Випадок Чарльза Декстера Варда

           Willettlookedsharply,butnotedthatthevisiblebookswerefartoofewandtrivialtohaveeverfilledthewidegapsonWard’sshelvesathome,andthatthemeagerso-called"laboratory"wastheflimsiestsortofablind.Clearly,therewerealibraryandalaboratoryelsewhere;butjustwhere,itwasimpossibletosay.Essentiallydefeatedinhisquestforsomethinghecouldnotname,WillettreturnedtotownbeforeeveningandtoldtheseniorWardeverythingwhichhadoccurred.Theyagreedthattheyouthmustbedefinitelyoutofhismind,butdecidedthatnothingdrasticneedbedonejustthen.Aboveall,Mrs.Wardmustbekeptinascompleteanignoranceasherson’sownstrangetypednoteswouldpermit.

           Mr.Wardnowdeterminedtocallinpersonuponhisson,makingitwhollyasurprisevisit.Dr.Willetttookhiminhiscaroneevening,guidinghimtowithinsightofthebungalowandwaitingpatientlyforhisreturn.Thesessionwasalongone,andthefatheremergedinaverysaddenedandperplexedstate.HisreceptionhaddevelopedmuchlikeWillett’s,savethatCharleshadbeenanexcessivelylongtimeinappearingafterthevisitorhadforcedhiswayintothehallandsentthePortugueseawaywithanimperativedemand;andinthebearingofthealteredsontherewasnotraceoffilialaffection.Thelightshadbeendim,yetevensotheyouthhadcomplainedthattheydazzledhimoutrageously.Hehadnotspokenoutloudatall,averringthathisthroatwasinverypoorcondition;butinhishoarsewhispertherewasaqualitysovaguelydisturbingthatMr.