Случай Чарльза Декстера Варда
Chapter 3
",whowouldcometoremovehisgoodsinalighterjustoffNamquitPointandwhoseidentityCapt.Arrudafelthimselfinhonorboundnottoreveal.TheVice-AdmiraltyatNewport,atalosswhattodoinviewofthenon-contrabandnatureofthecargoontheonehandandoftheunlawfulsecrecyoftheentryontheotherhand,compromisedonCollectorRobinson’srecommendationbyfreeingtheshipbutforbiddingitaportinRhodeIslandwaters.TherewerelaterrumorsofitshavingbeenseeninBostonHarbor,thoughitneveropenlyenteredthePortofBoston.
ThisextraordinaryincidentdidnotfailofwideremarkinProvidence,andtherewerenotmanywhodoubtedtheexistenceofsomeconnectionbetweenthecargoofmummiesandthesinisterJosephCurwen.Hisexoticstudiesandhiscuriouschemicalimportationsbeingcommonknowledge,andhisfondnessforgraveyardsbeingcommonsuspicion;itdidnottakemuchimaginationtolinkhimwithafreakishimportationwhichcouldnotconceivablyhavebeendestinedforanyoneelseinthetown.Asifconsciousofthisnaturalbelief,Curwentookcaretospeakcasuallyonseveraloccasionsofthechemicalvalueofthebalsamsfoundinmummies;thinkingperhapsthathemightmaketheaffairseemlessunnatural,yetstoppingjustshortofadmittinghisparticipation.WeedenandSmith,ofcourse,feltnodoubtwhatsoeverofthesignificanceofthething;andindulgedinthewildesttheoriesconcerningCurwenandhismonstrouslabors.
