Chapter 4

           Bytheautumnof1770Weedendecidedthatthetimewasripetotellothersofhisdiscoveries;forhehadalargenumberoffactstolinktogether,andasecondeye-witnesstorefutethepossiblechargethatjealousyandvindictivenesshadspurredhisfancy.AshisfirstconfidantheselectedCapt.JamesMathewsonoftheEnterprise,whoontheonehandknewhimwellenoughnottodoubthisveracity,andontheotherhandwassufficientlyinfluentialinthetowntobeheardinturnwithrespect.ThecolloquytookplaceinanupperroomofSabin’sTavernnearthedocks,withSmithpresenttocorroboratevirtuallyeverystatement;anditcouldbeseenthatCapt.Mathewsonwastremendouslyimpressed.Likenearlyeveryoneelseinthetown,hehadhadblacksuspicionsofhisownanentJosephCurwen;henceitneededonlythisconfirmationandenlargementofdatatoconvincehimabsolutely.Attheendoftheconferencehewasverygrave,andenjoinedstrictsilenceuponthetwoyoungermen.Hewould,hesaid,transmittheinformationseparatelytosometenorsoofthemostlearnedandprominentcitizensofProvidence;ascertainingtheirviewsandfollowingwhateveradvicetheymighthavetooffer.Secrecywouldprobablybeessentialinanycase,forthiswasnomatterthatthetownconstablesormilitiacouldcopewith;andaboveallelsetheexcitablecrowdmustbekeptinignorance,lesttherebeenactedinthesealreadytroubloustimesarepetitionofthatfrightfulSalempanicoflessthanacenturybeforewhichhadfirstbroughtCurwenhither.