Chapter 3

           In1766camethefinalchangeinJosephCurwen.Itwasverysudden,andgainedwidenoticeamongstthecurioustownsfolk;fortheairofsuspenseandexpectancydroppedlikeanoldcloak,givinginstantplacetoanill-concealedexaltationofperfecttriumph.Curwenseemedtohavedifficultyinrestraininghimselffrompublicharanguesonwhathehadfoundorlearnedormade;butapparentlytheneedofsecrecywasgreaterthanthelongingtosharehisrejoicing,fornoexplanationwaseverofferedbyhim.Itwasafterthistransition,whichappearstohavecomeearlyinJuly,thatthesinisterscholarbegantoastonishpeoplebyhispossessionofinformationwhichonlytheirlong-deadancestorswouldseemtobeabletoimpart.

           ButCurwen’sfeverishsecretactivitiesbynomeansceasedwiththischange.Onthecontrary,theytendedrathertoincrease;sothatmoreandmoreofhisshippingbusinesswashandledbythecaptainswhomhenowboundtohimbytiesoffearaspotentasthoseofbankruptcyhadbeen.Healtogetherabandonedtheslavetrade,allegingthatitsprofitswereconstantlydecreasing.EverypossiblemomentwasspentatthePawtuxetfarm;althoughtherewererumorsnowandthenofhispresenceinplaceswhich,thoughnotactuallyneargraveyards,wereyetsosituatedinrelationtograveyardsthatthoughtfulpeoplewonderedjusthowthoroughtheoldmerchant’schangeofhabitsreallywas.