Випадок Чарльза Декстера Варда
Chapter 1
Butoddlyenough,theworthygentlemanownedhimselfmostimpalpablydisquietedbyamereminordetail.OnthehugemahoganytabletherelayfacedownwardsabadlyworncopyofBorellus,bearingmanycrypticalmarginaliaandinterlineationsinCurwen’shand.Thebookwasopenataboutitsmiddle,andoneparagraphdisplayedsuchthickandtremulouspen-strokesbeneaththelinesofmysticblack-letterthatthevisitorcouldnotresistscanningitthrough.Whetheritwasthenatureofthepassageunderscored,orthefeverishheavinessofthestrokeswhichformedtheunderscoring,hecouldnottell;butsomethinginthatcombinationaffectedhimverybadlyandverypeculiarly.Herecalledittotheendofhisdays,writingitdownfrommemoryinhisdiaryandoncetryingtoreciteittohisclosefriendDr.Checkleytillhesawhowgreatlyitdisturbedtheurbanerector.Itread:
’TheessentialSaltesofAnimalsmaybesopreparedandpreserved,thataningeniousManmayhavethewholeArkofNoahinhisownStudie,andraisethefineShapeofanAnimaloutofitsAshesathisPleasure;andbythelykeMethodfromtheessentialSaltesofhumaneDust,aPhilosophermay,withoutanycriminalNecromancy,calluptheShapeofanydeadAncestourfromtheDustwhereintohisBodiehasbeenincinerated.’
ItwasnearthedocksalongthesoutherlypartoftheTownStreet,however,thattheworstthingsweremutteredaboutJosephCurwen.
