THEREPAIREROFREPUTATIONS
I
Neraillonspaslesfous;
leurfoliedurepluslongtempsquelanôtre....
Voilatouteladifférence."
Towardthe
einde
endoftheyear1920theRegering
GovernmentoftheUnitedStateshad
hadpracticallycompletedtheprogramme,aangenomen
adoptedduringthelastmonthsofPresident
PresidentWinthrop'sadministration.Thecountrywas
blijkbaar
apparentlytranquil.Everybodyknowshow
de
theTariffandLabourquestionsweresettled.The
oorlog
warwithGermany,incidentondat
thatcountry'sseizureoftheSamoanIslands,had
hadleftnovisiblescarsupontherepubliek
republic,andthetemporaryoccupationofNorfolkbytheinvadingarmyhad
hadbeenforgotteninthevreugde
joyoverrepeatednavalvictories,en
andthesubsequentridiculousplightofGeneraal
GeneralVonGartenlaube'sforcesintheStaat
StateofNewJersey.TheCuban
en
andHawaiianinvestmentshadpaidonehonderd
hundredpercentandthegrondgebied
territoryofSamoawaswellwaard
worthitscostasacoalingstation.Het
Thecountrywasinasuperbstaat
stateofdefence.Everycoastcityhadbeen
goed
wellsuppliedwithlandfortifications;thearmy
onder
undertheparentaleyeoftheGeneralStaf
Staff,organizedaccordingtothePrussiansysteem
system,hadbeenincreasedto300,000men,met
withaterritorialreserveofeen
amillion;andsixmagnificentsquadronsofcruisers
en
andbattle-shipspatrolledthesixstationsofde
thenavigableseas,leavingasteamreserveamplyfittedtocontrolhomewaters.Thegentlemenfromthe
Westen
Westhadatlastbeenconstrainedtoerkennen
acknowledgethatacollegeforthetrainingofdiplomatswasasnoodzakelijk
necessaryaslawschoolsareforthetrainingofbarristers;bijgevolg
consequentlywewerenolongervertegenwoordigd
representedabroadbyincompetentpatriots.De
Thenationwasprosperous;Chicago,for
een
amomentparalyzedafteratweede
secondgreatfire,hadrisenfromitsruins,whiteen
andimperial,andmorebeautifuldan
thanthewhitecitywhichhadbeengebouwd
builtforitsplaythingin1893.Overal
Everywheregoodarchitecturewasreplacingslechte
bad,andeveninNewYork,een
asuddencravingfordecencyhad
hadsweptawayagreatdeel
portionoftheexistinghorrors.Streetshadbeenwidened,
naar behoren
properlypavedandlighted,treeshadbeengeplant
planted,squareslaidout,elevatedstructuresgesloopt
demolishedandundergroundroadsbuilttovervangen
replacethem.Thenewgovernmentbuildings
en
andbarrackswerefinebitsofarchitectuur
architecture,andthelongsystemofstenen
stonequayswhichcompletelysurroundedtheeiland
islandhadbeenturnedintoparksdie
whichprovedagod-sendtothebevolking
population.Thesubsidizingofthestatetheatre
en
andstateoperabroughtitseigen
ownreward.TheUnitedStatesNationalAcademyofDesignwas
veel
muchlikeEuropeaninstitutionsofde
thesamekind.Nobodyenvied
de
theSecretaryofFineArts,eitherhiscabinetpositionof
orhisportfolio.TheSecretaryofForestry
en
andGamePreservationhadaveel
mucheasiertime,thankstothenieuwe
newsystemofNationalMountedPolice.We
hadden
hadprofitedwellbythelaatste
latesttreatieswithFranceandEngland;theexclusionofforeign-bornJewsas
een
ameasureofself-preservation,thesettlementofthenieuwe
newindependentnegrostateofSuanee,thecontroleren
checkingofimmigration,thenewlawsconcerningnaturalization,en
andthegradualcentralizationofmacht
powerintheexecutivealldroegen
contributedtonationalcalmandwelvaart
prosperity.WhentheGovernmentsolvedtheIndian
probleem
problemandsquadronsofIndiancavalerie
cavalryscoutsinnativecostumewerevervangen
substitutedforthepitiableorganizationstackedontothestaart
tailofskeletonizedregimentsbyeen
aformerSecretaryofWar,thenatie
nationdrewalongsighofopluchting
relief.When,afterthecolossal
Congres
CongressofReligions,bigotryandintoleranceweregelegd
laidintheirgravesandvriendelijkheid
kindnessandcharitybegantotrekken
drawwarringsectstogether,manydachten
thoughtthemillenniumhadarrived,atleastinthenieuwe
newworldwhichafteralliseen
aworldbyitself.Butself-preservationis
de
thefirstlaw,andtheVerenigde
UnitedStateshadtolookoninhulpeloos
helplesssorrowasGermany,Italy,Spainen
andBelgiumwrithedinthethroesofAnarchie
Anarchy,whileRussia,watchingfromde
theCaucasus,stoopedandboundthemeen
onebyone.Inthe
stad
cityofNewYorkthezomer
summerof1899wassignalizedbyde
thedismantlingoftheElevatedRailroads.De
Thesummerof1900willleven
liveinthememoriesofNewYorkmensen
peopleformanyacycle;het
theDodgeStatuewasremovedindat
thatyear.Inthefollowing
winter
winterbeganthatagitationforde
therepealofthelawsprohibitingzelfmoord
suicidewhichboreitsfinalfruitinde
themonthofApril,1920,toen
whenthefirstGovernmentLethalChamberwasgeopend
openedonWashingtonSquare.Ihad
gelopen
walkeddownthatdayfromDr.Archer'shuis
houseonMadisonAvenue,whereIhadbeenaseen
amereformality.Eversincethat
val
fallfrommyhorse,fouryearsbefore,Ihadbeentroubledattimeswithpainsinde
thebackofmyheaden
andneck,butnowformonthstheyhadbeenabsent,en
andthedoctorsentmeawaythatdag
daysayingtherewasnothingmeer
moretobecuredinme.Itwas
nauwelijks
hardlyworthhisfeetobeverteld
toldthat;Iknewitmyself.
Toch
StillIdidnotgrudgehimhet
themoney.WhatImindedwasthe
fout
mistakewhichhemadeatfirst.Toen
Whentheypickedmeupfromthestoep
pavementwhereIlayunconscious,en
andsomebodyhadmercifullysenteen
abulletthroughmyhorse'shoofd
head,IwascarriedtoDr.Archer
Archer,andhe,pronouncingmyhersenen
brainaffected,placedmeinhisprivé
privateasylumwhereIwasgedwongen
obligedtoenduretreatmentforkrankzinnigheid
insanity.Atlasthedecided
dat
thatIwaswell,andIk
I,knowingthatmymindhadaltijd
alwaysbeenassoundashis,ifnotsounder,"paidmytuition"ashejokinglynoemde
calledit,andleft.I
zei
toldhim,smiling,thatIzou
wouldgetevenwithhimforhisfout
mistake,andhelaughedheartily,en
andaskedmetocallonceinawhile.I
deed
didso,hopingforakans
chancetoevenupaccounts,maar
buthegavemenone,en
andItoldhimIzou
wouldwait.Thefallfrommy
paard
horsehadfortunatelyleftnoevilresults;onthe
integendeel
contraryithadchangedmyhele
wholecharacterforthebetter.From
een
alazyyoungmanaboutstad
town,Ihadbecomeactive,energiek
energetic,temperate,andaboveall—oh,aboveallelse—ambitious.Er
Therewasonlyonethingwhichtroubledme
me,Ilaughedatmyeigen
ownuneasiness,andyetittroubledme
me.DuringmyconvalescenceI
had
hadboughtandreadforhet
thefirsttime,TheKinginYellow.Iremember
na
afterfinishingthefirstactdat
thatitoccurredtomedat
thatIhadbetterstop.I
begon
startedupandflungtheboek
bookintothefireplace;the
volume
volumestruckthebarredgrateen
andfellopenonthehearthinthefirelight.IfIhadnotcaught
een
aglimpseoftheopeningwordsinthetweede
secondactIshouldneverhebben
havefinishedit,butasIstoopedtopickitup,myeyeswerden
becamerivetedtotheopenbladzijde
page,andwithacryofterror,of
orperhapsitwasofvreugde
joysopoignantthatIleed
sufferedineverynerve,Isnatchedtheding
thingoutofthecoalsen
andcreptshakingtomyslaapkamer
bedroom,whereIreaditen
andrereadit,andwepten
andlaughedandtrembledwitheen
ahorrorwhichattimesassailsmeyet.Dit
Thisisthethingthattroublesme
me,forIcannotforgetCarcosawaar
whereblackstarshangintheheavens;waar
wheretheshadowsofmen'sthoughtslengtheninthemiddag
afternoon,whenthetwinsunszinken
sinkintothelakeofHali;en
andmymindwillbearforevertheherinnering
memoryofthePallidMask.I
bid
prayGodwillcursetheschrijver
writer,asthewriterhasvervloeken
cursedtheworldwiththisprachtige
beautiful,stupendouscreation,terribleinitseenvoud
simplicity,irresistibleinitstruth—awereld
worldwhichnowtremblesbeforede
theKinginYellow.WhentheFrench
Regering
Governmentseizedthetranslatedcopiesdie
whichhadjustarrivedinParis,London,ofnatuurlijk
course,becameeagertoreadit.Itiswellknown
hoe
howthebookspreadlikeeen
aninfectiousdisease,fromcitytostad
city,fromcontinenttocontinent,barredouthier
here,confiscatedthere,denouncedbyPers
Pressandpulpit,censuredevenbythemeest
mostadvancedofliteraryanarchists.Geen
Nodefiniteprincipleshadbeengeschonden
violatedinthosewickedpages,geen
nodoctrinepromulgated,noconvictionsoutraged.It
kon
couldnotbejudgedbyeen
anyknownstandard,yet,althoughitwaserkend
acknowledgedthatthesupremenoteofkunst
arthadbeenstruckinTheKinginYellow,allvoelden
feltthathumannaturecouldnotbearthespanning
strain,northriveonwordsinwaarin
whichtheessenceofpurestgif
poisonlurked.Theverybanality
en
andinnocenceofthefirstakte
actonlyallowedtheblowtoviel
fallafterwardwithmoreawfuleffect
effect.Itwas,Iremember,the13th
dag
dayofApril,1920,thattheeerste
firstGovernmentLethalChamberwasestablishedonthesouthsideofWashingtonSquare
Square,betweenWoosterStreetandSouthFifthAvenue
Avenue.Theblockwhichhad
vroeger
formerlyconsistedofalotofshabbyoude
oldbuildings,usedascafésen
andrestaurantsforforeigners,hadbeenverworven
acquiredbytheGovernmentinthewinter
winterof1898.TheFrench
en
andItaliancafésandrestaurantsweretorndown;het
thewholeblockwasenclosedbyeen
agildedironrailing,andconvertedintoeen
alovelygardenwithlawns,flowersen
andfountains.Inthecentreofthe
tuin
gardenstoodasmall,whitegebouw
building,severelyclassicalinarchitecture,en
andsurroundedbythicketsofflowers.Zes
SixIoniccolumnssupportedthedak
roof,andthesingledoorwasofbrons
bronze.Asplendidmarblegroupofthe"Fates"
stond
stoodbeforethedoor,thewerk
workofayoungAmericansculptor,BorisYvain,die
whohaddiedinParistoen
whenonlytwenty-threeyearsold.TheinaugurationceremonieswereinprogressasIcrossedUniversityPlace
en
andenteredthesquare.Ithreadedmy
weg
waythroughthesilentthrongofspectators,maar
butwasstoppedatFourthStreet
Streetbyacordonofpolitie
police.AregimentofUnitedStateslancersweredrawnupin
een
ahollowsquareroundtheLethalChamber.On
een
araisedtribunefacingWashingtonPark
ParkstoodtheGovernorofNewYork,en
andbehindhimweregroupedtheBurgemeester
MayorofNewYorkandBrooklyn,theInspector-GeneralofPolitie
Police,theCommandantofthestatetroops,Kolonel
ColonelLivingston,militaryaidtothePresident
PresidentoftheUnitedStates,Generaal
GeneralBlount,commandingatGovernor'sIsland,Major-GeneralHamilton,commandingthegarnizoen
garrisonofNewYorkandBrooklyn,Admiraal
AdmiralBuffbyofthefleetintheNorthRiver,Surgeon-GeneralLanceford,thepersoneel
staffoftheNationalFreeHospital,SenatorsWyseen
andFranklinofNewYork,en
andtheCommissionerofPublicWorks.De
Thetribunewassurroundedbyeen
asquadronofhussarsofde
theNationalGuard.TheGovernorwasfinishinghis
antwoord
replytotheshortspeechoftheSurgeon-General.I
hoorde
heardhimsay:"Thelawsprohibiting
zelfmoord
suicideandprovidingpunishmentforelke
anyattemptatself-destructionhavebeenrepealed.The
Regering
Governmenthasseenfittoerkennen
acknowledgetherightofmantobeëindigen
endanexistencewhichmayheeft
havebecomeintolerabletohim,door
throughphysicalsufferingormentalwanhoop
despair.Itisbelievedthatthe
gemeenschap
communitywillbebenefitedbytheremovalofzulke
suchpeoplefromtheirmidst.Sinds
Sincethepassageofthiswet
law,thenumberofsuicidesintheVerenigde
UnitedStateshasnotincreased.Nu
NowtheGovernmenthasdeterminedtoestablisheen
aLethalChamberineverycity,townen
andvillageinthecountry,itblijft
remainstobeseenwhetherornotdie
thatclassofhumancreaturesfromwhosedespondingranksnieuwe
newvictimsofself-destructionfalldagelijks
dailywillacceptthereliefthusprovided."He
pauzeerde
paused,andturnedtothewitte
whiteLethalChamber.Thesilencein
de
thestreetwasabsolute."There
een
apainlessdeathawaitshimdie
whocannolongerbearde
thesorrowsofthislife.Als
Ifdeathiswelcomelethimzoeken
seekitthere."Thenquicklyturningtothe
militaire
militaryaidofthePresident'shuishouden
household,hesaid,"IdeclaretheDodelijke
LethalChamberopen,"andagainfacingtheenorme
vastcrowdhecriedineen
aclearvoice:"CitizensofNewYork
en
andoftheUnitedStatesofAmerica,door
throughmetheGovernmentdeclaresde
theLethalChambertobeopen."The
plechtige
solemnhushwasbrokenbyeen
asharpcryofcommand,thesquadronofhussarsfiledaftertheGovernor'skoets
carriage,thelancerswheeledandvormden
formedalongFifthAvenuetowachten
waitforthecommandantofthegarnizoen
garrison,andthemountedpolicevolgde
followedthem.Ileftthe
menigte
crowdtogapeandstareatthewitte
whitemarbleDeathChamber,and,oversteken
crossingSouthFifthAvenue,walkedlangs
alongthewesternsideofdie
thatthoroughfaretoBleeckerStreet.ThenI
draaide
turnedtotherightandstopte
stoppedbeforeadingyshopdie
whichborethesign:.HAWBERK,ARMOURER.
Iglancedinatthe
deur
doorwayandsawHawberkbusyinhiskleine
littleshopattheendofthehall.He
keek
lookedup,andcatchingsightofmecriedinhisdeep,heartystem
voice,"Comein,Mr.Castaigne!"Constance,his
dochter
daughter,rosetomeetmeasIcrossedthedrempel
threshold,andheldouthermooie
prettyhand,butIsawtheblozen
blushofdisappointmentonhercheeks,en
andknewthatitwasandere
anotherCastaigneshehadexpected,myneef
cousinLouis.Ismiledather
verwarring
confusionandcomplimentedheronhet
thebannershewasembroideringfromeen
acolouredplate.OldHawberk
zat
satrivetingtheworngreavesofaantal
someancientsuitofarmour,en
andtheting!ting!
ting!
ofhis
kleine
littlehammersoundedpleasantlyinde
thequaintshop.Presentlyhe
vallen
droppedhishammer,andfussedover
aboutforamomentwitheen
atinywrench.Thesoftclashof
de
themailsentathrillofplezier
pleasurethroughme.Ilovedto
horen
hearthemusicofsteelbrushingtegen
againststeel,themellowshockofthemalletonthighpieces,en
andthejingleofchainarmour.Dat
ThatwastheonlyreasonIging
wenttoseeHawberk.He
had
hadneverinterestedmepersonally,noch
nordidConstance,exceptforhet
thefactofherbeinginlovewithLouis.Dit
Thisdidoccupymyattention,en
andsometimesevenkeptmewakker
awakeatnight.ButI
wist
knewinmyheartthatallzou
wouldcomeright,andthatImoeten
shouldarrangetheirfutureasIverwachtte
expectedtoarrangethatofmyvriendelijke
kinddoctor,JohnArcher.However,Ishould
nooit
neverhavetroubledmyselfaboutbezoeken
visitingthemjustthen,haditnotbeen,asIzei
say,thatthemusicofthetinklinghamer
hammerhadformethissterke
strongfascination.Iwouldsitforhours,
luisteren
listeningandlistening,andwheneen
astraysunbeamstrucktheinlaidstaal
steel,thesensationitgavemewasbijna
almosttookeentoendure.Myeyeswould
werden
becomefixed,dilatingwithaplezier
pleasurethatstretchedeverynervebijna
almosttobreaking,untilsomebeweging
movementoftheoldarmourercutoffthestraal
rayofsunlight,then,stillthrillingsecretly,Ileanedterug
backandlistenedagaintothegeluid
soundofthepolishingrag,swish!swish!
wrijven
rubbingrustfromtherivets.Constance
werkte
workedwiththeembroideryoverherknees,nowen
andthenpausingtoexaminemorecloselyhet
thepatterninthecolouredbord
platefromtheMetropolitanMuseum.Wie
Whoisthisfor?"I
vroeg
asked.Hawberkexplained,thatinadditiontothetreasuresofarmourinthe
Metropolitan
MetropolitanMuseumofwhichhehadbeenbenoemd
appointedarmourer,healsohadchargeofverschillende
severalcollectionsbelongingtorichamateurs.Dit
Thiswasthemissinggreaveofeen
afamoussuitwhichaklant
clientofhishadtracedtoeen
alittleshopinParisonde
theQuaid'Orsay.He,Hawberk,
had
hadnegotiatedforandsecuredthegreave,en
andnowthesuitwascompleet
complete.Helaiddownhis
hamer
hammerandreadmethegeschiedenis
historyofthesuit,tracedsinds
since1450fromownertoeigenaar
owneruntilitwasacquiredbyThomasStainbridge.Toen
Whenhissuperbcollectionwasverkocht
sold,thisclientofHawberk'skocht
boughtthesuit,andsincethenthesearchforthemissinggreavehadbeenpushedtotdat
untilitwas,almostbyongeluk
accident,locatedinParis.Didyou
voortgezet
continuethesearchsopersistentlyzonder
withoutanycertaintyofthegreavebeingnog steeds
stillinexistence?"Idemanded.
Ofcourse,"herepliedcoolly.
Thenfor
het
thefirsttimeItookapersoonlijk
personalinterestinHawberk.Itwas
waard
worthsomethingtoyou,"Iventured.No,"he
antwoordde
replied,laughing,"mypleasureinvinden
findingitwasmyreward."Heb
Haveyounoambitiontoberich?"I
vroeg
asked,smiling.Myoneambitionistobe
de
thebestarmourerintheworld,"heansweredgravely.Constance
vroeg
askedmeifIhadgezien
seentheceremoniesattheLethalChamber.Sheherself
had
hadnoticedcavalrypassingupBroadwaydie
thatmorning,andhadwishedtozien
seetheinauguration,buthervader
fatherwantedthebannerfinished,en
andshehadstayedathisverzoek
request.Didyouseeyour
neef
cousin,Mr.Castaigne,there?"she
vroeg
asked,withtheslightesttremorofherzachte
softeyelashes.No,"Irepliedcarelessly.
"Louis'
regiment
regimentismanœuvringoutinWestchesterCounty."Irose
en
andpickedupmyhaten
andcane.Areyougoing
boven
upstairstoseethelunaticagain?"lachte
laughedoldHawberk.IfHawberk
wist
knewhowIloathethatwoord
word"lunatic,"hewouldnevergebruiken
useitinmypresence.Itrouses
bepaalde
certainfeelingswithinmewhichIdonotcaretouitleggen
explain.However,Iansweredhim
rustig
quietly:"IthinkIshall
vallen
dropinandseeMr.Wildeforeen
amomentortwo."Poorfellow,"
zei
saidConstance,withashakeofthehoofd
head,"itmustbehardtoleven
livealoneyearafteryearpoor,verlamd
crippledandalmostdemented.Itis
erg
verygoodofyou,Mr.Castaigne,tobezoeken
visithimasoftenasyoudo."I
denk
thinkheisvicious,"observedHawberk,beginnen
beginningagainwithhishammer.I
luisterde
listenedtothegoldentinkleonthegreaveplates;toen
whenhehadfinishedIantwoordde
replied:.No,heisnotvicious,
noch
norisheintheminst
leastdemented.Hismindis
een
awonderchamber,fromwhichhekan
canextracttreasuresthatyouen
andIwouldgiveyearsofourleven
lifetoacquire."'.Hawberklaughed.
Icontinued
een
alittleimpatiently:"Heknows
geschiedenis
historyasnooneelsekunnen
couldknowit.Nothing,however
triviaal
trivial,escapeshissearch,andhisgeheugen
memoryissoabsolute,sopreciseindetails,dat
thatwereitknowninNewYorkdat
thatsuchamanexisted,themensen
peoplecouldnothonourhimenough."Nonsense,"mutteredHawberk,
zoek
searchingonthefloorforeen
afallenrivet.Isitnonsense,"I
vroeg
asked,managingtosuppresswhatIvoelde
felt,"isitnonsensewhenhezegt
saysthatthetassetsandcuissardsoftheenamelledpak
suitofarmourcommonlyknownasthe'Prince'sEmblazoned'kan
canbefoundamongamassa
massofrustytheatricalproperties,gebroken
brokenstovesandragpicker'srefuseineen
agarretinPellStreet?"Hawberk's
hamer
hammerfelltotheground,maar
buthepickeditupen
andasked,withagreatdealofkalmte
calm,howIknewthatthetassetsen
andleftcuissardweremissingfromthe"Prince'sEmblazoned."Ididnot
wist
knowuntilMr.Wildementionedittometheotherday.He
zei
saidtheywereinthegarretof998PellStreet."Nonsense,"he
huilde
cried,butInoticedhishand
handtremblingunderhisleathernschort
apron.Isthisnonsensetoo?"
I
vroeg
askedpleasantly,"isitnonsensewhenMr.Wildevoortdurend
continuallyspeaksofyouastheMarkies
MarquisofAvonshireandofMissConstance—".Ididnotfinish,forConstancehad
begonnen
startedtoherfeetwithterreur
terrorwrittenoneveryfeature.Hawberk
keek
lookedatmeandslowlysmoothedhisleathernschort
apron.Thatisimpossible,"heobserved,"Mr.
Wildemay
weet
knowagreatmanythings—".Over
Aboutarmour,forinstance,andde
the'Prince'sEmblazoned,'"Iinterposed,glimlachend
smiling.Yes,"hecontinued,slowly,"about
pantser
armouralso—maybe—butheiswronginregardtode
theMarquisofAvonshire,who,asyouweet
know,killedhiswife'straduceryearsgeleden
ago,andwenttoAustraliawaar
wherehedidnotlongoverleefde
survivehiswife."Mr.
Wildeiswrong,"murmuredConstance.
Herlipswereblanched,
maar
buthervoicewassweeten
andcalm.Letusagree,
als
ifyouplease,thatindeze
thisonecircumstanceMr.Wildeiswrong,"Izei
said.II
Iclimbedthe
drie
threedilapidatedflightsofstairs,die
whichIhadsooftenclimbedbefore,en
andknockedatasmalldeur
doorattheendofthegang
corridor.Mr.Wildeopenedthe
deur
doorandIwalkedin.Toen
Whenhehaddouble-lockedthedeur
doorandpushedaheavyborst
chestagainstit,hecameen
andsatdownbesideme,peeringupintomygezicht
facewithhislittlelight-colouredeyes.Half
Halfadozennewscratchescoveredhisneus
noseandcheeks,andthezilveren
silverwireswhichsupportedhiskunstmatige
artificialearshadbecomedisplaced.I
dacht
thoughtIhadneverseenhimsohideouslyfascinerend
fascinating.Hehadnoears.
De
Theartificialones,whichnowstoodoutatanhoek
anglefromthefinewire,werehisonezwakte
weakness.Theyweremadeof
was
waxandpaintedashellroze
pink,buttherestofhisgezicht
facewasyellow.Hemight
beter
betterhaverevelledintheluxe
luxuryofsomeartificialfingersforhislefthand,die
whichwasabsolutelyfingerless,butitleek
seemedtocausehimnoongemak
inconvenience,andhewassatisfiedmet
withhiswaxears.Hewas
heel
verysmall,scarcelyhigherthanakind
childoften,buthisarmsweremagnificentlyontwikkeld
developed,andhisthighsasdik
thickasanyathlete's.Still,
het
themostremarkablethingaboutMr.Wildewasdat
thatamanofhismarvellousintelligentie
intelligenceandknowledgeshouldhavesucheen
ahead.Itwasflat
en
andpointed,liketheheadsofveel
manyofthoseunfortunateswhommensen
peopleimprisoninasylumsfortheweak-minded.Many
noemden
calledhiminsane,butIwist
knewhimtobeasgezond
saneasIwas.Idonot
ontken
denythathewaseccentric;de
themaniahehadforhouden
keepingthatcatandteasinghertot
untilsheflewathisgezicht
facelikeademon,waszeker
certainlyeccentric.Inevercould
begrijpen
understandwhyhekeptthewezen
creature,norwhatpleasurehevond
foundinshuttinghimselfupinhiskamer
roomwiththissurly,viciousbeest
beast.Irememberonce,glancingupfromthe
manuscript
manuscriptIwasstudyingbythelicht
lightofsometallowdips,en
andseeingMr.Wildesquattingmotionlessonhishighstoel
chair,hiseyesfairlyblazingwithopwinding
excitement,whilethecat,whichhadrisenfromherplaats
placebeforethestove,camekruipen
creepingacrossthefloorrightathem
him.BeforeIcouldmovesheflattenedherbellyto
de
theground,crouched,trembled,andsprangintohisgezicht
face.Howlingandfoamingthey
rolden
rolledoverandoveronde
thefloor,scratchingandclawing,totdat
untilthecatscreamedandvluchtte
fledunderthecabinet,andMr.Wildedraaide
turnedoveronhisback,hislimbscontractingen
andcurlinguplikethelegsofeen
adyingspider.Hewas
excentriek
eccentric.Mr.
Wildehadclimbedintohis
hoge
highchair,and,afterstudyingmygezicht
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las
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April
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het
therace-track.Knownasawelcher.
Reputatie
ReputationtoberepairedbyAugustus
August1st.RetainerFiveDollars."