Випадок Чарльза Декстера Варда
Chapter 1
Ward,consciousoftheskepticalattitudeofthealienists,resolvedduringtheirfinalconferencetoundertakeajointsecretexplorationofunparalleledthoroughness;andagreedtomeetatthebungalowonthefollowingmorningwithvalisesandwithcertaintoolsandaccessoriessuitedtoarchitecturalsearchandundergroundexploration.
ThemorningofApril6thdawnedclear,andbothexplorerswereatthebungalowbyteno’clock.Mr.Wardhadthekey,andanentryandcursorysurveyweremade.FromthedisorderedconditionofDr.Allen’sroomitwasobviousthatthedetectiveshadbeentherebefore,andthelatersearchershopedthattheyhadfoundsomecluewhichmightproveofvalue.Ofcoursethemainbusinesslayinthecellar;sothithertheydescendedwithoutmuchdelay,againmakingthecircuitwhicheachhadvainlymadebeforeinthepresenceofthemadyoungowner.Foratimeeverythingseemedbaffling,eachinchoftheearthenfloorandstonewallshavingsosolidandinnocuousanaspectthatthethoughtofayearningaperturewasscarcelytobeentertained.Willettreflectedthatsincetheoriginalcellarwasdugwithoutknowledgeofanycatacombsbeneath,thebeginningofthepassagewouldrepresentthestrictlymoderndelvingofyoungWardandhisassociates,wheretheyhadprobedfortheancientvaultswhoserumorcouldhavereachedthembynowholesomemeans.
ThedoctortriedtoputhimselfinCharles’splacetoseehowadelverwouldbelikelytostart,butcouldnotgainmuchinspirationfromthismethod.
