Случай Чарльза Декстера Варда
Chapter 1
Thenhedecidedoneliminationasapolicy,andwentcarefullyoverthewholesubterraneansurfacebothverticalandhorizontal,tryingtoaccountforeveryinchseparately.Hewassoonsubstantiallynarroweddown,andatlasthadnothingleftbutthesmallplatformbeforethewashtubs,whichhetriedoncebeforeinvain.Nowexperimentingineverypossibleway,andexertingadoublestrength,hefinallyfoundthatthetopdidindeedturnandslidehorizontallyonacornerpivot.Beneathitlayatrimconcretesurfacewithanironmanhole,towhichMr.Wardatoncerushedwithexcitedzeal.Thecoverwasnothardtolift,andthefatherhadquiteremoveditwhenWillettnoticedthequeernessofhisaspect.Hewasswayingandnoddingdizzily,andinthegustofnoxiousairwhichsweptupfromtheblackpitbeneaththedoctorsoonrecognizedamplecause.
InamomentDr.Willetthadhisfaintingcompanionontheflooraboveandwasrevivinghimwithcoldwater.Mr.Wardrespondedfeebly,butitcouldbeseenthatthemephiticblastfromthecrypthadinsomewaygravelysickenedhim.Wishingtotakenochances,WilletthastenedouttoBroadStreetforataxicabandhadsoondispatchedthesuffererhomedespitehisweak-voicedprotests;afterwhichheproducedanelectrictorch,coveredhisnostrilswithabandofsterilegauze,anddescendedoncemoretopeerintothenew-founddepths.Thefoulairhadnowslightlyabated,andWillettwasabletosendabeamoflightdowntheStygianhold
