Випадок Чарльза Декстера Варда
Chapter 6
Thefalsebeardandglasses—thecrabbedCurwenpenmanship—theoldportraitanditstinyscar—andthealteredyouthinthehospitalwithsuchascar—thatdeep,hollowvoiceonthetelephone—wasitnotofthisthatMr.Wardwasremindedwhenhissonbarkedforththosepitiabletonestowhichhenowclaimedtobereduced?WhohadeverseenCharlesandAllentogether?Yes,theofficialshadonce,butwholateron?WasitnotwhenAllenleftthatCharlessuddenlylosthisgrowingfrightandbegantolivewhollyatthebungalow?Curwen—Allen—Ward—inwhatblasphemousandabominablefusionhadtwoagesandtwopersonsbecomeinvolved?ThatdamnableresemblanceofthepicturetoCharles—haditnotusedtostareandstare,andfollowtheboyaroundtheroomwithitseyes?Why,too,didbothAllenandCharlescopyJosephCurwen’shandwriting,evenwhenaloneandoffguard?Andthenthefrightfulworkofthosepeople—thelostcryptofhorrorsthathadagedthedoctorovernight;thestarvingmonstersinthenoisomepits;theawfulformulawhichhadyieldedsuchnamelessresults;themessageinminusculesfoundinWillett’spocket;thepapersandthelettersandallthetalkofgravesand"salts"anddiscoveries—whitherdideverythinglead?IntheendMr.Warddidthemostsensiblething.Steelinghimselfagainstanyrealizationofwhyhedidit,hegavethedetectivesanarticletobeshowntosuchPawtuxetshopkeepersashadseentheportentousDr.Allen.