Chapter 6

           ThefollowingmorningDr.WilletthastenedtotheWardhometobepresentwhenthedetectivesarrived.Allen’sdestructionorimprisonment—orCurwen’sifonemightregardthetacitclaimtoreincarnationasvalid—hefeltmustbeaccomplishedatanycost,andhecommunicatedthisconvictiontoMr.Wardastheysatwaitingforthementocome.Theyweredownstairsthistime,fortheupperpartsofthehousewerebeginningtobeshunnedbecauseofaparticularnauseousnesswhichhungindefinitelyabout;anauseousnesswhichtheolderservantsconnectedwithsomecurseleftbythevanishedCurwenportrait.

           Atnineo’clockthethreedetectivespresentedthemselvesandimmediatelydeliveredallthattheyhadtosay.Theyhadnot,regrettablyenough,locatedtheBravaTonyGomesastheyhadwished,norhadtheyfoundtheleasttraceofDr.Allen’ssourceorpresentwhereabouts;buttheyhadmanagedtounearthaconsiderablenumberoflocalimpressionsandfactsconcerningthereticentstranger.AllenhadstruckPawtuxetpeopleasavaguelyunnaturalbeing,andtherewasauniversalbeliefthathisthicksandybeardwaseitherdyedorfalse—abeliefconclusivelyupheldbythefindingofsuchafalsebeard,togetherwithapairofdarkglasses,inhisroomatthefatefulbungalow.Hisvoice,Mr.Wardcouldwelltestifyfromhisonetelephoneconversation,hadadepthandhollownessthatcouldnotbeforgotten;andhisglancedseemedmaligneventhroughhissmokedandhorn-rimmedglasses.