Chapter 3

           ThenextmorningWillettreceivedamessagefromtheseniorWard,sayingthatCharleswasstillabsent.Mr.WardmentionedthatDr.AllenhadtelephonedhimtosaythatCharleswouldremainatPawtuxetforsometime,andthathemustnotbedisturbed.ThiswasnecessarybecauseAllenhimselfwassuddenlycalledawayforanindefiniteperiod,leavingtheresearchesinneedofCharles’sconstantoversight.Charlessenthisbestwishes,andregrettedanybotherhisabruptchangeofplansmighthavecaused.ItlisteningtothismessageMr.WardheardDr.Allen’svoiceforthefirsttime,anditseemedtoexcitesomevagueandelusivememorywhichcouldnotbeactuallyplaced,butwhichwasdisturbingtothepointoffearfulness.

           Facedbythesebafflingandcontradictoryreports,Dr.Willettwasfranklyatalosswhattodo.ThefranticearnestnessofCharles’snotewasnottobedenied,yetwhatcouldonethinkofitswriter’simmediateviolationofhisownexpressedpolicy?YoungWardhadwrittenthathisdelvingshadbecomeblasphemousandmenacing,thattheyandhisbeardedcolleaguemustbeextirpatedatanycost,andthathehimselfwouldneverreturntotheirfinalscene;yetaccordingtolatestadviceshehadforgottenallthisandwasbackinthethickofthemystery.Commonsensebadeoneleavetheyouthalonewithhisfreakishness,yetsomedeeperinstinctwouldnotpermittheimpressionofthatfrenziedlettertosubside.