Випадок Чарльза Декстера Варда
Chapter 7
Itwasevidentthattheyouthmeanttoshowbravadotothelast.
’No,’Willettslowlyrejoined,’thistimeIdidnothavetodig.WehavehadmenlookingupDr.Allen,andtheyfoundthefalsebeardandspectaclesinthebungalow.’
’Excellent,’commentedthedisquietedhostinanefforttobewittilyinsulting,’andItrusttheyprovedmorebecomingthanthebeardandglassesyounowhaveon!’
’Theywouldbecomeyouverywell,’cametheevenandstudiedresponse,’asindeedtheyseemtohavedone.’
AsWillettsaidthis,italmostseemedasthoughacloudpassedoverthesun;thoughtherewasnochangeintheshadowsonthefloor.ThenWardventured:
’Andisthiswhataskssohotlyforareckoning?Supposeamandoesfinditnowandthenusefultobetwofold?’
’No’,saidWillettgravely,’againyouarewrong.Itisnobusinessofmineifanymanseeksduality;providedhehasanyrighttoexistatall,andprovidedhedoesnotdestroywhatcalledhimoutofspace.’
Wardnowstartedviolently.’Well,Sir,whathaveyefound,andwhatd’yewantofme?’
Thedoctorletalittletimeelapsebeforereplying,asifchoosinghiswordsforaneffectiveanswer.
’Ihavefound’,hefinallyintoned,’somethinginacupboardbehindanancientovermantelwhereapictureoncewas,andIhaveburneditandburiedtheasheswherethegraveofCharlesDexterWardoughttobe.
