Случай Чарльза Декстера Варда
Chapter 1
Asfornow—Idon’tliketothink.Achangecame,andI’mcontenttobelievethattheoldCharlesWarddiedwithit.Hissouldid,anyhow,forthatmadfleshthatvanishedfromWaite’shospitalhadanother.’
Willettspeakswithauthority,forhewasoftenattheWardhomeattendingMrs.Ward,whosenerveshadbeguntosnapunderthestrain.Hernocturnallisteninghadbredsomemorbidhallucinationswhichsheconfidedtothedoctorwithhesitancy,andwhichheridiculedintalkingtoher,althoughtheymadehimponderdeeplywhenalone.Thesedelusionsalwaysconcerningthefaintsoundswhichshefanciedsheheardintheatticlaboratoryandbedroom,andemphasizedtheoccurrenceofmuffledsighsandsobbingsatthemostimpossibletimes.EarlyinJulyWillettorderedMrs.WardtoAtlanticCityforanindefiniterecuperativesojourn,andcautionedbothMr.WardandthehaggardandelusiveCharlestowriteheronlycheeringletters.Itisprobablytothisenforcedandreluctantescapethatsheowesherlifeandcontinuedsanity.
