Випадок Чарльза Декстера Варда

           Thefloorcreakedandthespeakerhoveinsight—andtheownerofthosestrangeandresonanttoneswasseentobenootherthanCharlesDexterWard.

           TheminutenesswithwhichDr.Willettrecalledandrecordedhisconversationofthatafternoonisduetotheimportanceheassignstothisparticularperiod.ForatlastheconcedesavitalchangeinCharlesDexterWard’smentality,andbelievesthattheyouthnowspokefromabrainhopelesslyalientothebrainwhosegrowthhehadwatchedforsixandtwentyyears.ControversywithDr.Lymanhascompelledhimtobeveryspecific,andhedefinitelydatesthemadnessofCharlesWardfromthetimethetypewrittennotesbegantoreachhisparents.ThosenotesarenotinWard’snormalstyle;noteveninthestyleofthatlastfranticlettertoWillett.Instead,theyarestrangeandarchaic,asifthesnappingofthewriter’smindhadreleasedafloodoftendenciesandimpressionspickedupunconsciouslythroughboyhoodantiquarianism.Thereisanobviousefforttobemodern,butthespiritandoccasionallythelanguagearethoseofthepast.

           Thepast,too,wasevidentinWard’severytoneandgestureashereceivedthedoctorinthatshadowybungalow.Hebowed,motionedWilletttoaseat,andbegantospeakabruptlyinthatstrangewhisperwhichhesoughttoexplainattheveryoutset.

           ’Iamgrownphthisical,’hebegan,’fromthiscursedriverair.Youmustexcusemyspeech.Isupposeyouarecomefrommyfathertoseewhatailsme,andIhopeyouwillsaynothingtoalarmhim.