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Chapter 2
InthefullergleamitappearedthatthisapartmentwasnothinglessthanthelateststudyorlibraryofCharlesWard.Ofthebooksthedoctorhadseenmanybefore,andagoodpartofthefurniturehadplainlycomefromtheProspectStreetmansion.HereandtherewasapiecewellknowntoWillett,andthesenseoffamiliaritybecamesogreatthathehalfforgotthenoisomenessandthewailing,bothofwhichwereplainerherethantheyhadbeenatthefootofthesteps.Hisfirstduty,asplannedlongahead,wastofindandseizeanypaperswhichmightseemofvitalimportance;especiallythoseportentousdocumentsfoundbyCharlessolongagobehindthepictureinOlneyCourt.Ashesearchheperceivedhowstupendousataskthefinalunravelingwouldbe;forfileonfilewasstuffedwithpapersincurioushandsandbearingcuriousdesigns,sothatmonthsorevenyearsmightbeneededforathoroughdecipheringandediting.OncehefoundthreelargepacketsofletterswithPragueandRakuspostmarks,andinwritingclearlyrecognizableasOrne’sandHutchinson’s;allofwhichhetookwithhimaspartofthebundletoberemovedinhisvalise.
Atlast,inalockedmahoganycabinetoncegracingtheWardhome,WillettfoundthebatchofoldCurwenpapers;recognizingthemfromthereluctantglimpseCharleshadgrantedhimsomanyyearsago.Theyouthhadevidentlykeptthemtogetherverymuchastheyhadbeenwhenfirsthefoundthem,sinceallthetitlesrecalledbytheworkmenwerepresentexceptthepapersaddressedtoOrneandHutchinson,andthecipherwithitskey.
