Тень над Иннсмутом

           NordidIdarelookforthatpieceofstrangejewelrysaidtobeintheMiskatonicUniversityMuseum.Idid,however,improvemystayinArkhambycollectingsomegenealogicalnotesIhadlongwishedtopossess;veryroughandhastydata,itistrue,butcapableofgooduselateronwhenImighthavetimetocollateandcodifythem.Thecuratorofthehistoricalsocietythere—Mr.B.LaphamPeabody—wasverycourteousaboutassistingme,andexpressedunusualinterestwhenItoldhimIwasagrandsonofElizaOrneofArkham,whowasbornin1867andhadmarriedJamesWilliamsonofOhioattheageofseventeen.

           Itseemedthatamaternaluncleofminehadbeentheremanyyearsbeforeonaquestmuchlikemyown;andthatmygrandmother’sfamilywasatopicofsomelocalcuriosity.Therehad,Mr.Peabodysaid,beenconsiderablediscussionaboutthemarriageofherfather,BenjaminOrne,justaftertheCivilWar;sincetheancestryofthebridewaspeculiarlypuzzling.ThatbridewasunderstoodtohavebeenanorphanedMarshofNewHampshire—acousinoftheEssexCountyMarshes—buthereducationhadbeeninFranceandsheknewverylittleofherfamily.AguardianhaddepositedfundsinaBostonbanktomaintainherandherFrenchgoverness;butthatguardian’snamewasunfamiliartoArkhampeople,andintimehedroppedoutofsight,sothatthegovernessassumedtherolebycourtappointment.TheFrenchwoman—nowlongdead—wasverytaciturn,andtherewerethosewhosaidshecouldhavetoldmorethanshedid.