettinquiredwhetherornotanymessagehadbeenleft,butwastoldthattherewasnonone.ThebutlerseemedqueerlydisturbedaboutsomethinginCharles’sappearanceandmanner,andaskedsolicitouslyiftherewasmuchhopeforacureofhisdisorderednerves.

           ForalmosttwohoursDr.WillettwaitedvainlyinCharlesWard’slibrary,watchingthedustyshelveswiththeirwidegapswherebookshadbeenremoved,andsmilinggrimlyatthepaneledovermantelonthenorthwall,whenceayearbeforethesuavefeaturesofoldJosephCurwenhadlookedmildlydown.Afteratimetheshadowsbegantogather,andthesunsetcheergaveplacetoavaguegrowingterrorwhichflewshadow-likebeforethenight.Mr