Випадок Чарльза Декстера Варда

           Withtrulyscholarlyrestrainttheyouthdidnotriskthedamagewhichanimmediateattempttouncoverthehiddenpicturewiththeknifemighthavebeen,butjustretiredfromthesceneofhisdiscoverytoenlistexperthelp.Inthreedayshereturnedwithanartistoflongexperience,Mr.WalterC.Dwight,whosestudioisnearthefootofCollegeHill;andthataccomplishedrestorerofpaintingssettoworkatoncewithpropermethodsandchemicalsubstances.OldAsaandhiswifeweredulyexcitedovertheirstrangevisitors,andwereproperlyreimbursedforthisinvasionoftheirdomestichearth.

           Asdaybythedaytheworkofrestorationprogressed,CharlesWardlookedonwithgrowinginterestatthelinesandshadesgraduallyunveiledaftertheirlongoblivion.Dwighthadbegunatthebottom;hencesincethepicturewasathree-quarter-lengthone,thefacedidnotcomeoutforsometime.Itwasmeanwhileseenthatthesubjectwasaspare,well-shapedmanwithdark-bluecoat,embroideredwaistcoat,blacksatinsmall-clothes,andwhitesilkstockings,seatedinacarvedchairagainstthebackgroundofawindowwithwharvesandshipsbeyond.WhentheheadcameoutitwasobservedtobearaneatAlbemarlewig,andtopossessathin,calm,undistinguishedfacewhichseemedsomehowfamiliartobothWardandtheartist.Onlyattheverylast,though,didtherestorerandhisclientbegintograspwithastonishmentatthedetailsofthatlean,pallidvisage,andtorecognizewithatouchofawethedramatictrickwhichheredityhadplayed.