Случай Чарльза Декстера Варда

           Thegoodmanhadbeenhideouslyshocked,andcouldneverrecallJosephCurwenwithoutavisiblelossofthegayurbanityforwhichhewasfamed.

           Moredefinite,however,wasthereasonwhyanothermanoftasteandbreedingavoidedthehaughtyhermit.In1746Mr.JohnMerritt,anelderlyEnglishgentlemanofliteraryandscientificleanings,camefromNewporttothetownwhichwassorapidlyovertakingitinstanding,andbuiltafinecountryseatontheNeckinwhatisnowtheheartofthebestresidencesection.Helivedinconsiderablestyleandcomfort,keepingthefirstcoachandliveriedservantsintown,andtakinggreatprideinhistelescope,hismicroscope,andhiswell-chosenlibraryofEnglishandLatinbooks.HearingofCurwenastheownerofthebestlibraryinProvidence,Mr.Merrittearlypaidhimacall,andwasmorecordiallyreceivedthanmostothercallersatthehousehadbeen.Hisadmirationforhishost’sampleshelves,whichbesidestheGreek,Latin,andEnglishclassicswereequippedwitharemarkablebatteryofphilosophical,mathematical,andscientificworksincludingParacelsus,Agricola,VanHelmont,Sylvius,Glauber,Boyle,Boerhaave,Becher,andStahl,ledCurwentosuggestavisittothefarmhouseandlaboratorywhitherhehadneverinvitedanyonebefore;andthetwodroveoutatonceinMr.Merritt’scoach.

           Mr.