Випадок Чарльза Декстера Варда

           Wardlocatedtheownerofthehouse—asmallrodent-featuredpersonwithagutturalaccent—andobtainedthewholemantelandovermantelbearingthepictureatacurtlyfixedpricewhichcutshorttheimpendingtorrentofunctuoushaggling.

           ItnowremainedtotakeoffthepanelingandremoveittotheWardhome,whereprovisionsweremadeforitsthoroughrestorationandinstallationwithanelectricmock-fireplaceinCharles’sthird-floorstudyorlibrary.ToCharleswasleftthetaskofsuperintendingthisremoval,andonthetwenty-eighthofAugustheaccompaniedtwoexpertworkmenfromtheCrookerdecoratingfirmtothehouseinOlneyCourt,wherethemantelandportrait-bearingovermantelweredetachedwithgreatcareandprecisionfortransportationinthecompany’smotortruck.Therewasleftaspaceofexposedbrickworkmarkingthechimney’scourse,andinthisyoungWardobservedacubicalrecessaboutafootsquare,whichmusthavelaindirectlybehindtheheadoftheportrait.Curiousastowhatsuchaspacemightmeanorcontain,theyouthapproachedandlookedwithin;findingbeneaththedeepcoatingsofdustandsootsomelooseyellowedpapers,acrude,thickcopybook,andafewmoulderingtextileshredswhichmayhaveformedtheribbonbindingtheresttogether.Blowingawaythebulkofthedirtandcinders,hetookupthebookandlookedattheboldinscriptiononitscover.ItwasinahandwhichhehadlearnedtorecognizeattheEssexInstitute,andproclaimedthevolumeasthe’JournallandNotesofJos:Curwen,Gent