THEREPAIREROFREPUTATIONS
I
Neraillonspaslesfous;
leurfoliedurepluslongtempsquelanôtre....
Voilatouteladifférence."
Towardthe
نهاية
endoftheyear1920theحكومة
GovernmentoftheUnitedStateshadpracticallycompletedtheprogramme,adoptedخلال
duringthelastmonthsofالرئيس
PresidentWinthrop'sadministration.Thecountrywas
يبدو
apparentlytranquil.EverybodyknowshowtheTariffandLabourquestionsweresettled.
The
الحرب
warwithGermany,incidentonthatcountry'sالاستيلاء
seizureoftheSamoanIslands,hadleftأي
novisiblescarsupontheالجمهورية
republic,andthetemporaryoccupationofNorfolkbytheinvadingالجيش
armyhadbeenforgottenintheالفرح
joyoverrepeatednavalvictories,andtheاللاحقة
subsequentridiculousplightofGeneralVonGartenlaube'sforcesintheStateofNewJersey.TheCubanandHawaiianinvestmentshadpaidone
مائة
hundredpercentandtheأراضي
territoryofSamoawaswellتستحق
worthitscostasacoalingstation.The
البلاد
countrywasinasuperbحالة
stateofdefence.Everycoast
مدينة
cityhadbeenwellsuppliedwithlandfortifications;في
thearmyundertheparentalعين
eyeoftheGeneralStaff,organizedaccordingtoفي
thePrussiansystem,hadbeenincreasedto300,000men,مع
withaterritorialreserveofaمليون
million;andsixmagnificentsquadronsofcruisersandbattle-shipspatrolled
في
thesixstationsofthenavigableseas,leavingعلى
asteamreserveamplyfittedtocontrolhomewaters.Thegentlemenfromthe
الغرب
Westhadatlastbeenconstrainedtoالاعتراف
acknowledgethatacollegeforthetrainingofdiplomatswasasضرورية
necessaryaslawschoolsareforthetrainingofbarristers;consequentlywewerenolongerrepresented
الخارج
abroadbyincompetentpatriots.The
الأمة
nationwasprosperous;Chicago,foramomentparalyzed
بعد
afterasecondgreatfire,hadrisenfromitsruins,whiteandimperial,andmorebeautifulthanthewhiteالمدينة
citywhichhadbeenbuiltforitsplaythingin1893.Everywhere
الجيدة
goodarchitecturewasreplacingbad,andeveninNewYork,asuddencravingfordecencyhadsweptawayagreatportionoftheexistinghorrors.Streetshadbeenwidened,
صحيح
properlypavedandlighted,treeshadbeenplanted,squareslaidout,elevatedstructuresdemolishedandundergroundroadsbuilttoreplacethem.The
الجديدة
newgovernmentbuildingsandbarrackswerefinebitsofarchitecture,andtheالطويل
longsystemofstonequaysالتي
whichcompletelysurroundedtheislandhadbeenturnedintoparksالتي
whichprovedagod-sendtothepopulation.Thesubsidizingofthestate
المسرح
theatreandstateoperabroughtitsالخاصة
ownreward.TheUnitedStates
الوطنية
NationalAcademyofDesignwasmuchlikeEuropeaninstitutionsofفي
thesamekind.Nobodyenvied
في
theSecretaryofFineArts,سواء
eitherhiscabinetpositionorhisportfolio.The
أمين
SecretaryofForestryandGamePreservationhadعلى
amucheasiertime,thankstothenewالنظام
systemofNationalMountedPolice.Wehadprofited
جيد
wellbythelatesttreatiesمع
withFranceandEngland;theexclusionofforeign-bornJewsas
على
ameasureofself-preservation,thesettlementoftheالجديدة
newindependentnegrostateofSuanee,thecheckingofالهجرة
immigration,thenewlawsconcerningnaturalization,andthegradualcentralizationofالسلطة
powerintheexecutiveallcontributedtonationalالهدوء
calmandprosperity.Whenthe
الحكومة
GovernmentsolvedtheIndianproblemandsquadronsofIndianالفرسان
cavalryscoutsinnativecostumeweresubstitutedforthepitiableorganizationstackedontotheذيل
tailofskeletonizedregimentsbyaformerوزير
SecretaryofWar,thenationdrewalongsighofrelief.عندما
When,afterthecolossalCongressofReligions,bigotryandintolerancewerelaidintheirgravesandاللطف
kindnessandcharitybegantodrawwarringsectstogether,manythoughttheالألفية
millenniumhadarrived,atleastinthenewworldالذي
whichafterallisaworldbyitself.لكن
Butself-preservationisthefirstالقانون
law,andtheUnitedStateshadtolookoninعاجز
helplesssorrowasGermany,Italy,SpainandBelgiumwrithedinthethroesofAnarchy,whileRussia,watchingfromtheCaucasus,stoopedandboundthemواحدة
onebyone.Inthe
مدينة
cityofNewYorktheصيف
summerof1899wassignalizedbythedismantlingoftheElevatedRailroads.The
صيف
summerof1900willliveinthememoriesofNewYorkpeopleformanyacycle;the
دودج
DodgeStatuewasremovedinthatالسنة
year.Inthefollowingwinterbeganthatagitationfortherepealofthelawsprohibiting
الانتحار
suicidewhichboreitsfinalfruitintheشهر
monthofApril,1920,whentheأول
firstGovernmentLethalChamberwasopenedonWashingtonساحة
Square.Ihadwalkeddown
ذلك
thatdayfromDr.Archer'sمنزل
houseonMadisonAvenue,whereIhadbeenasaمجرد
mereformality.Eversincethatfallfrommyhorse,
أربع
fouryearsbefore,Ihadbeentroubledattimeswithpainsintheالخلفي
backofmyheadandneck,butالآن
nowformonthstheyhadbeenabsent,andtheالطبيب
doctorsentmeawaythatاليوم
daysayingtherewasnothingmoretobecuredinme.Itwashardly
يستحق
worthhisfeetobetoldthat;Iknewitmyself.
StillIdidnotgrudgehimthe
المال
money.WhatImindedwasthe
الخطأ
mistakewhichhemadeatfirst.Whentheypickedmeupfromthe
الرصيف
pavementwhereIlayunconscious,andأحدهم
somebodyhadmercifullysentaرصاصة
bulletthroughmyhorse'shead,IwascarriedtoDr.آرتشر
Archer,andhe,pronouncingmybrainaffected,placedmeinhisprivateasylumحيث
whereIwasobligedtoتحمل
enduretreatmentforinsanity.Atlasthedecided
أن
thatIwaswell,andI,knowingأن
thatmymindhadalwaysbeenassoundashis,ifnotsounder,"paidmytuition"ashejokinglycalledit,andleft.Itold
منه
him,smiling,thatIwouldgetevenwithhimforhismistake,andhelaughedheartily,andaskedmetocallonceinعلى
awhile.Ididso,hopingfor
على
achancetoevenupaccounts,لكنه
buthegavemenone,andItoldhimIwouldwait.Thefallfrommyhorsehadfortunatelyleft
أي
noevilresults;onthe
العكس
contraryithadchangedmywholecharacterforthebetter.Froma
كسول
lazyyoungmanabouttown,Ihadأصبحت
becomeactive,energetic,temperate,andفوق
aboveall—oh,aboveallelse—ambitious.هناك
Therewasonlyonethingwhichtroubledme,Ilaughedatmyownuneasiness,andyetittroubledme.خلال
DuringmyconvalescenceIhadboughtandreadforthefirsttime,Theالملك
KinginYellow.Iremember
بعد
afterfinishingthefirstactthatitoccurredtomethatIhadالأفضل
betterstop.Istartedupandflung
في
thebookintothefireplace;thevolumestruckthebarredgrateandfell
مفتوحة
openonthehearthinthefirelight.لو
IfIhadnotcaughtعلى
aglimpseoftheopeningwordsinthesecondactIshouldلم
neverhavefinishedit,butasIstoopedtopickitup,myeyesbecamerivetedtotheopenpage,andwithعلى
acryofterror,orربما
perhapsitwasofjoysopoignantthatIsufferedinكل
everynerve,Isnatchedtheالشيء
thingoutofthecoalsandcreptshakingtomybedroom,حيث
whereIreaditandrereadit,andweptandlaughedandtrembledwithعلى
ahorrorwhichattimesassailsmeyet.Thisisthe
الشيء
thingthattroublesme,forIcannotforgetCarcosaحيث
whereblackstarshangintheheavens;حيث
wheretheshadowsofmen'sthoughtslengthenintheالظهيرة
afternoon,whenthetwinsunsتغرق
sinkintothelakeofHali;andmymindwillbearforeverthe
ذكرى
memoryofthePallidMask.Ipray
الله
Godwillcursethewriter,astheالكاتب
writerhascursedtheworldwiththisbeautiful,stupendousالخلق
creation,terribleinitssimplicity,لا يقاوم
irresistibleinitstruth—aworldwhichالآن
nowtremblesbeforetheKinginالأصفر
Yellow.WhentheFrenchGovernmentseizedthetranslatedcopies
التي
whichhadjustarrivedinParis,London,ofالحال
course,becameeagertoreadit.Itiswellknown
كيف
howthebookspreadlikeaninfectiousdisease,fromمدينة
citytocity,fromcontinenttoقارة
continent,barredouthere,confiscatedthere,denouncedbyالصحافة
Pressandpulpit,censuredevenbytheالأكثر
mostadvancedofliteraryanarchists.أي
Nodefiniteprincipleshadbeenviolatedinتلك
thosewickedpages,nodoctrinepromulgated,أي
noconvictionsoutraged.Itcouldnotbejudgedbyanyknown
معيار
standard,yet,althoughitwasacknowledgedthattheالعليا
supremenoteofarthadbeenstruckinTheالملك
KinginYellow,allfeltthatالبشرية
humannaturecouldnotbearthestrain,لا
northriveonwordsinwhichtheجوهر
essenceofpurestpoisonlurked.في
Theverybanalityandinnocenceofفي
thefirstactonlyallowedفي
theblowtofallafterwardمع
withmoreawfuleffect.Itwas,I
أتذكر
remember,the13thdayofأبريل
April,1920,thatthefirstحكومية
GovernmentLethalChamberwasestablishedontheالجنوبية
southsideofWashingtonSquare,بين
betweenWoosterStreetandSouthالخامسة
FifthAvenue.Theblockwhichhadformerlyconsistedofalotofshabby
القديمة
oldbuildings,usedascafésandrestaurantsforforeigners,hadbeenacquiredbytheالحكومة
Governmentinthewinterof1898.TheFrenchandItaliancafésandrestaurantsweretorndown;
thewhole
الكتلة
blockwasenclosedbyagildedحديدي
ironrailing,andconvertedintoaجميلة
lovelygardenwithlawns,flowersandfountains.Inthecentreofthe
الحديقة
gardenstoodasmall,whiteمبنى
building,severelyclassicalinarchitecture,andsurroundedbythicketsofflowers.ستة
SixIoniccolumnssupportedtheroof,andthesingledoorwasofbronze.A
رائعة
splendidmarblegroupofthe"Fates"stoodأمام
beforethedoor,theworkofaالشاب
youngAmericansculptor,BorisYvain,whohaddiedinParisعندما
whenonlytwenty-threeyearsold.TheinaugurationceremonieswereinprogressasIcrossed
الجامعة
UniversityPlaceandenteredtheساحة
square.Ithreadedmyway
خلال
throughthesilentthrongofspectators,butwasstoppedatFourthالشارع
Streetbyacordonofالشرطة
police.AregimentofUnitedStateslancersweredrawnupinahollow
مربع
squareroundtheLethalChamber.OnaraisedtribunefacingWashington
حديقة
ParkstoodtheGovernorofNewYork,و
andbehindhimweregroupedtheرئيس بلدية
MayorofNewYorkandBrooklyn,theInspector-GeneralofPolice,theCommandantofthestatetroops,ColonelLivingston,العسكرية
militaryaidtothePresidentoftheالمتحدة
UnitedStates,GeneralBlount,commandingatGovernor'sجزيرة
Island,Major-GeneralHamilton,commandingtheحامية
garrisonofNewYorkandBrooklyn,AdmiralBuffbyoftheالأسطول
fleetintheNorthRiver,Surgeon-GeneralLanceford,thestaffoftheNationalFreeالمستشفى
Hospital,SenatorsWyseandFranklinofNewYork,و
andtheCommissionerofPublicWorks.ThetribunewassurroundedbyasquadronofhussarsoftheNationalGuard.
The
الحاكم
Governorwasfinishinghisreplytotheshortالخطاب
speechoftheSurgeon-General.Iheardhim
يقول
say:"Thelawsprohibitingsuicideandprovidingpunishmentfor
أي
anyattemptatself-destructionhavebeenrepealed.في
TheGovernmenthasseenfittoالاعتراف
acknowledgetherightofmantoإنهاء
endanexistencewhichmayhaveيصبح
becomeintolerabletohim,throughالجسدية
physicalsufferingormentaldespair.Itisbelieved
أن
thatthecommunitywillbebenefitedbytheإزالة
removalofsuchpeoplefromtheirmidst.منذ
Sincethepassageofthislaw,theعدد
numberofsuicidesintheالمتحدة
UnitedStateshasnotincreased.Nowthe
الحكومة
Governmenthasdeterminedtoestablishعلى
aLethalChamberineverycity,townandvillageintheالبلاد
country,itremainstobeseenwhetherornotthatالفئة
classofhumancreaturesfromwhosedespondingranksnewvictimsofself-destructionfalldailywillacceptthereliefthusprovided."Hepaused,andturnedtothe
البيضاء
whiteLethalChamber.Thesilenceinthe
الشارع
streetwasabsolute."Thereapainless
موت
deathawaitshimwhocanلا
nolongerbearthesorrowsofهذه
thislife.Ifdeathis
ترحيب
welcomelethimseekitthere."Thenquicklyturningtothe
العسكرية
militaryaidofthePresident'shousehold,hesaid,"IdeclaretheLethalالغرفة
Chamberopen,"andagainfacingthevastالحشد
crowdhecriedinaclearvoice:"CitizensofNewYorkandofthe
المتحدة
UnitedStatesofAmerica,throughmetheالحكومة
GovernmentdeclarestheLethalChambertobeopen."The
الرسمي
solemnhushwasbrokenbyعلى
asharpcryofcommand,thesquadronofhussarsfiledaftertheGovernor'sعربة
carriage,thelancerswheeledandformedalongالخامسة
FifthAvenuetowaitforthecommandantoftheالحامية
garrison,andthemountedpolicefollowedthem.Ileftthe
الحشد
crowdtogapeandstareatthewhiteالرخام
marbleDeathChamber,and,crossingSouthالخامسة
FifthAvenue,walkedalongthewesternالجانب
sideofthatthoroughfaretoBleeckerStreet.ThenIturnedtotherightandstopped
أمام
beforeadingyshopwhichborethesign:.HAWBERK,ARMOURER.
Iglancedinatthe
المدخل
doorwayandsawHawberkbusyinhisالصغير
littleshopattheendofthehall.Helookedup,andcatchingsightofmecriedinhis
العميق
deep,heartyvoice,"Comein,Mr.Castaigne!"Constance,his
ابنته
daughter,rosetomeetmeasIcrossedthethreshold,andheldoutherprettyhand,butIsawtheblushofخيبة
disappointmentonhercheeks,andknewthatitwasآخر
anotherCastaigneshehadexpected,mycousinLouis.Ismiledatherconfusionandcomplimentedheronthebannershewasembroideringfromacoloured
لوحة
plate.OldHawberksatrivetingtheworngreavesof
بعض
someancientsuitofarmour,و
andtheting!ting!
ting!
ofhis
صغيرة
littlehammersoundedpleasantlyinthequaintshop.الوقت الحاضر
Presentlyhedroppedhishammer,andfussedعن
aboutforamomentwithaصغير
tinywrench.Thesoftclashofthemailsentathrillof
المتعة
pleasurethroughme.Ilovedtohearthe
موسيقى
musicofsteelbrushingagainstالفولاذ
steel,themellowshockofthemalletonالفخذ
thighpieces,andthejingleofchainدرع
armour.Thatwastheonly
السبب
reasonIwenttoseeHawberk.Hehad
لم
neverinterestedmepersonally,nordidConstance,exceptfortheحقيقة
factofherbeinginlovewithLouis.هذا
Thisdidoccupymyattention,andsometimesحتى
evenkeptmeawakeatnight.ButIknewinmyheartthat
كل
allwouldcomeright,andthatIshouldarrangetheirfutureasIexpectedtoarrangethatofmykinddoctor,JohnArcher.However,Ishould
لم
neverhavetroubledmyselfaboutvisitingthemjustthen,haditnotbeen,asIأقول
say,thatthemusicofفي
thetinklinghammerhadformethisstrongfascination.Iwouldsitforhours,listeningandlistening,andwhen
على
astraysunbeamstrucktheinlaidsteel,theالإحساس
sensationitgavemewasalmosttookeentoendure.Myeyeswouldbecomefixed,dilatingwitha
المتعة
pleasurethatstretchedeverynervealmosttobreaking,حتى
untilsomemovementoftheالعجوز
oldarmourercutofftheشعاع
rayofsunlight,then,stillthrillingsecretly,Ileanedbackandlistenedagaintotheصوت
soundofthepolishingrag,swish!swish!
rubbing
الصدأ
rustfromtherivets.Constanceworked
مع
withtheembroideryoverherknees,nowandthenpausingtoexaminemoreعن كثب
closelythepatterninthecolouredplatefromtheMetropolitanمتحف
Museum.Whoisthisfor?"
Iasked.
Hawberkexplained,thatinadditiontothetreasuresof
الدروع
armourintheMetropolitanMuseumofwhichhehadbeenappointedarmourer,healsohadchargeofالعديد
severalcollectionsbelongingtorichamateurs.هذا
Thiswasthemissinggreaveofaالشهيرة
famoussuitwhichaclientofhishadtracedtoalittleمتجر
shopinParisontheQuaid'Orsay.He,Hawberk,hadnegotiatedforandsecuredthegreave,andnowthesuitwas
كاملة
complete.Helaiddownhishammerandreadmethe
تاريخ
historyofthesuit,tracedمنذ
since1450fromownertoمالك
owneruntilitwasacquiredbyThomasStainbridge.عندما
Whenhissuperbcollectionwassold,هذا
thisclientofHawberk'sboughttheالبدلة
suit,andsincethentheالبحث
searchforthemissinggreavehadbeenpushedحتى
untilitwas,almostbyالصدفة
accident,locatedinParis.Didyoucontinuethe
البحث
searchsopersistentlywithoutanyيقين
certaintyofthegreavebeingلا تزال
stillinexistence?"Idemanded.
Ofcourse,"herepliedcoolly.
ThenforthefirsttimeItookapersonalinterestinHawberk.
Itwas
يستحق
worthsomethingtoyou,"Iventured.No,"hereplied,laughing,"mypleasureinfindingitwasmyreward."
لديك
Haveyounoambitiontoberich?"Iasked,smiling.
Myoneambitionistobethe
أفضل
bestarmourerintheworld,"heansweredgravely.Constanceaskedme
إذا
ifIhadseentheceremoniesattheالمميتة
LethalChamber.SheherselfhadnoticedcavalrypassingupBroadway
ذلك
thatmorning,andhadwishedtoرؤية
seetheinauguration,butherfatherwantedthebannerfinished,andshehadstayedathisrequest.Didyouseeyourcousin,Mr.Castaigne,there?"
sheasked,
مع
withtheslightesttremorofherالناعمة
softeyelashes.No,"Irepliedcarelessly.
"Louis'regimentismanœuvringoutinWestchesterCounty."
Iroseandpickedupmyhatandcane.
Areyougoingupstairstoseethe
المجنون
lunaticagain?"laughedoldHawberk.
IfHawberkknew
كم
howIloathethatword"lunatic,"hewouldneveruseitinmypresence.Itrouses
معينة
certainfeelingswithinmewhichIdonotcaretoexplain.However,Iansweredhimquietly:
"IthinkIshalldropinandseeMr.Wildeforamoment
أو
ortwo."Poorfellow,"saidConstance,witha
يهز
shakeofthehead,"itmustbeالصعب
hardtolivealoneyearبعد
afteryearpoor,crippledandalmostdemented.Itisverygoodofyou,Mr.Castaigne,tovisithimas
الأحيان
oftenasyoudo."Ithinkheisvicious,"observedHawberk,beginning
مرة أخرى
againwithhishammer.Ilistenedtothe
الذهبي
goldentinkleonthegreaveplates;عندما
whenhehadfinishedIreplied:.No,heisnotvicious,norisheintheleastdemented.
Hismindisawonder
غرفة
chamber,fromwhichhecanاستخراج
extracttreasuresthatyouandIwouldgiveyearsofourlifetoacquire."'.Hawberklaughed.
Icontinuedalittleimpatiently:
"Heknows
التاريخ
historyasnooneelsecouldknowit.شيء
Nothing,howevertrivial,escapeshissearch,andhismemoryissoمطلق
absolute,sopreciseindetails,thatwereitknowninNewYorkthatsuchaالرجل
manexisted,thepeoplecouldnothonourhimenough."Nonsense,"mutteredHawberk,searchingonthe
الأرض
floorforafallenrivet.Isitnonsense,"Iasked,managingto
قمع
suppresswhatIfelt,"isitهراء
nonsensewhenhesaysthatthetassetsandcuissardsoftheenamelledsuitofالدروع
armourcommonlyknownasthe'Prince'sEmblazoned'يمكن
canbefoundamongaكتلة
massofrustytheatricalproperties,brokenstovesandragpicker'srefuseinagarretinPellStreet?"Hawberk's
مطرقة
hammerfelltotheground,لكنه
buthepickeditupandasked,withعلى
agreatdealofcalm,howIknewthatthetassetsandleftcuissardweremissingfromthe"Prince'sEmblazoned."Ididnot
أعرف
knowuntilMr.Wildementionedittomeفي
theotherday.Hesaidtheywereinthegarretof998PellStreet."
Nonsense,"hecried,butInoticedhis
يده
handtremblingunderhisleathernالمئزر
apron.Isthisnonsensetoo?"
Iaskedpleasantly,"isit
هراء
nonsensewhenMr.Wildecontinuallyspeaksofyouastheماركيز
MarquisofAvonshireandofMissConstance—".Ididnotfinish,forConstancehadstartedtoherfeet
مع
withterrorwrittenoneveryسمة
feature.Hawberklookedatmeandslowlysmoothedhisleathernapron.
Thatisimpossible,"heobserved,"Mr.
Wilde
قد
mayknowagreatmanythings—".عن
Aboutarmour,forinstance,andthe'Prince'sEmblazoned,'"Iinterposed,smiling.Yes,"hecontinued,slowly,"aboutarmouralso—maybe—butheiswronginregardtotheMarquisofAvonshire,who,asyouknow,killedhiswife'straduceryears
قبل
ago,andwenttoAustraliaحيث
wherehedidnotlongsurvivehiswife."Mr.
Wildeiswrong,"murmuredConstance.
Herlipswereblanched,
لكن
buthervoicewassweetandcalm.Letus
نتفق
agree,ifyouplease,thatinهذه
thisonecircumstanceMr.Wildeiswrong,"Isaid.II
Iclimbedthe
الثلاثة
threedilapidatedflightsofstairs,التي
whichIhadsooftenclimbedقبل
before,andknockedatasmallالباب
doorattheendoftheالممر
corridor.Mr.Wildeopenedthe
الباب
doorandIwalkedin.عندما
Whenhehaddouble-lockedtheالباب
doorandpushedaheavychestagainstit,hecameandsatdownbesideme,peeringupintomyfacewithhislittlelight-colouredeyes.نصف
Halfadozennewscratchescoveredhisأنفه
noseandcheeks,andtheالفضية
silverwireswhichsupportedhisartificialearshadbecomedisplaced.IthoughtIhad
لم
neverseenhimsohideouslyfascinating.Hehadnoears.
Theartificialones,
التي
whichnowstoodoutatanزاوية
anglefromthefinewire,werehisoneضعفه
weakness.Theyweremadeof
الشمع
waxandpaintedashellpink,لكن
buttherestofhisfacewasصفراء
yellow.Hemightbetterhaverevelledintheluxuryof
بعض
someartificialfingersforhislefthand,whichwasabsolutelyfingerless,لكنها
butitseemedtocausehimnoinconvenience,andhewassatisfiedwithhiswaxears.Hewasverysmall,scarcelyhigherthana
طفل
childoften,buthisarmsweremagnificentlydeveloped,andhisthighsasthickasأي
anyathlete's.Still,themostremarkable
الشيء
thingaboutMr.Wildewasthataرجل
manofhismarvellousintelligenceandknowledgeshouldيكون
havesuchahead.Itwas
مسطحة
flatandpointed,liketheheadsofالعديد
manyofthoseunfortunateswhomالناس
peopleimprisoninasylumsfortheweak-minded.Manycalledhiminsane,butIknewhimtobeas
عاقل
saneasIwas.Idonot
أنكر
denythathewaseccentric;the
الهوس
maniahehadforkeepingthatالقطة
catandteasingheruntilsheflewathisfaceمثل
likeademon,wascertainlyغريب الأطوار
eccentric.Inevercouldunderstandwhyhekeptthecreature,norwhat
المتعة
pleasurehefoundinshuttinghimselfupinhisroomمع
withthissurly,viciousbeast.I
أتذكر
rememberonce,glancingupfromtheالمخطوطة
manuscriptIwasstudyingbytheضوء
lightofsometallowdips,andseeingMr.Wildesquattingmotionlessonhishighchair,hiseyesfairlyblazingwithexcitement,بينما
whilethecat,whichhadrisenfromherplaceأمام
beforethestove,camecreepingعبر
acrossthefloorrightathim.قبل
BeforeIcouldmovesheflattenedherbellytoفي
theground,crouched,trembled,andsprangintohisface.Howlingandfoamingtheyrolledoverandoveronthefloor,scratchingandclawing,untilthe
القطة
catscreamedandfledunderthecabinet,andMr.Wildeturnedoveronhisback,hislimbscontractingandcurlingupمثل
likethelegsofadyingالعنكبوت
spider.Hewaseccentric.
Mr.
Wildehadclimbedintohishighchair,and,afterstudyingmyface,pickedupadog's-earedledgerandopenedit.
HenryB.
Matthews,"heread,"book-keeper
مع
withWhysotWhysotandCompany,dealersinالكنيسة
churchornaments.CalledApril3rd.
السمعة
Reputationdamagedontherace-track.Knownasawelcher.
السمعة
Reputationtoberepairedbyأغسطس
August1st.RetainerFiveDollars."