Випадок Чарльза Декстера Варда

           Eventhefamiliarolivemarkonhishipwasgone,whileonhischestwasagreatblackmoleorcicatricewhichhadneverbeentherebefore,andwhichmadeWillettwonderwhethertheyouthhadeversubmittedtoanyofthewitchmarkingsreputedtobeinflictedatcertainunwholesomenocturnalmeetingsinwildandlonelyplaces.Thedoctorcouldnotkeephismindoffacertaintranscribedwitch-trialrecordfromSalemwhichCharleshadshownhimintheoldnon-secretivedays,andwhichread:’Mr.G.B.onthatNighteputtyeDivellhisMarkeuponBridgetS.,JonathanA.,SimonO.,DeliveranceW.,JosephC.,SusanP.,MehitableC.,andDeborahB.’Ward’sface,too,troubledhimhorribly,tillatlengthhesuddenlydiscoveredwhyhewashorrified.Forabovetheyoungman’srighteyewassomethingwhichhehadneverpreviouslynoticed—asmallscarorpitpreciselylikethatinthecrumbledpaintingofoldJosephCurwen,andperhapsattestingsomehideousritualisticinoculationtowhichbothhadsubmittedatacertainstageoftheiroccultcareers.

           WhileWardhimselfwaspuzzlingallthedoctorsatthehospitalaverystrictwatchwaskeptonallmailaddressedeithertohimortoDr.Allen,whichMr.Wardhadordereddeliveredatthefamilyhome.Willetthadpredictedthatverylittlewouldbefound,sinceanycommunicationsofavitalnaturewouldprobablyhavebeenexchangedbymessenger;butinthelatterpartofMarchtheredidcomealetterfromPragueforDr.Allenwhichgaveboththedoctorandthefatherdeepthought.