Випадок Чарльза Декстера Варда

           DearTheodore:—

           IfeelthatImustsayawordtoyoubeforedoingwhatIamgoingtodotomorrow.Itwillconcludetheterriblebusinesswehavebeengoingthrough(forIfeelthatnospadeiseverlikelytoreachthatmonstrousplaceweknowof),butI’mafraiditwon’tsetyourmindatrestunlessIexpresslyassureyouhowveryconclusiveitis.

           Youhaveknownmeeversinceyouwereasmallboy,soIthinkyouwillnotdistrustmewhenIhintthatsomemattersarebestleftundecidedandunexplored.ItisbetterthatyouattemptnofurtherspeculationastoCharles’scase,andalmostimperativethatyoutellhismothernothingmorethanshealreadysuspects.WhenIcallonyoutomorrowCharleswillhaveescaped.Thatisallwhichneedremaininanyone’smind.Hewasmad,andheescaped.Youcantellhismothergentlyandgraduallyaboutthemadpartwhenyoustopsendingthetypednotesinhisname.I’dadviseyoutojoinherinAtlanticCityandtakearestyourself.Godknowsyouneedoneafterthisshock,asIdomyself.IamgoingSouthforawhiletocalmdownandbraceup.

           Sodon’taskmeanyquestionswhenIcall.Itmaybethatsomethingwillgowrong,butI’lltellyouifitdoes.Idon’tthinkitwill.Therewillbenothingmoretoworryabout,forCharleswillbevery,verysafe.Heisnow—saferthanyoudream.YouneedholdnofearsaboutAllen,andwhoorwhatheis.HeformsasmuchapartofthepastasJosephCurwen’spicture,andwhenIringyourdoorbellyoumayfeelcertainthatthereisnosuchperson.