Случай Чарльза Декстера Варда
Chapter 3
Thinkhewouldnot;buthestrainedhiseyesineverydirectionforsomefaintglintorreflectionofthebrightilluminationhehadleftinthelibrary.Afterawhilehethoughthedetectedasuspicionofaglowinfinitelyfaraway,andtowardthishecrawledinagonizedcautiononhandsandkneesamidstthestenchandhowling,alwaysfeelingaheadlesthecollidewiththenumerousgreatpillarsorstumbleintotheabominablepithehaduncovered.
Oncehisshakingfingerstouchedsomethingwhichheknewmustbethestepsleadingtothehellishaltar,andfromthisspotherecoiledinloathing.Atanothertimeheencounteredthepiercedslabhehadremoved,andherehiscautionbecamealmostpitiful.Buthedidnotcomeuponthedreadapertureafterall,nordidanythingissuefromthataperturetodetainhim.Whathadbeendowntheremadenosoundnorstir.Evidentlyitscrunchingofthefallenelectrictorchhadnotbeengoodforit.EachtimeWillett’sfingersfeltaperforatedslabhetrembled.Hispassageoveritwouldsometimesincreasethegroaningbelow,butgenerallyitwouldproducenoeffectatall,sincehemovedverynoiselessly.Severaltimesduringhisprogresstheglowaheaddiminishedperceptibly,andherealizedthatthevariouscandlesandlampshehadleftmustbeexpiringonebyone
