Случай Чарльза Декстера Варда

           ’TwasNumber118,andIconceiveyouwouldhaveshookhadyoulookeditupinmylistint’otherroom.’Twasneverraisedbyme,butImeanttohaveitupthatdayyoucametoinvitemehither.’

           ThenWilletttoldoftheformulahehadspokenandofthegreenish-blacksmokewhichhadarisen;andashedidsohesawtruefeardawnforthefirsttimeonCharlesWard’sface.’Itcame,andyoubeherealive?’AsWardcroakedthewordshisvoiceseemedalmosttoburstfreeofitstrammelsandsinktocavernousabyssesofuncannyresonance.Willett,giftedwithaflashofinspiration,believedhesawthesituation,andwoveintohisreplyacautionfromaletterheremembered.’No.118,yousay?Butdon’tforgetthatstonesareallchangednowinninegroundsoutoften.Youareneversuretillyouquestion!’Andthen,withoutwarning,hedrewforththeminusculemessageandflasheditbeforethepatient’seyes.Hecouldhavewishednostrongerresult,forCharlesWardfaintedforthwith.

           Allthisconversation,ofcourse,hadbeenconductedwiththegreatestsecrecylesttheresidentalienistsaccusethefatherandthephysicianofencouragingamadmaninhisdelusions.Unaided,too,Dr.WillettandMr.Wardpickedupthestrickenyouthandplacedhimonthecouch.Inreviving,thepatientmumbledmanytimesofsomewordwhichhemustgettoOrneandHutchinsonatonce;sowhenhisconsciousnessseemedfullybackthedoctortoldhimthatofthosestrangecreaturesatleastonewashisbitterenemy,andhadgivenDr.Allenadviceforhisassassination.