THEREPAIREROFREPUTATIONS
I
Neraillonspaslesfous;
leurfoliedurepluslongtempsquelanôtre....
Voilatouteladifférence."
Towardthe
fin
endoftheyear1920theGovernmentoftheUnitedStateshadpracticallycompletedtheprogramme,adoptedduringthelastmonthsofPresidentWinthrop'sadministration.Le
Thecountrywasapparentlytranquil.Tout le monde
EverybodyknowshowtheTariffet
andLabourquestionsweresettled.La
ThewarwithGermany,incidentonthatcountry'sseizureofla
theSamoanIslands,hadleftnovisiblescarsuponla
therepublic,andthetemporaryoccupationofNorfolkbyla
theinvadingarmyhadbeenforgotteninla
thejoyoverrepeatednavalvictories,et
andthesubsequentridiculousplightofGeneralVonGartenlaube'sforcesinla
theStateofNewJersey.TheCuban
et
andHawaiianinvestmentshadpaidonehundredpercentet
andtheterritoryofSamoawasbien
wellworthitscostasacoalingstation.Le
Thecountrywasinasuperbstateofdefence.Chaque
Everycoastcityhadbeenbien
wellsuppliedwithlandfortifications;le
thearmyundertheparentaleyeofle
theGeneralStaff,organizedaccordingtole
thePrussiansystem,hadbeenincreasedto300,000men,avec
withaterritorialreserveofune
amillion;andsixmagnificentsquadronsofcruisers
et
andbattle-shipspatrolledthesixstationsofthenavigableseas,laissant
leavingasteamreserveamplyfittedtocontrôler
controlhomewaters.ThegentlemenfromtheWesthadatlastbeenconstrainedtoacknowledgethatacollegeforthetrainingofdiplomatswasasnecessaryaslawschoolsareforthetrainingofbarristers;
consequentlywewerenolongerrepresentedabroadbyincompetentpatriots.
La
Thenationwasprosperous;Chicago,for
un
amomentparalyzedafterasecond
secondgreatfire,hadrisenfromitsruins,whiteet
andimperial,andmorebeautifulthanla
thewhitecitywhichhadbeenbuiltforitsplaythingin1893.Everywheregoodarchitecturewasreplacingbad,
et
andeveninNewYork,asuddencravingfordecencyhadsweptawayagreatportionofla
theexistinghorrors.Streetshadbeenwidened,properlypaved
et
andlighted,treeshadbeenplanted,squareslaidout,elevatedstructuresdemolishedet
andundergroundroadsbuilttoreplaceles
them.Thenewgovernmentbuildings
et
andbarrackswerefinebitsofarchitecture,et
andthelongsystemofstonequaysqui
whichcompletelysurroundedtheislandhadbeentransformé
turnedintoparkswhichprovedun
agod-sendtothepopulation.La
Thesubsidizingofthestatetheatreet
andstateoperabroughtitspropre
ownreward.TheUnitedStatesNationalAcademyofDesignwas
beaucoup
muchlikeEuropeaninstitutionsofthemême
samekind.NobodyenviedtheSecretaryofFineArts,eitherhiscabinetpositionorhisportfolio.
TheSecretaryofForestry
et
andGamePreservationhadabeaucoup
mucheasiertime,thankstothenouveau
newsystemofNationalMountedPolice
Police.Wehadprofitedwellby
la
thelatesttreatieswithFranceet
andEngland;theexclusionofforeign-bornJewsasameasureofself-preservation,thesettlementofthenewindependentnegrostateofSuanee,thecheckingofimmigration,thenewlawsconcerningnaturalization,
et
andthegradualcentralizationofpouvoir
powerintheexecutiveallcontributedtonationalcalme
calmandprosperity.WhentheGovernmentsolvedtheIndian
problème
problemandsquadronsofIndiancavalryscoutsinnativecostumeweresubstitutedforthepitiableorganizationstackedontothetailofskeletonizedregimentsbyun
aformerSecretaryofWar,thenationdrewun
alongsighofrelief.Quand
When,afterthecolossalCongressofReligions,bigotryet
andintolerancewerelaidintheirgraveset
andkindnessandcharitybegantodrawwarringsectstogether,beaucoup
manythoughtthemillenniumhadarrived,atmoins
leastinthenewworldqui
whichafterallisamonde
worldbyitself.Butself-preservationisthe
première
firstlaw,andtheUnitedStatesdû
hadtolookoninhelplesssorrowasGermany,Italy,Spainet
andBelgiumwrithedinthethroesofAnarchy,tandis que
whileRussia,watchingfromtheCaucasus,stoopedet
andboundthemonebyone.Inthe
ville
cityofNewYorkthesummerof1899wassignalizedbythedismantlingoftheElevatedRailroads.La
Thesummerof1900willvivra
liveinthememoriesofNewYorkpeoplefornombreux
manyacycle;theDodgeStatuewasremovedinthat
année
year.InthefollowingwinterbeganthatagitationfortherepealofthelawsprohibitingsuicidewhichboreitsfinalfruitinthemonthofApril,1920,
quand
whenthefirstGovernmentLethalChamberwasopenedonWashingtonSquare.IhadwalkeddownthatdayfromDr.Archer's
maison
houseonMadisonAvenue,whereIhadbeenasune
amereformality.Eversincethat
chute
fallfrommyhorse,fouryearsbefore,Ihadbeentroubledattimeswithpainsinthebackofmytête
headandneck,butnowformonthstheyhadbeenabsent,et
andthedoctorsentmeawaythatdaydisant
sayingtherewasnothingmoretobecuredinmoi
me.Itwashardlyworthhisfeetobe
dit
toldthat;Iknewitmyself.
StillIdidnotgrudgehimthemoney.
WhatImindedwasthemistake
qui
whichhemadeatfirst.Quand
Whentheypickedmeupfromla
thepavementwhereIlayunconscious,et
andsomebodyhadmercifullysentabulletthroughmyhorse'stête
head,IwascarriedtoDr.Archer,et
andhe,pronouncingmybrainaffected,placé
placedmeinhisprivateasylumoù
whereIwasobligedtoenduretreatmentforinsanity.AtlasthedecidedthatIwas
bien
well,andI,knowingthatmyesprit
mindhadalwaysbeenassoundashis,si
ifnotsounder,"paidmytuition"ashejokinglycalledit,et
andleft.Itoldhim,smiling,
que
thatIwouldgetevenwithhimforhismistake,et
andhelaughedheartily,anddemandé
askedmetocallonceinawhile.I
fait
didso,hopingforachancetoevenupaccounts,mais
buthegavemenone,et
andItoldhimIwouldwait.La
Thefallfrommyhorsehadfortunatelylaissé
leftnoevilresults;on
le
thecontraryithadchangedmytout
wholecharacterforthebetter.Fromalazy
jeune
youngmanabouttown,Ihaddevenu
becomeactive,energetic,temperate,andaboveall—oh,aboveallelse—ambitious.Therewas
seule
onlyonethingwhichtroubledme
me,Ilaughedatmypropre
ownuneasiness,andyetittroubledme
me.DuringmyconvalescenceIhad
acheté
boughtandreadforthepremière
firsttime,TheKinginYellow.I
me souviens
rememberafterfinishingthefirstactque
thatitoccurredtomeque
thatIhadbetterstop.Istartedup
et
andflungthebookintothefireplace;thevolumestruckthebarredgrate
et
andfellopenonthehearthinthefirelight.Si
IfIhadnotcaughtun
aglimpseoftheopeningwordsinthedeuxième
secondactIshouldnevereu
havefinishedit,butasIstoopedtoramasser
pickitup,myeyesbecamerivetedtotheopenpage,et
andwithacryofterror,ou
orperhapsitwasofjoysopoignantthatIsufferedinchaque
everynerve,Isnatchedthechose
thingoutofthecoalset
andcreptshakingtomybedroom,où
whereIreaditandrereadit,et
andweptandlaughedandtrembledavec
withahorrorwhichattimesassailsmeyet.Ce
Thisisthethingthattroublesme
me,forIcannotforgetCarcosaoù
whereblackstarshanginles
theheavens;wheretheshadowsofmen'sthoughtslengthenintheafternoon,
quand
whenthetwinsunssinkintothelakeofHali;et
andmymindwillbearforeverle
thememoryofthePallidMask.Ipray
Dieu
Godwillcursethewriter,asle
thewriterhascursedthemonde
worldwiththisbeautiful,stupendouscreation,terribleinitssimplicity,irresistibleinitstruth—amonde
worldwhichnowtremblesbeforele
theKinginYellow.WhentheFrenchGovernmentseizedthetranslatedcopies
qui
whichhadjustarrivedinParis,London,ofsûr
course,becameeagertoreadit.Itis
bien
wellknownhowthebookspreadcomme
likeaninfectiousdisease,fromville
citytocity,fromcontinenttocontinent,barredoutici
here,confiscatedthere,denouncedbyPresset
andpulpit,censuredevenbytheplus
mostadvancedofliteraryanarchists.Aucun
Nodefiniteprincipleshadbeenviolatedinces
thosewickedpages,nodoctrinepromulgated,aucun
noconvictionsoutraged.Itcouldnotbejudgedbyany
connu
knownstandard,yet,althoughitwasacknowledgedque
thatthesupremenoteofarthadbeenstruckinTheRoi
KinginYellow,allfeltque
thathumannaturecouldnotbearthestrain,northriveonwordsinwhichtheessenceofpurestpoisonlurked.La
Theverybanalityandinnocenceofla
thefirstactonlyallowedla
theblowtofallafterwardavec
withmoreawfuleffect.Itwas,I
rappelle
remember,the13thdayofApril,1920,que
thatthefirstGovernmentLethalChamberwasestablishedonthesouthcôté
sideofWashingtonSquare,betweenWoosterStreetet
andSouthFifthAvenue.Theblock
qui
whichhadformerlyconsistedofalotofshabbyvieux
oldbuildings,usedascaféset
andrestaurantsforforeigners,hadbeenacquiredbytheGovernmentinthewinterof1898.Les
TheFrenchandItaliancaféset
andrestaurantsweretorndown;le
thewholeblockwasenclosedbyun
agildedironrailing,andconvertedintoun
alovelygardenwithlawns,flowerset
andfountains.Inthecentreofthegardenstood
un
asmall,whitebuilding,severelyclassicalinarchitecture,andsurroundedbythicketsofflowers.Six
SixIoniccolumnssupportedtheroof,et
andthesingledoorwasofbronze.Un
Asplendidmarblegroupofla
the"Fates"stoodbeforetheporte
door,theworkofajeune
youngAmericansculptor,BorisYvain,qui
whohaddiedinPariswhenonlytwenty-threeyearsold.TheinaugurationceremonieswereinprogressasIcrossedUniversity
Place
Placeandenteredthesquare.Ithreadedmy
chemin
waythroughthesilentthrongofspectators,mais
butwasstoppedatFourthRue
Streetbyacordonofpolice
police.AregimentofUnitedStateslancersweredrawnupin
un
ahollowsquareroundtheLethalChamber.OnaraisedtribunefacingWashingtonParkstoodtheGovernorofNewYork,
et
andbehindhimweregroupedtheMayorofNewYorket
andBrooklyn,theInspector-GeneralofPolice
Police,theCommandantofthestatetroops,ColonelLivingston,militaryaidtothePresidentoftheUnitedStates,GeneralBlount,commandingatGovernor'sIsland,Major-GeneralHamilton,commandingthegarrisonofNewYorket
andBrooklyn,AdmiralBuffbyofthefleetintheNorthRiver,Surgeon-GeneralLanceford,thestaffoftheNationalFreeHospital,SenatorsWyseet
andFranklinofNewYork,et
andtheCommissionerofPublicWorks.La
Thetribunewassurroundedbyasquadronofhussarsofla
theNationalGuard.TheGovernorwasfinishinghisreplyto
le
theshortspeechoftheSurgeon-General.I
entendu
heardhimsay:"Thelawsprohibitingsuicide
et
andprovidingpunishmentforanyattemptatself-destructionont
havebeenrepealed.TheGovernmenthasseenfittoacknowledgethe
droit
rightofmantoendune
anexistencewhichmayhavedevenue
becomeintolerabletohim,throughphysicalsufferingou
ormentaldespair.Itis
pense
believedthatthecommunitywillbebenefitedbyla
theremovalofsuchpeoplefromtheirmidst.Depuis
Sincethepassageofthisloi
law,thenumberofsuicidesinle
theUnitedStateshasnotincreased.Maintenant
NowtheGovernmenthasdeterminedtoestablishune
aLethalChamberineverycity,townet
andvillageinthecountry,itremainstobevoir
seenwhetherornotthatclasse
classofhumancreaturesfromwhosedespondingranksnewvictimsofself-destructionfalldailywillacceptthereliefthusprovided."Hepaused,
et
andturnedtothewhiteLethalChamber.Thesilenceinthe
rue
streetwasabsolute."Thereapainless
mort
deathawaitshimwhocannolongerbearles
thesorrowsofthislife.Si
Ifdeathiswelcomelethimseekitthere."Thenquickly
tournant
turningtothemilitaryaidofla
thePresident'shousehold,hesaid,"Ideclarela
theLethalChamberopen,"andnouveau
againfacingthevastcrowdhecriedinaclaire
clearvoice:"CitizensofNewYork
et
andoftheUnitedStatesofAmerica,travers
throughmetheGovernmentdeclarestheLethalChambertobeopen."Thesolemnhushwas
brisé
brokenbyasharpcryofcommand,thesquadronofhussarsfiledaftertheGovernor'scarriage,thelancerswheeledet
andformedalongFifthAvenuetoattendre
waitforthecommandantofthegarrison,et
andthemountedpolicefollowedthem.I
quitté
leftthecrowdtogapeet
andstareatthewhitemarbleMort
DeathChamber,and,crossingSouthFifthAvenue,marché
walkedalongthewesternsideofthatthoroughfaretoBleeckerStreet.ThenI
tourné
turnedtotherightandarrêté
stoppedbeforeadingyshopqui
whichborethesign:.HAWBERK,ARMOURER.
Iglancedinat
la
thedoorwayandsawHawberkbusyinhislittleshopatla
theendofthehall.Helookedup,
et
andcatchingsightofmecriedinhisdeep,heartyvoice,"Comein,Mr.Castaigne!"Constance,his
fille
daughter,rosetomeetmeasIcrossedthethreshold,et
andheldoutherprettymain
hand,butIsawtheblushofdisappointmentonhercheeks,et
andknewthatitwasautre
anotherCastaigneshehadexpected,mycousinLouis.Ismiledatherconfusion
et
andcomplimentedheronthebannershewasembroideringfromacolouredplate.Vieux
OldHawberksatrivetingtheworngreavesofsomeancientsuitofarmour,et
andtheting!ting!
ting!
ofhis
petit
littlehammersoundedpleasantlyinle
thequaintshop.Presentlyhedroppedhishammer,
et
andfussedaboutforamomentavec
withatinywrench.Thesoftclashof
le
themailsentathrillofpleasurethroughme.Ilovedto
entendre
hearthemusicofsteelbrushingcontre
againststeel,themellowshockofthemalletonthighpieces,et
andthejingleofchainarmour.Thatwas
la
theonlyreasonIwenttovoir
seeHawberk.Hehadneverinterestedmepersonally,nor
fait
didConstance,exceptforthefait
factofherbeinginlovewithLouis.Cela
Thisdidoccupymyattention,et
andsometimesevenkeptmeawakeatnuit
night.ButIknewinmy
cœur
heartthatallwouldcomeright,et
andthatIshouldarrangetheirfutureasIexpectedtoarrangethatofmykinddocteur
doctor,JohnArcher.However,Ishould
jamais
neverhavetroubledmyselfaboutvisitingthemjustthen,haditnotbeen,asIdit
say,thatthemusicofthetinklinghammerhadformethisstrongfascination.I
être
wouldsitforhours,listeninget
andlistening,andwhenastraysunbeamstruckla
theinlaidsteel,thesensationitdonnait
gavemewasalmosttookeentoendure.Myeyeswould
devenaient
becomefixed,dilatingwithapleasurequi
thatstretchedeverynervealmosttobreaking,jusqu'à
untilsomemovementoftheoldarmourercoupe
cutofftherayofsunlight,then,toujours
stillthrillingsecretly,Ileanedarrière
backandlistenedagaintothebruit
soundofthepolishingrag,swish!swish!
rubbingrustfromtherivets.
Constance
travaillait
workedwiththeembroideryoverherknees,nowandthenpausingtoexamineplus
morecloselythepatterninthecolouredplatefromtheMetropolitanMuseum.Qui
Whoisthisfor?"I
demandé
asked.Hawberkexplained,thatinadditiontothetreasuresofarmourintheMetropolitanMuseumof
dont
whichhehadbeenappointedarmourer,heégalement
alsohadchargeofseveralcollectionsbelongingtorichamateurs.Thiswasthemissinggreaveof
une
afamoussuitwhichaclientofhishadtracedtoune
alittleshopinParisontheQuaid'Orsay.He,Hawberk,hadnegotiatedfor
et
andsecuredthegreave,andmaintenant
nowthesuitwascomplete.Helaiddownhishammer
et
andreadmethehistoryofthesuit,traceddepuis
since1450fromownertoownerjusqu'à
untilitwasacquiredbyThomasStainbridge.Quand
Whenhissuperbcollectionwassold,ce
thisclientofHawberk'sboughtthesuit,et
andsincethenthesearchforthemissinggreavehadbeenpushedjusqu'à
untilitwas,almostbyaccident,locatedinParis.Didyoucontinue
la
thesearchsopersistentlywithoutanycertaintyofla
thegreavebeingstillinexistence?"Idemanded.
Ofcourse,"herepliedcoolly.
Thenfor
la
thefirsttimeItookapersonalinterestinHawberk.Itwasworth
quelque chose
somethingtoyou,"Iventured.No,"hereplied,laughing,"mypleasurein
trouver
findingitwasmyreward."Haveyou
pas
noambitiontoberich?"I
demandé
asked,smiling.Myoneambitionistobe
le
thebestarmourerintheworld,"herépondit
answeredgravely.Constanceaskedme
si
ifIhadseentheceremoniesattheLethalChamber.SheherselfhadnoticedcavalrypassingupBroadwaythat
matin
morning,andhadwishedtovoir
seetheinauguration,butherpère
fatherwantedthebannerfinished,et
andshehadstayedathisrequest.Didyou
vu
seeyourcousin,Mr.Castaigne,there?"she
demandé
asked,withtheslightesttremorofhersofteyelashes.No,"Irepliedcarelessly.
"Louis'regimentismanœuvringoutinWestchesterCounty."
Irose
et
andpickedupmyhatet
andcane.Areyougoingupstairsto
voir
seethelunaticagain?"laughed
vieux
oldHawberk.IfHawberkknewhowIloathethat
mot
word"lunatic,"hewouldneveruseitinmypresence.ItrousescertainfeelingswithinmewhichI
ne
donotcaretoexplain.However,I
répondu
answeredhimquietly:"IthinkIshalldropin
et
andseeMr.Wildeforun
amomentortwo."Poorfellow,"
dit
saidConstance,withashakeofla
thehead,"itmustbedifficile
hardtolivealoneyearaprès
afteryearpoor,crippledandpresque
almostdemented.Itisverygoodofyou,Mr.Castaigne,tovisithimasoftenasyoudo."
I
pense
thinkheisvicious,"observedHawberk,beginningagainavec
withhishammer.Ilistenedtothegoldentinkleonthegreaveplates;
quand
whenhehadfinishedIreplied:.No,heisnotvicious,norisheintheleastdemented.
His
esprit
mindisawonderchamber,fromlaquelle
whichhecanextracttreasuresque
thatyouandIwoulddonnerions
giveyearsofourlifetoacquire."'.Hawberklaughed.
Icontinued
un
alittleimpatiently:"Heknowshistoryasnooneelsecouldknowit.
Rien
Nothing,howevertrivial,escapeshissearch,et
andhismemoryissoabsolute,sopreciseindetails,que
thatwereitknowninNewYorkque
thatsuchamanexisted,thepeuple
peoplecouldnothonourhimenough."Nonsense,"mutteredHawberk,searchingonthefloorfora
tombé
fallenrivet.Isitnonsense,"I
demandé
asked,managingtosuppresswhatIfelt,"isitnonsensequand
whenhesaysthatthetassetset
andcuissardsoftheenamelledsuitofarmourcommonlyknownasthe'Prince'sEmblazoned'peuvent
canbefoundamongamassofrustytheatricalproperties,brokenstoveset
andragpicker'srefuseinagarretinPellStreet?"Hawberk'shammer
tombé
felltotheground,butheramassé
pickeditupandasked,avec
withagreatdealofcalme
calm,howIknewthatthetassetset
andleftcuissardweremissingfromthe"Prince'sEmblazoned."Ididnot
savais
knowuntilMr.Wildementionedittomele
theotherday.Hesaidtheywerein
le
thegarretof998PellStreet."Nonsense,"hecried,
mais
butInoticedhishandtremblingsous
underhisleathernapron.Isthisnonsensetoo?"
I
demandé
askedpleasantly,"isitnonsensequand
whenMr.Wildecontinuallyspeaksofyouasle
theMarquisofAvonshireandofMlle
MissConstance—".Ididnotfinish,forConstancehad
commencé
startedtoherfeetwithterrorwrittenonchaque
everyfeature.Hawberklookedatme
et
andslowlysmoothedhisleathernapron.Thatisimpossible,"heobserved,"Mr.
Wilde
peut
mayknowagreatmanythings—".Aboutarmour,forinstance,
et
andthe'Prince'sEmblazoned,'"Iinterposed,smiling.Yes,"hecontinued,slowly,"aboutarmouralso—maybe—butheiswronginregardto
le
theMarquisofAvonshire,who,asyousavez
know,killedhiswife'straduceryearsago,et
andwenttoAustraliawherehedidnotlongtemps
longsurvivehiswife."Mr.
Wildeiswrong,"murmuredConstance.
Herlipswereblanched,
mais
buthervoicewassweetet
andcalm.Letusagree,ifyouplease,
que
thatinthisonecircumstanceMr.Wildeiswrong,"Idit
said.II
Iclimbedthe
trois
threedilapidatedflightsofstairs,whichIhadsooftenclimbedbefore,et
andknockedatasmallporte
doorattheendofles
thecorridor.Mr.Wildeopened
la
thedoorandIwalkedin.Quand
Whenhehaddouble-lockedtheporte
doorandpushedaheavychestcontre
againstit,hecameandassis
satdownbesideme,peeringupintomyvisage
facewithhislittlelight-colouredeyes.Demi
Halfadozennewscratchescoveredhisnoseet
andcheeks,andthesilverwiresqui
whichsupportedhisartificialearshadbecomedisplaced.I
pensais
thoughtIhadneverseenhimsohideouslyfascinating.Hehad
pas
noears.Theartificialones,
qui
whichnowstoodoutatananglefromles
thefinewire,werehisoneweakness.Theyweremadeofwax
et
andpaintedashellpink,mais
buttherestofhisvisage
facewasyellow.Hemight
mieux
betterhaverevelledintheluxuryofquelques
someartificialfingersforhisleftmain
hand,whichwasabsolutelyfingerless,mais
butitseemedtocausehimaucun
noinconvenience,andhewassatisfiedwithhiswaxears.Hewas
très
verysmall,scarcelyhigherthanaenfant
childoften,buthisarmsweremagnificentlydeveloped,et
andhisthighsasthickasn'importe quel
anyathlete's.Still,themostremarkable
chose
thingaboutMr.Wildewasthatune
amanofhismarvellousintelligenceet
andknowledgeshouldhavesuchune
ahead.Itwasflat
et
andpointed,liketheheadsofbeaucoup
manyofthoseunfortunateswhomgens
peopleimprisoninasylumsforles
theweak-minded.Manycalledhiminsane,
mais
butIknewhimtobeassaneasIwas.I
ne
donotdenythathewaseccentric;la
themaniahehadforgarder
keepingthatcatandteasingherjusqu'à
untilsheflewathisvisage
facelikeademon,wascertainlyeccentric.I
jamais
nevercouldunderstandwhyhegardait
keptthecreature,norwhatpleasurehetrouvait
foundinshuttinghimselfupinhisroomavec
withthissurly,viciousbeast.I
me souviens
rememberonce,glancingupfromthemanuscriptIwasstudyingbythelumière
lightofsometallowdips,et
andseeingMr.Wildesquattingmotionlessonhishaute
highchair,hiseyesfairlyblazingwithexcitement,tandis que
whilethecat,whichhadrisenfromherplace
placebeforethestove,camecreepingacrossthefloordroit
rightathim.BeforeI
puisse
couldmovesheflattenedherbellytotheground,crouched,trembled,et
andsprangintohisface.Howling
et
andfoamingtheyrolledoveret
andoveronthefloor,scratchinget
andclawing,untilthecatscreamedet
andfledunderthecabinet,et
andMr.Wildeturnedoveronhisdos
back,hislimbscontractingandcurlingupcomme
likethelegsofadyingspider.Hewaseccentric.
Mr.
Wilde
avoir
hadclimbedintohishighchair,et
and,afterstudyingmyface,ramassé
pickedupadog's-earedledgeret
andopenedit.HenryB.
Matthews,"he
lu
read,"book-keeperwithWhysotWhysotandCompany,dealersinchurchornaments.Appelé
CalledApril3rd.Reputationdamagedon
la
therace-track.Knownasawelcher.
ReputationtoberepairedbyAugust1st.
Retainer
Cinq
FiveDollars."