THEREPAIREROFREPUTATIONS
I
Neraillonspaslesfous;
leurfoliedurepluslongtempsquelanôtre....
Voilatouteladifférence."
Towardtheendoftheyear1920theGovernmentofthe
Verenigde
UnitedStateshadpracticallycompletedtheprogramme,adoptedduringthelastmonthsofPresidentWinthrop'sadministration.Thecountrywas
blijkbaar
apparentlytranquil.EverybodyknowshowtheTariffandLabourquestionsweresettled.
ThewarwithGermany,
incident
incidentonthatcountry'sseizureoftheSamoanIslands,hadleftnovisiblescarsupontherepublic,andthetemporaryoccupationofNorfolkbytheinvadingarmyhadbeenforgotteninthevreugde
joyoverrepeatednavalvictories,andthesubsequentridiculousplightofGeneralVonGartenlaube'sforcesintheStateofNewJersey.TheCubanandHawaiianinvestmentshadpaidonehundredpercentandtheterritoryofSamoawaswellworthitscostasacoalingstation.
Thecountrywasinasuperbstateofdefence.
Everycoastcityhadbeenwellsuppliedwithlandfortifications;
thearmyundertheparentaleyeoftheGeneral
Staf
Staff,organizedaccordingtothePrussiansystem,hadbeenincreasedto300,000men,withaterritorialreserveofamillion;andsixmagnificentsquadronsofcruisersandbattle-shipspatrolledthesixstationsofthenavigableseas,leavingasteamreserveamplyfittedtocontrolhomewaters.
ThegentlemenfromtheWesthadatlastbeenconstrainedtoacknowledgethatacollegeforthetrainingofdiplomatswasasnecessaryaslawschoolsareforthetrainingofbarristers;
consequentlywewerenolongerrepresentedabroadbyincompetentpatriots.
The
natie
nationwasprosperous;Chicago,foramomentparalyzedafterasecondgreatfire,hadrisenfromitsruins,whiteandimperial,andmorebeautifulthanthewhitecitywhichhadbeenbuiltforitsplaythingin1893.
Everywheregoodarchitecturewasreplacingbad,andeveninNewYork,a
plotselinge
suddencravingfordecencyhadsweptawayagreatportionoftheexistinghorrors.Streetshadbeenwidened,
naar behoren
properlypavedandlighted,treeshadbeengeplant
planted,squareslaidout,elevatedstructuresdemolishedandundergroundroadsbuilttoreplacethem.Thenewgovernmentbuildingsandbarrackswerefinebitsofarchitecture,andthelongsystemof
stenen
stonequayswhichcompletelysurroundedtheislandhadbeenturnedintoparkswhichprovedagod-sendtothepopulation.Thesubsidizingofthestatetheatreandstateoperabroughtitsownreward.
The
Verenigde
UnitedStatesNationalAcademyofDesignwasmuchlikeEuropeaninstitutionsofthesamekind.Nobodyenviedthe
Minister
SecretaryofFineArts,eitherhiscabinetpositionorhisportfolio.The
Secretaris
SecretaryofForestryandGamePreservationhadamucheasiertime,thankstothenewsystemofNationalMountedPolice.Wehadprofitedwellbythe
laatste
latesttreatieswithFranceandEngland;theexclusionofforeign-bornJewsasameasureofself-preservation,thesettlementofthenewindependentnegrostateofSuanee,thecheckingofimmigration,thenewlawsconcerningnaturalization,andthegradualcentralizationofpowerintheexecutiveallcontributedto
nationale
nationalcalmandprosperity.WhentheGovernmentsolvedtheIndianproblemandsquadronsofIndiancavalryscoutsinnativecostumeweresubstitutedforthepitiableorganizationstackedontothe
staart
tailofskeletonizedregimentsbyaformerMinister
SecretaryofWar,thenationdrewalongsighofrelief.When,afterthecolossalCongressofReligions,bigotryandintolerancewerelaidintheirgravesandkindnessandcharitybeganto
trekken
drawwarringsectstogether,manythoughtthemillenniumhadaangekomen
arrived,atleastinthenewworldwhichafterallisaworldbyitself.Butself-preservationisthefirstlaw,andthe
Verenigde
UnitedStateshadtolookoninhelplesssorrowasGermany,Italy,SpainandBelgiumwrithedinthethroesofAnarchy,whileRussia,watchingfromtheCaucasus,stoopedandboundthemonebyone.InthecityofNewYorkthesummerof1899wassignalizedbythedismantlingoftheElevatedRailroads.
Thesummerof1900willliveinthememoriesofNewYorkpeopleformanyacycle;
theDodgeStatuewas
verwijderd
removedinthatyear.Inthefollowing
winter
winterbeganthatagitationfortherepealofthelawsprohibitingzelfmoord
suicidewhichboreitsfinalfruitinthemonthofApril
April,1920,whenthefirstGovernmentLethalChamberwasopenedonWashingtonSquare
Square.IhadwalkeddownthatdayfromDr.Archer'shouseonMadisonAvenue,whereIhadbeenasamereformality.
Eversincethatfallfrommyhorse,fouryearsbefore,Ihadbeentroubledattimeswithpainsinthebackofmyheadandneck,butnowformonthstheyhadbeenabsent,andthedoctorsentmeawaythatdaysayingtherewasnothingmoretobe
genezen
curedinme.Itwas
nauwelijks
hardlyworthhisfeetobetoldthat;Iknewitmyself.
StillIdidnotgrudgehimthemoney.
WhatImindedwasthemistakewhichhemadeatfirst.
WhentheypickedmeupfromthepavementwhereIlayunconscious,andsomebodyhadmercifullysentabulletthroughmyhorse'shead,IwascarriedtoDr.Archer,andhe,pronouncingmybrainaffected,placedmeinhisprivateasylumwhereIwasobligedtoendure
behandeling
treatmentforinsanity.AtlasthedecidedthatIwaswell,andI,knowingthatmymindhadalwaysbeenassoundashis,ifnotsounder,"paidmytuition"ashejokinglycalledit,andleft.
Itoldhim,smiling,thatIwouldgetevenwithhimforhismistake,andhelaughedheartily,andaskedmetocallonceinawhile.
Ididso,hopingforachancetoevenupaccounts,buthegavemenone,andItoldhimIwouldwait.
Thefallfrommyhorsehadfortunatelyleftnoevilresults;
onthecontraryithadchangedmywholecharacterforthebetter.
Fromalazyyoungmanabouttown,Ihadbecomeactive,energetic,temperate,andaboveall—oh,aboveallelse—ambitious.
Therewasonlyonethingwhichtroubledme,Ilaughedatmyownuneasiness,andyetittroubledme.
DuringmyconvalescenceIhadboughtandreadforthefirsttime,TheKinginYellow.
IrememberafterfinishingthefirstactthatitoccurredtomethatIhadbetterstop.
Istartedupandflungthebookintothefireplace;
thevolumestruckthebarredgrateandfellopenonthehearthinthefirelight.
IfIhadnotcaughtaglimpseoftheopeningwordsinthesecondactIshouldneverhavefinishedit,butasIstoopedtopickitup,myeyesbecamerivetedtotheopen
bladzijde
page,andwithacryofterror,orperhapsitwasofvreugde
joysopoignantthatIleed
sufferedineverynerve,Isnatchedthethingoutofthecoalsandcreptshakingtomyslaapkamer
bedroom,whereIreaditandrereadit,andweptandlaughedandtrembledwithahorrorwhichattimesassailsmeyet.Thisisthethingthattroublesme,forIcannotforgetCarcosawhereblackstarshangintheheavens;
wheretheshadowsofmen'sthoughtslengthenintheafternoon,whenthetwinsunssinkintothe
meer
lakeofHali;andmymindwillbearforeverthememoryofthePallid
Masker
Mask.IprayGodwill
vervloeken
cursethewriter,astheschrijver
writerhascursedtheworldwiththisbeautiful,stupendouscreation,terribleinitssimplicity,irresistibleinitstruth—aworldwhichnowtremblesbeforetheKinginGeel
Yellow.WhentheFrenchGovernmentseizedthetranslatedcopieswhichhadjust
aangekomen
arrivedinParis,London,ofcourse,becameeagertoreadit.Itiswellknownhowthebook
verspreidde
spreadlikeaninfectiousdisease,fromcitytocity,fromcontinenttocontinent,barredouthere,confiscatedthere,denouncedbyPressandpulpit,censuredevenbythemostadvancedofliteraryanarchists.Nodefiniteprincipleshadbeenviolatedinthosewickedpages,nodoctrinepromulgated,noconvictionsoutraged.
Itcouldnotbejudgedbyanyknownstandard,yet,althoughitwasacknowledgedthatthesupreme
noot
noteofarthadbeenstruckinTheKinginYellow,allfeltthathumannaturecouldnotbearthestrain,northriveonwordsinwhichtheessenceofpurestgif
poisonlurked.Theverybanalityandinnocenceofthefirstactonlyallowedtheblowtofallafterwardwithmoreawful
effect
effect.Itwas,Iremember,the13thdayof
April
April,1920,thatthefirstGovernmentLethalChamberwasestablishedonthesouthsideofWashingtonSquare
Square,betweenWoosterStreetandSouthFifthAvenue.The
blok
blockwhichhadformerlyconsistedofalotofshabbyoldbuildings,usedascafésandrestaurantsforforeigners,hadbeenacquiredbytheGovernmentinthewinter
winterof1898.TheFrenchandItaliancafésandrestaurantsweretorndown;
thewhole
blok
blockwasenclosedbyagildedironrailing,andconvertedintoalovelytuin
gardenwithlawns,flowersandfountains.Inthecentreofthe
tuin
gardenstoodasmall,whitebuilding,severelyclassicalinarchitecture,andsurroundedbythicketsofflowers.SixIoniccolumnssupportedthe
dak
roof,andthesingledoorwasofbronze.Asplendidmarblegroupofthe"Fates"stoodbeforethedoor,theworkofayoungAmericansculptor,BorisYvain,whohaddiedinPariswhenonlytwenty-threeyearsold.
TheinaugurationceremonieswereinprogressasIcrossedUniversityPlaceandenteredthe
plein
square.Ithreadedmywaythroughthe
stille
silentthrongofspectators,butwasstoppedatFourthStreetbyacordonofpolice.AregimentofUnitedStateslancersweredrawnupinahollow
vierkant
squareroundtheLethalChamber.OnaraisedtribunefacingWashingtonParkstoodthe
Gouverneur
GovernorofNewYork,andbehindhimweregroupedtheBurgemeester
MayorofNewYorkandBrooklyn,theInspector-GeneralofPolice,theCommandantofthestatetroops,Kolonel
ColonelLivingston,militaryaidtothePresidentoftheVerenigde
UnitedStates,GeneralBlount,commandingatGovernor'sIsland,Major-GeneralHamilton,commandingthegarrisonofNewYorkandBrooklyn,AdmiralBuffbyofthefleetintheNorthRiver,Surgeon-GeneralLanceford,thepersoneel
staffoftheNationalFreeHospital,SenatorsWyseandFranklinofNewYork,andtheCommissionerofPublicWorks.Thetribunewassurroundedbyasquadronofhussarsofthe
Nationale
NationalGuard.TheGovernorwasfinishinghisreplytotheshort
toespraak
speechoftheSurgeon-General.Iheardhimsay:
"Thelawsprohibiting
zelfmoord
suicideandprovidingpunishmentforanyattemptatself-destructionhavebeenrepealed.TheGovernmenthasseenfittoacknowledgetherightofmantoendanexistencewhichmayhavebecomeintolerabletohim,throughphysical
lijden
sufferingormentaldespair.Itisbelievedthatthe
gemeenschap
communitywillbebenefitedbytheremovalofsuchpeoplefromtheirmidst.Sincethepassageofthislaw,thenumberofsuicidesinthe
Verenigde
UnitedStateshasnotincreased.NowtheGovernmenthasdeterminedtoestablishaLethalChamberineverycity,townandvillageinthecountry,it
blijft
remainstobeseenwhetherornotthatclassofhumancreaturesfromwhosedespondingranksnewvictimsofself-destructionfalldagelijks
dailywillacceptthereliefthusprovided."Hepaused,andturnedtothewhiteLethalChamber.
The
stilte
silenceinthestreetwasabsolute."Thereapainlessdeathawaitshimwhocannolongerbearthesorrowsofthislife.
Ifdeathiswelcomelethim
zoeken
seekitthere."ThenquicklyturningtothemilitaryaidofthePresident'shousehold,hesaid,"IdeclaretheLethalChamberopen,"andagainfacingthevast
menigte
crowdhecriedinaclearvoice:"CitizensofNewYorkandofthe
Verenigde
UnitedStatesofAmerica,throughmetheGovernmentdeclarestheLethalChambertobeopen."Thesolemnhushwasbrokenbya
scherpe
sharpcryofcommand,thesquadronofhussarsfiledaftertheGovernor'scarriage,thelancerswheeledandformedalongFifthAvenuetowaitforthecommandantofthegarrison,andthemountedpolicefollowedthem.Ileftthe
menigte
crowdtogapeandstareatthewhitemarbleDeathChamber,and,crossingSouthFifthAvenue,walkedalongthewesternsideofthatthoroughfaretoBleeckerStreet.ThenIturnedtotherightandstoppedbeforeadingyshopwhichborethesign:.
HAWBERK,ARMOURER.
IglancedinatthedoorwayandsawHawberkbusyinhislittleshopattheendofthehall.
Helookedup,andcatching
zicht
sightofmecriedinhisdeep,heartyvoice,"Comein,Mr.Castaigne!"Constance,hisdaughter,rosetomeetmeasIcrossedthethreshold,andheldoutherprettyhand,butIsawtheblushofdisappointmentonhercheeks,andknewthatitwasanotherCastaigneshehadexpected,mycousinLouis.
Ismiledatherconfusionandcomplimentedheronthebannershewasembroideringfromacoloured
bord
plate.OldHawberksatrivetingtheworngreavesofsomeancientsuitofarmour,andtheting!
ting!
ting!
ofhislittlehammersoundedpleasantlyinthequaintshop.
Presentlyhedroppedhishammer,andfussedaboutforamomentwitha
kleine
tinywrench.Thesoftclashofthe
post
mailsentathrillofpleasurethroughme.Ilovedtohearthemusicof
staal
steelbrushingagainststeel,themellowschok
shockofthemalletonthighpieces,andthejingleofchainarmour.ThatwastheonlyreasonIwenttoseeHawberk.
Hehadneverinterestedme
persoonlijk
personally,nordidConstance,exceptforthefactofherbeinginlovewithLouis.Thisdidoccupymyattention,andsometimesevenkeptme
wakker
awakeatnight.ButIknewinmyheartthatallwouldcomeright,andthatIshould
regelen
arrangetheirfutureasIexpectedtoregelen
arrangethatofmykinddoctor,JohnArcher.However,Ishouldneverhavetroubledmyselfaboutvisitingthemjustthen,haditnotbeen,asIsay,thatthemusicofthetinklinghammerhadformethisstrongfascination.
Iwouldsitforhours,listeningandlistening,andwhenastraysunbeamstrucktheinlaid
staal
steel,thesensationitgavemewasalmosttookeentoendure.Myeyeswouldbecomefixed,dilatingwithapleasurethatstretchedeverynervealmosttobreaking,untilsome
beweging
movementoftheoldarmourercutofftherayofsunlight,then,stillthrillingsecretly,Ileanedbackandlistenedagaintothesoundofthepolishingrag,swish!swish!
rubbingrustfromtherivets.
Constanceworkedwiththeembroideryoverherknees,nowandthenpausingtoexaminemorecloselythepatterninthecoloured
bord
platefromtheMetropolitanMuseum.Whoisthisfor?"
Iasked.
Hawberkexplained,thatinadditiontothetreasuresofarmourintheMetropolitan
Museum
Museumofwhichhehadbeenappointedarmourer,healsohadchargeofseveralcollectionsbelongingtorichamateurs.Thiswasthemissinggreaveofafamoussuitwhicha
klant
clientofhishadtracedtoalittleshopinParisontheQuaid'Orsay.He,Hawberk,hadnegotiatedforand
beveiligd
securedthegreave,andnowthesuitwascomplete.Helaiddownhishammerandreadmethehistoryofthesuit,
getraceerd
tracedsince1450fromownertoeigenaar
owneruntilitwasacquiredbyThomasStainbridge.Whenhissuperbcollectionwassold,this
klant
clientofHawberk'sboughtthesuit,andsincethenthesearchforthemissinggreavehadbeenpusheduntilitwas,almostbyaccident,locatedinParis.Didyoucontinuethesearchsopersistentlywithoutanycertaintyofthegreavebeingstillinexistence?"
I
eiste
demanded.Ofcourse,"herepliedcoolly.
ThenforthefirsttimeItookapersonalinterestinHawberk.
Itwasworthsomethingtoyou,"Iventured.
No,"hereplied,laughing,"mypleasureinfindingitwasmyreward."
Haveyounoambitiontoberich?"
Iasked,smiling.
Myoneambitionistobethebestarmourerintheworld,"heansweredgravely.
ConstanceaskedmeifIhadseentheceremoniesattheLethalChamber.
SheherselfhadnoticedcavalrypassingupBroadwaythatmorning,andhadwishedtoseetheinauguration,butherfatherwantedthebannerfinished,andshehadstayedathis
verzoek
request.Didyouseeyourcousin,Mr.Castaigne,there?"
sheasked,withtheslightesttremorofher
zachte
softeyelashes.No,"Irepliedcarelessly.
"Louis'regimentismanœuvringoutinWestchesterCounty."
Iroseandpickedupmy
hoed
hatandcane.Areyougoingupstairstoseethelunaticagain?"
laughedoldHawberk.
IfHawberkknewhowIloathethatword"lunatic,"hewouldneveruseitinmy
aanwezigheid
presence.ItrousescertainfeelingswithinmewhichIdonotcaretoexplain.
However,Iansweredhim
rustig
quietly:"IthinkIshalldropinandseeMr.Wildeforamomentortwo."
Poorfellow,"saidConstance,witha
schudden
shakeofthehead,"itmustbehardtolivealoneyearafteryearpoor,crippledandalmostdemented.Itisverygoodofyou,Mr.Castaigne,tovisithimasoftenasyoudo."
Ithinkheisvicious,"observedHawberk,beginningagainwithhishammer.
Ilistenedtothe
gouden
goldentinkleonthegreaveplates;whenhehadfinishedIreplied:.
No,heisnotvicious,norisheintheleastdemented.
Hismindisawonderchamber,fromwhichhecanextracttreasuresthatyouandIwouldgiveyearsofourlifetoacquire."'.
Hawberklaughed.
Icontinuedalittleimpatiently:
"Heknowshistoryasnooneelsecouldknowit.
Nothing,howevertrivial,escapeshissearch,andhismemoryissoabsolute,sopreciseindetails,thatwereitknowninNewYorkthatsuchaman
bestond
existed,thepeoplecouldnothonourhimenough."Nonsense,"mutteredHawberk,searchingonthefloorforafallenrivet.
Isitnonsense,"Iasked,managingtosuppresswhatIfelt,"isit
onzin
nonsensewhenhesaysthatthetassetsandcuissardsoftheenamelledsuitofarmourcommonlyknownasthe'Prince'sEmblazoned'canbefoundonder
amongamassofrustytheatricalproperties,brokenstovesandragpicker'srefuseinagarretinPellStreet?"Hawberk'shammerfelltotheground,buthepickeditupandasked,withagreatdealofcalm,howIknewthatthetassetsandleftcuissardweremissingfromthe"Prince'sEmblazoned."
IdidnotknowuntilMr.Wildementionedittometheotherday.
Hesaidtheywereinthegarretof998PellStreet."
Nonsense,"hecried,butInoticedhishandtremblingunderhisleathernapron.
Isthisnonsensetoo?"
Iaskedpleasantly,"isit
onzin
nonsensewhenMr.WildecontinuallyspeaksofyouastheMarquisofAvonshireandofMissConstance—".Ididnotfinish,forConstancehadstartedtoherfeetwithterrorwrittenoneveryfeature.
Hawberklookedatmeand
langzaam
slowlysmoothedhisleathernapron.Thatisimpossible,"heobserved,"Mr.
Wildemayknowagreatmanythings—".
Aboutarmour,forinstance,andthe'Prince'sEmblazoned,'"Iinterposed,smiling.
Yes,"hecontinued,
langzaam
slowly,"aboutarmouralso—maybe—butheiswronginregardtotheMarquisofAvonshire,who,asyouknow,killedhiswife'straduceryearsago,andwenttoAustraliawherehedidnotlongoverleefde
survivehiswife."Mr.
Wildeiswrong,"murmuredConstance.
Herlipswereblanched,buthervoicewassweetandcalm.
Letusagree,ifyouplease,thatinthisonecircumstanceMr.Wildeiswrong,"Isaid.
II
Iclimbedthethreedilapidatedflightsof
trap
stairs,whichIhadsooftenclimbedbefore,andknockedatasmalldoorattheendofthecorridor.Mr.WildeopenedthedoorandIwalkedin.
Whenhehaddouble-lockedthedoorandpushedaheavy
borst
chestagainstit,hecameandsatdownnaast
besideme,peeringupintomyfacewithhislittlelight-colouredeyes.Halfadozennew
krassen
scratchescoveredhisnoseandcheeks,andthezilveren
silverwireswhichsupportedhisartificialearshadbecomedisplaced.IthoughtIhadneverseenhimsohideouslyfascinating.
Hehadnoears.
Theartificialones,whichnowstoodoutatananglefromthefine
draad
wire,werehisoneweakness.Theyweremadeofwaxand
geschilderd
paintedashellpink,buttherestofhisfacewasgeel
yellow.Hemightbetterhaverevelledintheluxuryofsomeartificialfingersforhislefthand,whichwasabsolutelyfingerless,butitseemedtocausehimnoinconvenience,andhewassatisfiedwithhiswaxears.
Hewasverysmall,scarcely
hoger
higherthanachildoften,buthisarmsweremagnificentlydeveloped,andhisthighsasdik
thickasanyathlete's.Still,themostremarkablethingaboutMr.Wildewasthatamanofhismarvellous
intelligentie
intelligenceandknowledgeshouldhavesuchahead.Itwasflatandpointed,liketheheadsofmanyofthoseunfortunateswhompeopleimprisoninasylumsfortheweak-minded.
Manycalledhim
krankzinnig
insane,butIknewhimtobeassaneasIwas.Idonot
ontken
denythathewaseccentric;themaniahehadforkeepingthatcatandteasingheruntilsheflewathisfacelikea
demon
demon,wascertainlyeccentric.Inevercouldunderstandwhyhekeptthe
wezen
creature,norwhatpleasurehefoundinshuttinghimselfupinhisroomwiththissurly,viciousbeest
beast.Irememberonce,glancingupfromthemanuscriptIwasstudyingbythelightofsometallowdips,andseeingMr.Wildesquattingmotionlessonhishigh
stoel
chair,hiseyesfairlyblazingwithexcitement,whilethecat,whichhadrisenfromherplacebeforethestove,camecreepingacrossthefloorrightathim.BeforeIcouldmovesheflattenedherbellytotheground,crouched,trembled,andsprangintohisface.
Howlingandfoamingtheyrolledoverandoveronthefloor,
krabben
scratchingandclawing,untilthecatschreeuwde
screamedandfledunderthecabinet,andMr.Wildeturnedoveronhisback,hislimbscontractingandcurlinguplikethelegsofadyingspider.Hewaseccentric.
Mr.
Wildehad
geklommen
climbedintohishighchair,and,afterstudyingmyface,pickedupadog's-earedledgerandopenedit.HenryB.
Matthews,"heread,"book-keeperwithWhysotWhysotandCompany,dealersinchurchornaments.
Called
April
April3rd.Reputationdamagedontherace-track.
Knownasawelcher.
Reputatie
ReputationtoberepairedbyAugustus
August1st.RetainerFiveDollars."