The King in Yellow | Gradually Hardening Danish A2 Translation Books

The King in Yellow | Gradually Hardening Danish A2 Translation Books

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THEREPAIREROFREPUTATIONS
I
Neraillonspaslesfous;
leurfoliedurepluslongtempsquelanôtre....
Voilatouteladifférence."
Towardtheendoftheyear1920the
Regering
Government
oftheUnitedStateshadpracticallycompletedtheprogramme,adoptedduringthelastmonthsof
Præsident
President
Winthrop'sadministration.
Thecountrywasapparentlytranquil.
EverybodyknowshowtheTariffandLabourquestionsweresettled.
ThewarwithGermany,incidentonthatcountry'sseizureoftheSamoanIslands,hadleftnovisiblescarsupontherepublic,andthetemporaryoccupationofNorfolkbytheinvading
hær
army
hadbeenforgotteninthejoyoverrepeatednavalvictories,andthesubsequentridiculousplightofGeneralVonGartenlaube'sforcesinthe
Staten
State
ofNewJersey.
TheCubanandHawaiianinvestmentshadpaidone
hundrede
hundred
percentandtheterritoryofSamoawaswell
værd
worth
itscostasacoalingstation.
Thecountrywasinasuperbstateofdefence.
Everycoastcityhadbeenwellsuppliedwithlandfortifications;
the
hæren
army
undertheparentaleyeoftheGeneralStaff,organizedaccordingtothePrussian
system
system
,hadbeenincreasedto300,000men,withaterritorialreserveofamillion;
andsixmagnificentsquadronsofcruisersandbattle-shipspatrolledthesixstationsofthenavigableseas,leavingasteamreserveamplyfittedtocontrolhomewaters.
Thegentlemenfromthe
Vesten
West
hadatlastbeenconstrainedtoacknowledgethata
kollegium
college
forthetrainingofdiplomatswasas
nødvendigt
necessary
aslawschoolsareforthetrainingofbarristers;
consequentlywewerenolongerrepresentedabroadbyincompetentpatriots.
Thenationwasprosperous;
Chicago,foramomentparalyzedafterasecondgreatfire,hadrisenfromitsruins,whiteandimperial,andmorebeautifulthanthewhitecitywhichhadbeen
bygget
built
foritsplaythingin1893.
Overalt
Everywhere
goodarchitecturewasreplacingbad,andeveninNewYork,asuddencravingfordecencyhadsweptawayagreatportionoftheexistinghorrors.
Streetshadbeenwidened,properlypavedandlighted,treeshadbeenplanted,squareslaidout,elevatedstructuresdemolishedandundergroundroads
bygget
built
toreplacethem.
Thenewgovernmentbuildingsandbarrackswerefinebitsofarchitecture,andthelong
system
system
ofstonequayswhich
fuldstændig
completely
surroundedtheislandhadbeenturnedintoparkswhichprovedagod-sendtothepopulation.
Thesubsidizingofthe
statslige
state
theatreandstateoperabroughtitsownreward.
TheUnitedStatesNationalAcademyofDesignwasmuchlikeEuropeaninstitutionsofthesamekind.
NobodyenviedtheSecretaryofFineArts,eitherhiscabinetpositionorhisportfolio.
TheSecretaryofForestryandGamePreservationhadamucheasiertime,thankstothenew
system
system
ofNationalMountedPolice.
WehadprofitedwellbythelatesttreatieswithFranceandEngland;
theexclusionofforeign-bornJewsasameasureofself-preservation,thesettlementofthenewindependentnegro
stat
state
ofSuanee,thecheckingofimmigration,thenewlawsconcerningnaturalization,andthegradualcentralizationofpowerintheexecutiveallcontributedtonationalcalmandprosperity.
WhentheGovernmentsolvedtheIndianproblemandsquadronsofIndiancavalryscoutsinnativecostumeweresubstitutedforthepitiableorganizationstackedontothetailofskeletonizedregimentsbyaformerSecretaryofWar,thenationdrewalongsighofrelief.
When,afterthecolossalCongressofReligions,bigotryandintolerancewere
lagt
laid
intheirgravesandkindnessandcharity
begyndte
began
todrawwarringsectstogether,manythoughtthemillenniumhadarrived,atleastinthenewworldwhichafterallisaworldbyitself.
Butself-preservationisthefirstlaw,andtheUnitedStateshadtolookoninhelplesssorrowasGermany,Italy,SpainandBelgiumwrithedinthethroesofAnarchy,whileRussia,watchingfromtheCaucasus,stoopedandboundthemonebyone.
InthecityofNewYorkthesummerof1899wassignalizedbythedismantlingoftheElevatedRailroads.
Thesummerof1900willliveinthememoriesofNewYorkpeopleformanyacycle;
theDodgeStatuewasremovedinthatyear.
Inthefollowingwinter
begyndte
began
thatagitationfortherepealofthelawsprohibitingsuicidewhich
bar
bore
itsfinalfruitinthemonthofApril,1920,whenthefirst
Regering
Government
LethalChamberwasopenedonWashingtonSquare.
IhadwalkeddownthatdayfromDr.Archer'shouseonMadisonAvenue,whereIhadbeenasamereformality.
Eversincethatfallfrommy
hest
horse
,fouryearsbefore,Ihadbeentroubledattimeswithpainsinthebackofmyheadand
hals
neck
,butnowformonthstheyhadbeenabsent,andthedoctorsentmeawaythatdaysayingtherewasnothingmoretobecuredinme.
Itwashardly
værd
worth
hisfeetobetoldthat;
Iknewitmyself.
StillIdidnotgrudgehimthemoney.
WhatImindedwasthe
fejl
mistake
whichhemadeatfirst.
WhentheypickedmeupfromthepavementwhereIlayunconscious,andsomebodyhadmercifullysentabulletthroughmyhorse'shead,Iwas
båret
carried
toDr.Archer,andhe,pronouncingmy
hjerne
brain
affected,placedmeinhisprivateasylumwhereIwasobligedtoenduretreatmentforinsanity.
Atlasthe
besluttede
decided
thatIwaswell,andI,knowingthatmymindhadalwaysbeenassoundashis,ifnotsounder,"paidmytuition"ashejokinglycalledit,andleft.
Itoldhim,
smil
smiling
,thatIwouldgetevenwithhimforhis
fejl
mistake
,andhelaughedheartily,andaskedmetocallonceinawhile.
Ididso,hopingforachancetoevenupaccounts,buthegaveme
ingen
none
,andItoldhimIwouldwait.
Thefallfrommy
hest
horse
hadfortunatelyleftno
onde
evil
results;
onthecontraryithadchangedmywholecharacterforthebetter.
Fromalazyyoungmanabouttown,Ihadbecomeactive,energetic,temperate,andaboveall—oh,aboveallelse—ambitious.
Therewasonlyonethingwhichtroubledme,I
grinede
laughed
atmyownuneasiness,andyetittroubledme.
Under
During
myconvalescenceIhadboughtandreadforthefirsttime,TheKinginYellow.
Irememberafterfinishingthefirst
akt
act
thatitoccurredtomethatIhadbetterstop.
Istartedupandflungthebookintothefireplace;
thevolumestruckthebarredgrateandfellopenonthehearthinthefirelight.
IfIhadnotcaughtaglimpseoftheopeningwordsinthesecond
akt
act
Ishouldneverhavefinishedit,butasIstoopedtopickitup,myeyesbecamerivetedtotheopenpage,andwitha
græd
cry
ofterror,orperhapsitwasofjoysopoignantthatIsufferedineverynerve,Isnatchedthethingoutofthecoalsandcreptshakingtomybedroom,whereIreaditandrereadit,andweptand
grinede
laughed
andtrembledwithahorrorwhichattimesassailsmeyet.
Thisisthethingthattroublesme,forIcannotforgetCarcosawhereblackstarshangintheheavens;
wheretheshadowsofmen'sthoughtslengtheninthe
om eftermiddagen
afternoon
,whenthetwinsunssinkintothelakeofHali;
andmymindwill
bære
bear
foreverthememoryofthePallidMask.
I
beder
pray
Godwillcursethewriter,asthewriterhascursedtheworldwiththisbeautiful,stupendouscreation,
forfærdelig
terrible
initssimplicity,irresistibleinitstruth—aworldwhichnowtremblesbeforetheKinginYellow.
WhentheFrench
Regering
Government
seizedthetranslatedcopieswhichhadjustarrivedinParis,London,ofcourse,becameeagertoreadit.
Itiswellknownhowthebookspreadlikeaninfectiousdisease,fromcitytocity,fromcontinenttocontinent,barredouthere,confiscatedthere,denouncedby
Presse
Press
andpulpit,censuredevenbythemostadvancedofliteraryanarchists.
Nodefiniteprincipleshadbeenviolatedinthosewickedpages,nodoctrinepromulgated,noconvictionsoutraged.
Itcouldnotbejudgedbyanyknownstandard,yet,althoughitwasacknowledgedthatthesupremenoteof
kunst
art
hadbeenstruckinTheKinginYellow,allfeltthathuman
natur
nature
couldnotbearthestrain,northriveonwordsinwhichtheessenceofpurestpoisonlurked.
Theverybanalityandinnocenceofthefirst
akt
act
onlyallowedtheblowtofallafterwardwithmoreawfuleffect.
Itwas,Iremember,the13thdayofApril,1920,thatthefirstGovernmentLethalChamberwasestablishedonthe
sydlige
south
sideofWashingtonSquare,betweenWoosterStreetand
Sydlige
South
FifthAvenue.
Theblockwhichhadformerlyconsistedofalotofshabbyoldbuildings,usedascafésandrestaurantsforforeigners,hadbeenacquiredbytheGovernmentinthewinterof1898.
TheFrenchandItaliancafésandrestaurantsweretorndown;
thewholeblockwasenclosedbyagildedironrailing,andconvertedintoa
dejlig
lovely
gardenwithlawns,flowersandfountains.
Inthecentreofthegardenstoodasmall,white
bygning
building
,severelyclassicalinarchitecture,andsurroundedbythicketsofflowers.
SixIoniccolumns
støttede
supported
theroof,andthesingledoorwasofbronze.
Asplendidmarblegroupofthe"Fates"stoodbeforethedoor,theworkofayoungAmericansculptor,BorisYvain,whohaddiedinPariswhenonlytwenty-threeyearsold.
TheinaugurationceremonieswereinprogressasI
krydsede
crossed
UniversityPlaceandenteredthesquare.
Ithreadedmywaythroughthesilentthrongofspectators,butwasstoppedatFourthStreetbyacordonofpolice.
AregimentofUnitedStateslancersweredrawnupinahollowsquare
rundt
round
theLethalChamber.
OnaraisedtribunefacingWashington
Park
Park
stoodtheGovernorofNewYork,andbehindhimweregroupedtheMayorofNewYorkandBrooklyn,theInspector-GeneralofPolice,theCommandantofthe
statslige
state
troops,ColonelLivingston,militaryaidtothePresidentoftheUnitedStates,GeneralBlount,commandingatGovernor'sIsland,Major-GeneralHamilton,commandingthegarrisonofNewYorkandBrooklyn,AdmiralBuffbyofthefleetintheNorthRiver,Surgeon-GeneralLanceford,thestaffoftheNationalFreeHospital,SenatorsWyseandFranklinofNewYork,andtheCommissionerofPublicWorks.
ThetribunewassurroundedbyasquadronofhussarsoftheNationalGuard.
TheGovernorwas
afslutte
finishing
hisreplytothe
korte
short
speechoftheSurgeon-General.
Iheardhimsay:
"Thelawsprohibitingsuicideandprovidingpunishmentforanyattemptatself-destructionhavebeenrepealed.
TheGovernmenthasseenfittoacknowledgetherightofmantoendanexistencewhichmayhavebecomeintolerabletohim,throughphysicalsufferingormentaldespair.
Itisbelievedthatthecommunitywillbebenefitedbytheremovalofsuchpeoplefromtheirmidst.
Sincethepassageofthislaw,thenumberofsuicidesintheUnitedStateshasnotincreased.
NowtheGovernmenthasdeterminedtoestablishaLethalChamberineverycity,townand
landsby
village
inthecountry,itremainstobeseen
om
whether
ornotthatclassofhumancreaturesfrom
hvis
whose
despondingranksnewvictimsofself-destructionfalldailywill
acceptere
accept
thereliefthusprovided."
Hepaused,andturnedtothewhiteLethalChamber.
Thesilenceinthestreetwasabsolute.
"Thereapainlessdeathawaitshimwhocannolonger
bære
bear
thesorrowsofthislife.
Ifdeathiswelcomelethimseekitthere."
Then
hurtigt
quickly
turningtothemilitaryaidofthePresident'shousehold,hesaid,"IdeclaretheLethalChamberopen,"andagainfacingthevastcrowdhecriedinaclear
stemme
voice
:
"CitizensofNewYorkandoftheUnitedStatesofAmerica,throughmetheGovernmentdeclarestheLethalChambertobeopen."
Thesolemnhushwasbrokenbyasharp
råb
cry
ofcommand,thesquadronofhussarsfiledaftertheGovernor'scarriage,thelancerswheeledand
dannet
formed
alongFifthAvenuetowaitforthecommandantofthegarrison,andthemountedpolicefollowedthem.
IleftthecrowdtogapeandstareatthewhitemarbleDeathChamber,and,
krydser
crossing
SouthFifthAvenue,walkedalongthewesternsideofthatthoroughfaretoBleeckerStreet.
ThenIturnedtotherightandstoppedbeforeadingy
butik
shop
whichborethesign:.
HAWBERK,ARMOURER.
IglancedinatthedoorwayandsawHawberkbusyinhislittle
butik
shop
attheendofthehall.
Helookedup,andcatchingsightofmecriedinhis
dybe
deep
,heartyvoice,"Comein,Mr.Castaigne!"
Constance,hisdaughter,rosetomeetmeasI
krydsede
crossed
thethreshold,andheldoutherprettyhand,butIsawtheblushofdisappointmentonhercheeks,andknewthatitwasanotherCastaigneshehadexpected,my
fætter
cousin
Louis.
Ismiledatherconfusionandcomplimentedheronthebannershewasembroideringfromacolouredplate.
OldHawberksatrivetingtheworngreavesofsomeancientsuitofarmour,andtheting!
ting!
ting!
ofhislittlehammersoundedpleasantlyinthequaint
butik
shop
.
Presentlyhedroppedhishammer,andfussedaboutforamomentwithatinywrench.
Thesoftclashofthemailsentathrillof
fornøjelse
pleasure
throughme.
Ilovedtohearthemusicofsteelbrushingagainststeel,themellowshockofthemalletonthighpieces,andthejingleofchainarmour.
ThatwastheonlyreasonIwenttoseeHawberk.
Hehadnever
interesseret
interested
mepersonally,nordidConstance,
bortset fra
except
forthefactofherbeinginlovewithLouis.
Thisdidoccupymy
opmærksomhed
attention
,andsometimesevenkeptmeawakeatnight.
ButIknewinmyheartthatallwouldcomeright,andthatIshouldarrangetheir
fremtid
future
asIexpectedtoarrangethatofmykinddoctor,JohnArcher.
Men
However
,Ishouldneverhavetroubledmyselfabout
besøge
visiting
themjustthen,haditnotbeen,asIsay,thatthemusicofthetinklinghammerhadformethisstrongfascination.
Iwouldsitforhours,listeningandlistening,andwhenastraysunbeamstrucktheinlaidsteel,thesensationitgavemewasalmosttookeentoendure.
Myeyeswouldbecomefixed,dilatingwitha
fornøjelse
pleasure
thatstretchedeverynervealmosttobreaking,untilsomemovementoftheoldarmourercutofftherayofsunlight,then,stillthrillingsecretly,Ileanedbackandlistenedagaintothesoundofthepolishingrag,swish!
swish!
rubbingrustfromtherivets.
Constanceworkedwiththeembroideryoverherknees,nowandthenpausingtoexaminemorecloselythepatterninthecolouredplatefromtheMetropolitanMuseum.
Whoisthisfor?"
Iasked.
Hawberk
forklarede
explained
,thatinadditiontothetreasuresofarmourintheMetropolitanMuseumofwhichhehadbeenappointedarmourer,healsohadchargeof
flere
several
collectionsbelongingtorichamateurs.
Thiswasthemissinggreaveofa
berømt
famous
suitwhichaclientofhishadtracedtoalittle
butik
shop
inParisontheQuaid'Orsay.
He,Hawberk,hadnegotiatedforandsecuredthegreave,andnowthesuitwas
komplet
complete
.
Helaiddownhishammerandreadmethe
historie
history
ofthesuit,tracedsince1450fromownertoowneruntilitwasacquiredbyThomasStainbridge.
Whenhissuperbcollectionwas
solgt
sold
,thisclientofHawberk'sboughtthesuit,andsincethenthesearchforthemissinggreavehadbeen
skubbet
pushed
untilitwas,almostby
uheld
accident
,locatedinParis.
Didyou
fortsatte
continue
thesearchsopersistentlywithoutanycertaintyofthegreavebeingstillinexistence?"
Idemanded.
Ofcourse,"herepliedcoolly.
ThenforthefirsttimeItooka
personlig
personal
interestinHawberk.
Itwas
værd
worth
somethingtoyou,"Iventured.
No,"hereplied,
grinede
laughing
,"mypleasureinfindingitwasmyreward."
Haveyounoambitiontoberich?"
Iasked,
smilede
smiling
.
Myoneambitionistobethebestarmourerintheworld,"heansweredgravely.
ConstanceaskedmeifIhadseentheceremoniesattheLethalChamber.
Sheherselfhadnoticedcavalry
passerer
passing
upBroadwaythatmorning,andhadwishedtoseetheinauguration,butherfatherwantedthebannerfinished,andshehadstayedathisrequest.
Didyouseeyour
fætter
cousin
,Mr.Castaigne,there?"
sheasked,withtheslightesttremorofhersofteyelashes.
No,"Irepliedcarelessly.
"Louis'regimentismanœuvringoutinWestchesterCounty."
Iroseandpickedupmyhatandcane.
Areyougoing
ovenpå
upstairs
toseethelunaticagain?"
grinede
laughed
oldHawberk.
IfHawberkknewhowIloathethatword"lunatic,"hewouldneveruseitinmypresence.
Itrouses
visse
certain
feelingswithinmewhichIdonotcareto
forklare
explain
.
However,Iansweredhimquietly:
"IthinkIshalldropinandseeMr.Wildeforamomentortwo."
Poorfellow,"saidConstance,withashakeofthehead,"itmustbehardtolivealoneyearafteryearpoor,crippledandalmostdemented.
Itisverygoodofyou,Mr.Castaigne,to
besøge
visit
himasoftenasyoudo."
Ithinkheisvicious,"observedHawberk,
begynder
beginning
againwithhishammer.
Ilistenedtothegoldentinkleonthegreaveplates;
whenhehadfinishedIreplied:.
No,heisnotvicious,
heller ikke
nor
isheintheleastdemented.
Hismindisawonderchamber,fromwhichhecanextracttreasuresthatyouandIwouldgiveyearsofourlifetoacquire."'.
Hawberk
grinede
laughed
.
Icontinuedalittleimpatiently:
"Heknowshistoryasnooneelsecouldknowit.
Nothing,howevertrivial,escapeshis
søgning
search
,andhismemoryissoabsolute,sopreciseindetails,thatwereitknowninNewYorkthatsuchamanexisted,thepeoplecouldnothonourhimenough."
Nonsense,"mutteredHawberk,
søger
searching
onthefloorforafallenrivet.
Isitnonsense,"Iasked,managingtosuppresswhatIfelt,"isitnonsensewhenhesaysthatthetassetsandcuissardsoftheenamelledsuitofarmourcommonlyknownasthe'Prince'sEmblazoned'canbefoundamongamassofrustytheatricalproperties,brokenstovesandragpicker'srefuseinagarretinPellStreet?"
Hawberk'shammerfelltothe
jorden
ground
,buthepickeditupandasked,withagreatdealofcalm,howIknewthatthetassetsandleftcuissardweremissingfromthe"Prince'sEmblazoned."
IdidnotknowuntilMr.Wilde
nævnte
mentioned
ittometheotherday.
Hesaidtheywereinthegarretof998PellStreet."
Nonsense,"hecried,butI
mærke
noticed
hishandtremblingunderhisleathernapron.
Isthisnonsensetoo?"
Iaskedpleasantly,"isitnonsensewhenMr.WildecontinuallyspeaksofyouastheMarquisofAvonshireandofMissConstance—".
Ididnot
færdig
finish
,forConstancehadstartedtoherfeetwithterrorwrittenoneveryfeature.
Hawberklookedatmeandslowlysmoothedhisleathernapron.
Thatisimpossible,"heobserved,"Mr.
Wildemayknowagreatmanythings—".
Aboutarmour,forinstance,andthe'Prince'sEmblazoned,'"Iinterposed,smiling.
Yes,"he
fortsatte
continued
,slowly,"aboutarmouralso—maybe—butheiswronginregardtotheMarquisofAvonshire,who,asyouknow,killedhiswife'straduceryearsago,andwenttoAustraliawherehedidnotlongsurvivehiswife."
Mr.
Wildeiswrong,"murmuredConstance.
Herlipswereblanched,buther
stemme
voice
wassweetandcalm.
Letusagree,ifyouplease,thatinthisonecircumstanceMr.Wildeiswrong,"Isaid.
II
Iclimbedthethreedilapidatedflightsofstairs,whichIhadso
ofte
often
climbedbefore,andknockedatasmalldoorattheendofthecorridor.
Mr.WildeopenedthedoorandIwalkedin.
Whenhehaddouble-lockedthedoorand
skubbet
pushed
aheavychestagainstit,hecameandsatdownbesideme,peeringupintomyfacewithhislittlelight-colouredeyes.
Halfadozennewscratches
dækkede
covered
hisnoseandcheeks,andthesilverwireswhich
støttede
supported
hisartificialearshadbecomedisplaced.
IthoughtIhadneverseenhimsohideouslyfascinating.
Hehadnoears.
Theartificialones,whichnowstoodoutatananglefromthefinewire,werehisoneweakness.
Theyweremadeofwaxandpaintedashellpink,buttherestofhisfacewasyellow.
Hemightbetterhaverevelledintheluxuryofsomeartificialfingersforhislefthand,whichwas
helt
absolutely
fingerless,butitseemedtocausehimnoinconvenience,andhewassatisfiedwithhiswaxears.
Hewasverysmall,scarcelyhigherthanachildoften,buthisarmsweremagnificentlydeveloped,andhisthighsasthickasanyathlete's.
Still,themostremarkablethingaboutMr.Wildewasthatamanofhismarvellousintelligenceandknowledgeshouldhavesuchahead.
Itwasflatandpointed,liketheheadsofmanyofthoseunfortunateswhompeopleimprisoninasylumsfortheweak-minded.
Manycalledhiminsane,butIknewhimtobeassaneasIwas.
Idonotdenythathewaseccentric;
themaniahehadforkeepingthat
kat
cat
andteasingheruntilshe
fløj
flew
athisfacelikeademon,wascertainlyeccentric.
Inevercouldunderstandwhyhekeptthecreature,norwhat
fornøjelse
pleasure
hefoundinshuttinghimselfupinhisroomwiththissurly,viciousbeast.
Irememberonce,glancingupfromthemanuscriptIwas
studerede
studying
bythelightofsometallowdips,andseeingMr.Wildesquattingmotionlessonhishighchair,hiseyesfairlyblazingwithexcitement,whilethe
katten
cat
,whichhadrisenfromherplacebeforethestove,camecreeping
over
across
thefloorrightathim.
BeforeIcouldmovesheflattenedherbellytothe
jorden
ground
,crouched,trembled,andsprangintohisface.
Howlingandfoamingthey
rullede
rolled
overandoveronthe
gulvet
floor
,scratchingandclawing,untilthe
katten
cat
screamedandfledunderthecabinet,andMr.Wildeturnedoveronhisback,hislimbscontractingandcurlinguplikethelegsofadyingspider.
Hewaseccentric.
Mr.
Wildehadclimbedintohishighchair,and,after
studeret
studying
myface,pickedupadog's-earedledgerandopenedit.
HenryB.
Matthews,"heread,"book-keeperwithWhysotWhysotandCompany,dealersin
kirke
church
ornaments.
CalledApril3rd.
Reputationdamagedontherace-track.
Knownasawelcher.
ReputationtoberepairedbyAugust1st.
RetainerFiveDollars."