Случай Чарльза Декстера Варда
Chapter 3
Willettreaditoveragain,andcouldnotmakeitsessencesoundasemptyandinsaneasbothitsbombasticverbiageanditslackoffulfillmentwouldseemtoimply.Itsterrorwastooprofoundandreal,andinconjunctionwithwhatthedoctoralreadyknewevokedtoovividhintsofmonstrositiesfrombeyondtimeandspacetopermitofanycynicalexplanation.Therewerenamelesshorrorsabroad;andnomatterhowlittleonemightbeabletogetatthem,oneoughttostandpreparedforanysortofactionatanytime.
ForoveraweekDr.Willettponderedonthedilemmawhichseemedthrustuponhim,andbecamemoreandmoreinclinedtopayCharlesacallatthePawtuxetbungalow.Nofriendoftheyouthhadeverventuredtostormthisforbiddenretreat,andevenhisfatherknewofitsinterioronlyfromsuchdescriptionsashechosetogive;butWillettfeltthatsomedirectconversationwithhispatientwasnecessary.Mr.Wardhadbeenreceivingbriefandnon-committaltypednotesfromhisson,andsaidthatMrs.WardinherAtlanticCityretirementhadhadnobetterword.Soatlengththedoctorresolvedtoact;anddespiteacurioussensationinspiredbyoldlegendsofJosephCurwen,andbymorerecentrevelationsandwarningsfromCharlesWard,setboldlyoutforthebungalowonthebluffabovetheriver.
Willetthadvisitedthespotbeforethroughsheercuriosity,thoughofcourseneverenteringthehouseorproclaiminghispresence;henceknewexactlytheroutetotake.
