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Chapter 4
IntheSmithdiaryfoundbyCharlesWardasingleoft-repeatedcombinationofcharactersisclumsilycopied;andauthoritiesatBrownUniversityhavepronouncedthealphabetAmharicorAbyssinian,althoughtheydonotrecognizetheword.NoneoftheseepistleswaseverdeliveredtoCurwen,thoughthedisappearanceofJedediahOrnefromSalemasrecordedshortlyafterwardshowedthattheProvidencementookcertainquietsteps.ThePennsylvaniaHistoricalSocietyalsohassomecuriouslettersreceivedbyDr.ShippenregardingthepresenceofanunwholesomecharacterinPhiladelphia.Butmoredecisivestepswereintheair,anditisinthesecretassemblagesofswornandtestedsailorsandfaithfuloldprivateersmenintheBrownwarehousesbynightthatwemustlookforthemainfruitsofWeeden’sdisclosures.SlowlyandsurelyaplanofcampaignwasunderdevelopmentwhichwouldleavenotraceofJosephCurwen’snoxiousmysteries.
Curwen,despiteallprecautions,apparentlyfeltthatsomethingwasinthewind;forhewasnowremarkedtowearanunusuallyworriedlook.HiscoachwasseenatallhoursinthetownandonthePawtuxetRoad,andhedroppedlittlebylittletheairofforcedgenialitywithwhichhehadlatterlysoughttocombatthetown’sprejudice.Thenearestneighborstohisfarm,theFenners,onenightremarkedagreatshaftoflightshootingintotheskyfromsomeapertureintheroofofthatcrypticalstonebuildingwiththehigh,excessivelynarrowwindows;aneventwhichtheyquicklycommunicatedtoJohnBrowninProvidence.Mr
