Випадок Чарльза Декстера Варда
Chapter 2
InthefullergleamitappearedthatthisapartmentwasnothinglessthanthelateststudyorlibraryofCharlesWard.Ofthebooksthedoctorhadseenmanybefore,andagoodpartofthefurniturehadplainlycomefromtheProspectStreetmansion.HereandtherewasapiecewellknowntoWillett,andthesenseoffamiliaritybecamesogreatthathehalfforgotthenoisomenessandthewailing,bothofwhichwereplainerherethantheyhadbeenatthefootofthesteps.Hisfirstduty,asplannedlongahead,wastofindandseizeanypaperswhichmightseemofvitalimportance;especiallythoseportentousdocumentsfoundbyCharlessolongagobehindthepictureinOlneyCourt.Ashesearchheperceivedhowstupendousataskthefinalunravelingwouldbe;forfileonfilewasstuffedwithpapersincurioushandsandbearingcuriousdesigns,sothatmonthsorevenyearsmightbeneededforathoroughdecipheringandediting.OncehefoundthreelargepacketsofletterswithPragueandRakuspostmarks,andinwritingclearlyrecognizableasOrne’sandHutchinson’s;allofwhichhetookwithhimaspartofthebundletoberemovedinhisvalise.
Atlast,inalockedmahoganycabinetoncegracingtheWardhome,WillettfoundthebatchofoldCurwenpapers;recognizingthemfromthereluctantglimpseCharleshadgrantedhimsomanyyearsago.Theyouthhadevidentlykeptthemtogetherverymuchastheyhadbeenwhenfirsthefoundthem,sinceallthetitlesrecalledbytheworkmenwerepresentexceptthepapersaddressedtoOrneandHutchinson,andthecipherwithitskey.
