Случай Чарльза Декстера Варда
Chapter 6
Ward’scryhadevidentlybeenheardbyothersthanhe,andtherehadcomeinresponsetoitfrombehindthelockeddoorthefirstdistinguishablewordswhichthatmaskedandterriblecolloquyhadyielded.TheyweremerelyanexcitedcautioninCharles’sownvoice,butsomehowtheirimplicationsheldanamelessfrightforthefatherwhooverheardthem.Thephrasewasjustthis:’Sshh!—write!’
Mr.andMrs.Wardconferredatsomelengthafterdinner,andtheformerresolvedtohaveafirmandserioustalkwithCharlesthatverynight.Nomatterhowimportanttheobject,suchconductcouldnolongerbepermitted;fortheselatestdevelopmentstranscendedeverylimitofsanityandformedamenacetotheorderandnervouswell-beingoftheentirehousehold.Theyouthmustindeedhavetakencompleteleaveofhissenses,sinceonlydownrightmadnesscouldhavepromptedthewildscreamsandimaginaryconversationsinassumedvoiceswhichthepresentdayhadbroughtforth.Allthismustbestopped,orMrs.Wardwouldbemadeillandthekeepingofservantsbecomeanimpossibility.
Mr.WardroseatthecloseofthemealandstartedupstairsforCharles’slaboratory.Onthethirdfloor,however,hepausedatthesoundswhichheheardproceedingfromthenowdisusedlibraryofhisson.Bookswereapparentlybeingflungaboutandpaperswildlyrustled,anduponsteppingtothedoorMr.Wardbeheldtheyouthwithin,excitedlyassemblingavastarmfulofliterarymatterofeverysizeandshape.
