Випадок Чарльза Декстера Варда

           ThatmightyvoicealoftonGoodFriday,andthosedifferenttonesinthelockedatticlaboratory.Whatweretheylike,withtheirdepthandhollowness?WastherenotheresomeawfulforeshadowingofthedreadedstrangerDr.Allenwithhisspectralbass?Yes,thatwaswhatMr.Wardhadfeltwithvaguehorrorinhissingletalkwiththeman—ifmanitwere—overthetelephone!

           Whathellishconsciousnessorvoice,whatmorbidshadeorpresence,hadcometoanswerCharlesWard’ssecretritesbehindthatlockeddoor?Thosevoicesheardinargument—"musthaveitredforthreemonths"—GoodGod!Wasnotthatjustbeforethevampirismbrokeout?TheriflingofEzraWeeden’sancientgrave,andthecrieslateratPawtuxet—whosemindhadplannedthevengeanceandrediscoveredtheshunnedseatofelderblasphemies?Andthenthebungalowandthebeardedstranger,andthegossip,andthefear.ThefinalmadnessofCharlesneitherfathernordoctorcouldattempttoexplain,buttheydidfeelsurethatthemindofJosephCurwenhadcometoearthagainandwasfollowingitsancientmorbidities.Wasdaemoniacpossessionintruthapossibility?Allenhadsomethingtodowithit,andthedetectivesmustfindoutmoreaboutonewhoseexistencemenacedtheyoungman’slife.Inthemeantime,sincetheexistenceofsomevastcryptbeneaththebungalowseemedvirtuallybeyonddispute,someeffortmustbemadetofindit.WillettandMr.