Випадок Чарльза Декстера Варда

           Thatarticlewasaphotographofhislucklessson,onwhichhenowcarefullydrewininkthepairofheavyglassesandtheblackpointedbeardwhichthemenhadbroughtfromAllen’sroom.

           Fortwohourshewaitedwiththedoctorintheoppressivehousewherefearandmiasmawereslowlygatheringastheemptypanelintheupstairslibraryleeredandleeredandleered.Thenthemenreturned.Yes.ThealteredphotographwasaverypassablelikenessofDr.Allen.Mr.Wardturnedpale,andWillettwipedasuddenlydampenedbrowwithhishandkerchief.Allen—Ward—Curwen—itwasbecomingtoohideousforcoherentthought.Whathadtheboycalledoutofthevoid,andwhathaditdonetohim?What,really,hadhappenedfromfirsttolast?WhowasthisAllenwhosoughttokillCharlesastoo"squeamish",andwhyhadhisdestinedvictimsaidinthepostscripttothatfranticletterthathemustbesocompletelyobliteratedinacid?Why,too,hadtheminusculemessage,ofwhoseoriginnoonedaredthink,saidthat"Curwen"mustbelikewiseobliterated?Whatwasthechange,andwhenhadthefinalstageoccurred?Thatdaywhenhisfranticnotewasreceived—hehadbeennervousallthemorning,thentherewasanalteration.Hehadslippedoutunseenandswaggeredboldlyinpastthemenhiredtoguardhim.Thatwasthetime,whenhewasout.