Случай Чарльза Декстера Варда

           Therewerecries,theysaid,andsustainedhowlings;andtheydidnotlikethelargenumbersoflivestockwhichthrongedthepastures,fornosuchamountwasneededtokeepaloneoldmanandaveryfewservantsinmeat,milk,andwool.TheidentityofthestockseemedtochangefromweektoweekasnewdroveswerepurchasedfromtheKingstownfarmers.Then,too,therewassomethingveryobnoxiousaboutacertaingreatstoneoutbuildingwithonlyhighnarrowslitsforwindows.

           GreatBridgeidlerslikewisehadmuchtosayofCurwen’stownhouseinOlneyCourt;notsomuchthefinenewonebuiltin1761,whenthemanmusthavebeennearlyacenturyold,butthefirstlowgambrel-roofedonewiththewindowlessatticandshingledsides,whosetimbershetookthepeculiarprecautionofburningafteritsdemolition.Heretherewaslessmystery,itistrue;butthehoursatwhichlightswereseen,thesecretivenessofthetwoswarthyforeignerswhocomprisedtheonlymenservants,thehideousindistinctmumblingoftheincrediblyagedFrenchhousekeeper,thelargeamountsoffoodseentoenteradoorwithinwhichonlyfourpersonslived,andthequalityofcertainvoicesoftenheardinmuffledconversationathighlyunseasonabletimes,allcombinedwithwhatwasknownofthePawtuxetfarmtogivetheplaceabadname.