Случай Чарльза Декстера Варда

           Andsinceitappearedunlikelythathecouldhandlehispropertyorcontinuetodealwiththeoutsideworldmuchlonger,somethingmustquicklybedonetowardhisoversightandpossiblecure.Itwasthenthatthealienistswerecalledin,Drs.PeckandWaiteofProvidenceandDr.LymanofBoston,towhomMr.WardandDr.Willettgavethemostexhaustivepossiblehistoryofthecase,andwhoconferredatlengthinthenowunusedlibraryoftheiryoungpatient,examiningwhatbooksandpapersofhiswereleftinordertogainsomefurthernotionofhishabitualmentalcast.AfterscanningthismaterialandexaminingtheominousnotetoWilletttheyallagreedthatCharlesWard’sstudieshadbeenenoughtounseatoratleasttowarpanyordinaryintellect,andwishedmostheartilythattheycouldseehismoreintimatevolumesanddocuments;butthislattertheyknewtheycoulddo,ifatall,onlyafterasceneatthebungalowitself.Willettnowreviewedthewholecasewithfebrileenergy;itbeingatthistimethatheobtainedthestatementsoftheworkmenwhohadseenCharlesfindtheCurwendocuments,andthathecollatedtheincidentsofthedestroyednewspaperitems,lookingupthelatterattheJournaloffice.

           OnThursday,theeighthofMarch,Drs.Willett,Peck,Lyman,andWaite,accompaniedbyMr.Ward,paidtheyouththeirmomentouscall;makingnoconcealmentoftheirobjectandquestioningthenowacknowledgedpatientwithextrememinuteness.