Случай Чарльза Декстера Варда
Chapter 4
InpayingoffthestolidBravawhoresistedallquestioningbythevisitors,andinclosingthebungalowwhichstillseemedtoholdsuchnightedsecrets,Wardshowednosignsofnervousnesssaveabarelynoticedtendencytopauseasthoughlisteningforsomethingveryfaint.Hewasapparentlyanimatedbyacalmlyphilosophicresignation,asifheremovalwerethemeresttransientincidentwhichwouldcausetheleasttroubleiffacilitatedanddisposedofonceandforall.Itwasclearthathetrustedtohisobviouslyunimpairedkeennessofabsolutementalitytoovercomealltheembarrassmentsintowhichhistwistedmemory,hislostvoiceandhandwriting,andhissecretiveandeccentricbehaviorhadledhim.Hismother,itwasagreed,wasnottobetoldofthechange;hisfathersupplyingtypednotesinhisname.WardwastakentotherestfullyandpicturesquelysituatedprivatehospitalmaintainedbyDr.WaiteonConanicutIslandinthebay,andsubjectedtotheclosestscrutinyandquestioningbyallthephysiciansconnectedwiththecase.Itwasthenthatthephysicalodditieswerenoticed;theslackenedmetabolism,thealteredskin,andthedisproportionateneuralreactions.Dr.Willettwasthemostperturbedofthevariousexaminers,forhehadattendedWardallhislifeandcouldappreciatewithterriblekeennesstheextentofhisphysicaldisorganization.
