Случай Чарльза Декстера Варда

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           Willettwasstudyingthesescrapingtoneswithextremecare,butstudyingevenmorecloselythefaceofthespeaker.Something,hefelt,waswrong;andhethoughtofwhatthefamilyhadtoldhimaboutthefrightofthatYorkshirebutleronenight.Hewisheditwerenotsodark,butdidnotrequestthattheblindbeopened.Instead,hemerelyaskedWardwhyhehadsobeliedthefranticnoteoflittlemorethanaweekbefore.

           ’Iwascomingtothat,’thehostreplied.’Youmustknow,Iaminaverybadstateofnerves,anddoandsayqueerthingsIcannotaccountfor.AsIhavetoldyouoften,Iamontheedgeofgreatmatters;andthebignessofthemhasawayofmakingmelight-headed.AnymanmightwellbefrightedofwhatIhavefound,butIamnottobeputoffforlong.Iwasaduncetohavethatguardandstickathome;forhavinggonethisfar,myplaceishere.Iamnotwellspokeofmypryingneighbors,andperhapsIwasledbyweaknesstobelievemyselfwhattheysayofme.ThereisnoeviltoanyinwhatIdo,solongasIdoitrightly.Havethegoodnesstowaitsixmonths,andI’llshowyouwhatwillpayyourpatiencewell.’

           ’YoumayaswellknowIhaveawayoflearningoldmattersfromthingssurerthanbooks,andI’llleaveyoutojudgetheimportanceofwhatIcangivetohistory,philosophy,andtheartsbyreasonofthedoorsIhaveaccessto.MyancestorhadallthiswhenthosewitlesspeepingTomscameandmurderedhim.Inowhaveitagain,oramcomingveryimperfectlytohaveapartofit.