Случай Чарльза Декстера Варда

           Heplannedtoarriveaboutfouro’clock,andthroughalltheinterveninghourswassoengulfedineverysortofwildspeculationthatmostofhistaskswereverymechanicallyperformed.Maniacalastheletterwouldhavesoundedtoastranger,WilletthadseentoomuchofCharlesWard’sodditiestodismissitassheerraving.Thatsomethingverysubtle,ancient,andhorriblewashoveringabouthefeltquitesure,andthereferencetoDr.AllencouldalmostbecomprehendedinviewofwhatPawtuxetgossipsaidofWard’senigmaticalcolleague.Willetthadneverseentheman,buthadheardmuchofhisaspectandbearing,andcouldnotbutwonderwhatsortofeyesthosemuch-discusseddarkglassesmightconceal.

           PromptlyatfourDr.WillettpresentedhimselfattheWardresidence,butfoundtohisannoyancethatCharleshadnotadheredtohisdeterminationtoremainindoors.Theguardswerethere,butsaidthattheyoungmanseemedtohavelostpartofhistimidity.Hehadthatmorningdonemuchapparentlyfrightenedarguingandprotestingoverthetelephone,oneofthedetectivessaid,replyingtosomeunknownvoicewithphrasessuchas’Iamverytiredandmustrestawhile’,’Ican’treceiveanyoneforsometime’,’you’llhavetoexcuseme’,’Pleasepostponedecisiveactiontillwecanarrangesomesortofcompromise’,or’Iamverysorry,butImusttakeacompletevacationfromeverything;I’lltalkwithyoulater.