The King in Yellow | Progressive French B1 Translation Books

The King in Yellow | Progressive French B1 Translation Books

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THEREPAIREROFREPUTATIONS
I
Neraillonspaslesfous;
leurfoliedure
plus
plus
longtempsquelanôtre....
Voilatouteladifférence."
Towardtheendoftheyear1920theGovernmentoftheUnitedStateshadpracticallycompletedtheprogramme,adoptedduringthelastmonthsofPresidentWinthrop'sadministration.
Thecountrywas
apparemment
apparently
tranquil.
EverybodyknowshowtheTariffandLabourquestionsweresettled.
ThewarwithGermany,
incident
incident
onthatcountry'sseizureoftheSamoanIslands,hadleftnovisiblescarsupontherepublic,andthetemporaryoccupationofNorfolkbytheinvadingarmyhadbeenforgotteninthe
joie
joy
overrepeatednavalvictories,andthesubsequent
ridicule
ridiculous
plightofGeneralVonGartenlaube'sforcesintheStateofNewJersey.
TheCubanandHawaiianinvestmentshadpaidonehundredpercentandtheterritoryofSamoawaswellworthitscostasacoalingstation.
Thecountrywasinasuperbstateofdefence.
Everycoastcityhadbeenwellsuppliedwithlandfortifications;
thearmyundertheparentaleyeoftheGeneralStaff,organizedaccordingtothePrussiansystem,hadbeenincreasedto300,000men,withaterritorialreserveofamillion;
andsixmagnificentsquadronsofcruisersandbattle-shipspatrolledthesixstationsofthenavigableseas,leavingasteamreserveamplyfittedtocontrolhomewaters.
ThegentlemenfromtheWesthadatlastbeenconstrainedtoacknowledgethatacollegeforthetrainingofdiplomatswasasnecessaryaslawschoolsareforthetrainingofbarristers;
consequentlywewerenolongerrepresentedabroadbyincompetentpatriots.
The
nation
nation
wasprosperous;
Chicago,foramomentparalyzedafterasecondgreatfire,hadrisenfromitsruins,whiteandimperial,andmorebeautifulthanthewhitecitywhichhadbeenbuiltforitsplaythingin1893.
Everywheregoodarchitecturewasreplacingbad,andeveninNewYork,a
soudain
sudden
cravingfordecencyhadsweptawayagreatportionoftheexistinghorrors.
Streetshadbeenwidened,
correctement
properly
pavedandlighted,treeshadbeenplanted,squareslaidout,elevatedstructuresdemolishedandundergroundroadsbuilttoreplacethem.
Thenewgovernmentbuildingsandbarrackswerefinebitsofarchitecture,andthelongsystemof
pierre
stone
quayswhichcompletelysurroundedtheislandhadbeenturnedintoparkswhichprovedagod-sendtothepopulation.
Thesubsidizingofthestatetheatreandstateoperabroughtitsown
récompense
reward
.
TheUnitedStatesNationalAcademyofDesignwasmuchlikeEuropeaninstitutionsofthesamekind.
Nobodyenviedthe
Secrétaire
Secretary
ofFineArts,eitherhiscabinetpositionorhisportfolio.
The
Secrétaire
Secretary
ofForestryandGamePreservationhadamucheasiertime,thankstothenewsystemofNationalMountedPolice.
WehadprofitedwellbythelatesttreatieswithFranceandEngland;
theexclusionofforeign-bornJewsasameasureofself-preservation,thesettlementofthenewindependentnegrostateofSuanee,thecheckingofimmigration,thenewlaws
concernant
concerning
naturalization,andthegradualcentralizationofpowerintheexecutiveallcontributedtonationalcalmandprosperity.
WhentheGovernment
résolut
solved
theIndianproblemandsquadronsofIndiancavalryscoutsinnativecostumeweresubstitutedforthepitiableorganizationstackedontothe
queue
tail
ofskeletonizedregimentsbyaformer
Secrétaire
Secretary
ofWar,thenationdrewalongsighofrelief.
When,afterthecolossalCongressofReligions,bigotryandintolerancewerelaidintheirgravesandkindnessandcharitybegantodrawwarringsectstogether,manythoughtthemillenniumhad
arrivé
arrived
,atleastinthenewworldwhichafterallisaworldbyitself.
Butself-preservationisthefirstlaw,andtheUnitedStateshadtolookoninhelplesssorrowasGermany,Italy,SpainandBelgiumwrithedinthethroesofAnarchy,whileRussia,watchingfromtheCaucasus,stoopedandboundthemonebyone.
InthecityofNewYorkthesummerof1899wassignalizedbythedismantlingoftheElevatedRailroads.
Thesummerof1900willliveinthememoriesofNewYorkpeopleformanyacycle;
theDodgeStatuewasremovedinthatyear.
Inthefollowingwinterbeganthatagitationfortherepealofthelawsprohibiting
suicide
suicide
whichboreitsfinal
fruit
fruit
inthemonthofApril,1920,whenthefirstGovernmentLethalChamberwasopenedonWashingtonSquare.
IhadwalkeddownthatdayfromDr.Archer'shouseonMadisonAvenue,whereIhadbeenasamereformality.
Eversincethatfallfrommyhorse,fouryearsbefore,Ihadbeentroubledattimeswithpainsinthebackofmyheadandneck,butnowformonthstheyhadbeenabsent,andthedoctorsentmeawaythatdaysayingtherewasnothingmoretobe
guérir
cured
inme.
Itwas
guère
hardly
worthhisfeetobetoldthat;
Iknewitmyself.
StillIdidnotgrudgehimthemoney.
WhatImindedwasthemistakewhichhemadeatfirst.
WhentheypickedmeupfromthepavementwhereIlayunconscious,andsomebodyhadmercifullysenta
balle
bullet
throughmyhorse'shead,IwascarriedtoDr.Archer,andhe,pronouncingmybrainaffected,placedmeinhisprivateasylumwhereIwasobligedtoendure
traitement
treatment
forinsanity.
AtlasthedecidedthatIwaswell,andI,knowingthatmymindhadalwaysbeenassoundashis,ifnotsounder,"paidmytuition"ashejokinglycalledit,andleft.
Itoldhim,smiling,thatIwouldgetevenwithhimforhismistake,andhelaughedheartily,andaskedmetocallonceinawhile.
Ididso,hopingforachancetoevenupaccounts,buthegavemenone,andItoldhimIwouldwait.
Thefallfrommyhorsehadfortunatelyleftnoevilresults;
onthecontraryithadchangedmywhole
caractère
character
forthebetter.
Fromalazyyoungmanabouttown,Ihadbecomeactive,energetic,temperate,andaboveall—oh,aboveallelse—ambitious.
Therewasonlyonethingwhichtroubledme,Ilaughedatmyownuneasiness,andyetittroubledme.
DuringmyconvalescenceIhadboughtandreadforthefirsttime,TheKingin
Jaune
Yellow
.
IrememberafterfinishingthefirstactthatitoccurredtomethatIhadbetterstop.
Istartedupandflungthebookintothefireplace;
thevolume
frappé
struck
thebarredgrateandfellopenonthehearthinthefirelight.
IfIhadnotcaughtaglimpseoftheopeningwordsinthesecondactIshouldneverhavefinishedit,butasIstoopedtopickitup,myeyesbecamerivetedtotheopen
page
page
,andwithacryofterror,orperhapsitwasof
joie
joy
sopoignantthatI
souffert
suffered
ineverynerve,Isnatchedthethingoutofthecoalsandcreptshakingtomybedroom,whereIreaditandrereadit,andweptandlaughedandtrembledwithahorrorwhichattimesassailsmeyet.
Thisisthethingthattroublesme,forIcannotforgetCarcosawhereblackstarshangintheheavens;
wheretheshadowsofmen'sthoughtslengthenintheafternoon,whenthetwinsunssinkintothe
lac
lake
ofHali;
andmymindwillbearforeverthememoryofthePallid
Masque
Mask
.
IprayGodwill
maudire
curse
thewriter,asthewriterhascursedtheworldwiththisbeautiful,stupendouscreation,terribleinitssimplicity,irresistibleinitstruth—aworldwhichnowtremblesbeforetheKingin
Jaune
Yellow
.
WhentheFrenchGovernmentseizedthetranslatedcopieswhichhadjustarrivedinParis,London,ofcourse,becameeagertoreadit.
Itiswellknownhowthebook
répandu
spread
likeaninfectiousdisease,fromcitytocity,fromcontinenttocontinent,barredouthere,confiscatedthere,denouncedbyPressandpulpit,censuredevenbythemostadvancedofliteraryanarchists.
Nodefiniteprincipleshadbeenviolatedinthosewickedpages,nodoctrinepromulgated,noconvictionsoutraged.
Itcouldnotbejudgedbyanyknownstandard,yet,althoughitwasacknowledgedthatthesupreme
note
note
ofarthadbeenstruckinTheKingin
Jaune
Yellow
,allfeltthathumannaturecouldnotbearthestrain,northriveonwordsinwhichtheessenceofpurest
poison
poison
lurked.
Theverybanalityandinnocenceofthefirstactonlyallowedtheblowtofallafterwardwithmore
terrible
awful
effect.
Itwas,Iremember,the13thdayof
Avril
April
,1920,thatthefirstGovernmentLethalChamberwasestablishedonthesouthsideofWashingtonSquare,betweenWoosterStreetandSouthFifthAvenue.
Theblockwhichhadformerlyconsistedofalotofshabbyoldbuildings,usedascafésandrestaurantsforforeigners,hadbeenacquiredbytheGovernmentinthewinterof1898.
TheFrenchandItaliancafésandrestaurantsweretorndown;
thewhole
bloc
block
wasenclosedbyagilded
fer
iron
railing,andconvertedintoalovely
jardin
garden
withlawns,flowersandfountains.
Inthecentreofthe
jardin
garden
stoodasmall,whitebuilding,severelyclassicalinarchitecture,andsurroundedbythicketsofflowers.
SixIoniccolumnssupportedthe
toit
roof
,andthesingledoorwasofbronze.
Asplendidmarblegroupofthe"Fates"stoodbeforethedoor,theworkofayoungAmericansculptor,BorisYvain,whohaddiedinPariswhenonlytwenty-threeyearsold.
TheinaugurationceremonieswereinprogressasIcrossedUniversityPlaceand
entré
entered
thesquare.
Ithreadedmywaythroughthesilentthrongofspectators,butwasstoppedat
Quatrième
Fourth
Streetbyacordonofpolice.
AregimentofUnitedStateslancersweredrawnupinahollow
carré
square
roundtheLethalChamber.
OnaraisedtribunefacingWashingtonParkstoodthe
Gouverneur
Governor
ofNewYork,andbehindhimweregroupedthe
Maire
Mayor
ofNewYorkandBrooklyn,theInspector-GeneralofPolice,theCommandantofthestatetroops,
Colonel
Colonel
Livingston,militaryaidtothePresidentoftheUnitedStates,GeneralBlount,commandingatGovernor'sIsland,Major-GeneralHamilton,commandingthegarrisonofNewYorkandBrooklyn,AdmiralBuffbyofthefleetintheNorthRiver,Surgeon-GeneralLanceford,the
personnel
staff
oftheNationalFreeHospital,SenatorsWyseandFranklinofNewYork,andtheCommissionerofPublicWorks.
ThetribunewassurroundedbyasquadronofhussarsoftheNationalGuard.
The
Gouverneur
Governor
wasfinishinghisreplytotheshort
discours
speech
oftheSurgeon-General.
Iheardhimsay:
"Thelawsprohibiting
suicide
suicide
andprovidingpunishmentforany
tentative
attempt
atself-destructionhavebeenrepealed.
TheGovernmenthasseenfittoacknowledgetherightofmantoendanexistencewhichmayhavebecomeintolerabletohim,through
physique
physical
sufferingormentaldespair.
Itisbelievedthatthe
communauté
community
willbebenefitedbytheremovalofsuchpeoplefromtheirmidst.
Sincethepassageofthislaw,thenumberofsuicidesintheUnitedStateshasnotincreased.
NowtheGovernmenthasdeterminedtoestablishaLethalChamberineverycity,townandvillageinthecountry,it
reste
remains
tobeseenwhetherornotthatclassofhumancreaturesfromwhosedespondingranksnewvictimsofself-destructionfalldailywillacceptthereliefthusprovided."
Hepaused,andturnedtothewhiteLethalChamber.
The
silence
silence
inthestreetwasabsolute.
"Thereapainlessdeathawaitshimwhocannolongerbearthesorrowsofthislife.
Ifdeathiswelcomelethim
cherche
seek
itthere."
ThenquicklyturningtothemilitaryaidofthePresident'shousehold,hesaid,"IdeclaretheLethalChamberopen,"andagainfacingthevast
foule
crowd
hecriedinaclearvoice:
"CitizensofNewYorkandoftheUnitedStatesofAmerica,throughmetheGovernmentdeclarestheLethalChambertobeopen."
Thesolemnhushwasbrokenbyasharpcryof
commandement
command
,thesquadronofhussarsfiledaftertheGovernor'scarriage,thelancerswheeledandformedalongFifthAvenuetowaitforthecommandantofthegarrison,andthemountedpolicefollowedthem.
Ileftthe
foule
crowd
togapeandstareatthewhitemarbleDeathChamber,and,crossingSouthFifthAvenue,walkedalongthewesternsideofthatthoroughfaretoBleeckerStreet.
ThenIturnedtotherightandstoppedbeforeadingyshopwhichborethesign:.
HAWBERK,ARMOURER.
IglancedinatthedoorwayandsawHawberkbusyinhislittleshopattheendofthe
couloir
hall
.
Helookedup,andcatchingsightofmecriedinhisdeep,heartyvoice,"Comein,Mr.Castaigne!"
Constance,hisdaughter,
se leva
rose
tomeetmeasIcrossedthethreshold,andheldoutherprettyhand,butIsawtheblushofdisappointmentonhercheeks,andknewthatitwasanotherCastaigneshehadexpected,mycousinLouis.
Ismiledatherconfusionandcomplimentedheronthebannershewasembroideringfromacoloured
assiette
plate
.
OldHawberksatrivetingtheworngreavesofsome
ancienne
ancient
suitofarmour,andtheting!
ting!
ting!
ofhislittlehammersoundedpleasantlyinthequaintshop.
Presentlyhedroppedhishammer,andfussedaboutforamomentwithatinywrench.
The
doux
soft
clashofthemailsentathrillofpleasurethroughme.
Ilovedtohearthemusicofsteelbrushingagainststeel,themellow
choc
shock
ofthemalletonthighpieces,andthejingleof
chaîne
chain
armour.
ThatwastheonlyreasonIwenttoseeHawberk.
Hehadneverinterestedme
personnellement
personally
,nordidConstance,exceptforthefactofherbeinginlovewithLouis.
Thisdidoccupymyattention,andsometimesevenkeptme
éveillé
awake
atnight.
ButIknewinmyheartthatallwouldcomeright,andthatIshould
organiser
arrange
theirfutureasIexpectedto
organiser
arrange
thatofmykinddoctor,JohnArcher.
However,Ishouldneverhavetroubledmyselfaboutvisitingthemjustthen,haditnotbeen,asIsay,thatthemusicofthetinklinghammerhadformethisstrongfascination.
Iwouldsitforhours,listeningandlistening,andwhenastraysunbeam
frappait
struck
theinlaidsteel,thesensationitgavemewasalmosttookeentoendure.
Myeyeswouldbecomefixed,dilatingwithapleasurethatstretchedeverynervealmosttobreaking,untilsome
mouvement
movement
oftheoldarmourercutofftherayofsunlight,then,stillthrillingsecretly,Ileanedbackandlistenedagaintothesoundofthepolishingrag,swish!
swish!
rubbingrustfromtherivets.
Constanceworkedwiththeembroideryoverherknees,nowandthenpausingtoexaminemorecloselythepatterninthecoloured
plaque
plate
fromtheMetropolitanMuseum.
Whoisthisfor?"
Iasked.
Hawberkexplained,thatinadditiontothetreasuresofarmourintheMetropolitanMuseumofwhichhehadbeenappointedarmourer,healsohadchargeofseveralcollections
appartenant
belonging
torichamateurs.
Thiswasthemissinggreaveofafamoussuitwhichaclientofhishad
tracé
traced
toalittleshopinParisontheQuaid'Orsay.
He,Hawberk,hadnegotiatedforandsecuredthegreave,andnowthesuitwascomplete.
Helaiddownhishammerandreadmethehistoryofthesuit,
tracé
traced
since1450fromownerto
propriétaire
owner
untilitwasacquiredbyThomasStainbridge.
Whenhissuperbcollectionwassold,this
client
client
ofHawberk'sboughtthesuit,andsincethenthesearchforthemissinggreavehadbeenpusheduntilitwas,almostbyaccident,locatedinParis.
Didyoucontinuethesearchsopersistentlywithoutanycertaintyofthegreavebeingstillinexistence?"
Idemanded.
Ofcourse,"herepliedcoolly.
ThenforthefirsttimeItookapersonalinterestinHawberk.
Itwasworthsomethingtoyou,"Iventured.
No,"hereplied,laughing,"mypleasureinfindingitwasmyreward."
Haveyounoambitiontoberich?"
Iasked,smiling.
Myoneambitionistobethebestarmourerintheworld,"heansweredgravely.
ConstanceaskedmeifIhadseentheceremoniesattheLethalChamber.
SheherselfhadnoticedcavalrypassingupBroadwaythatmorning,andhadwishedtoseetheinauguration,butherfatherwantedthebannerfinished,andshehadstayedathis
demande
request
.
Didyouseeyourcousin,Mr.Castaigne,there?"
sheasked,withtheslightesttremorofher
doux
soft
eyelashes.
No,"Irepliedcarelessly.
"Louis'regimentismanœuvringoutinWestchesterCounty."
Iroseandpickedupmy
chapeau
hat
andcane.
Areyougoingupstairstoseethelunaticagain?"
laughedoldHawberk.
IfHawberkknewhowIloathethatword"lunatic,"hewouldneveruseitinmy
présence
presence
.
ItrousescertainfeelingswithinmewhichIdonotcaretoexplain.
However,Iansweredhim
tranquillement
quietly
:
"IthinkIshalldropinandseeMr.Wildeforamomentortwo."
Poorfellow,"saidConstance,witha
secouant
shake
ofthehead,"itmustbehardtolivealoneyearafteryearpoor,crippledandalmostdemented.
Itisverygoodofyou,Mr.Castaigne,tovisithimasoftenasyoudo."
Ithinkheisvicious,"observedHawberk,beginningagainwithhishammer.
Ilistenedtothegoldentinkleonthegreaveplates;
whenhehadfinishedIreplied:.
No,heisnotvicious,norisheintheleastdemented.
Hismindisawonderchamber,fromwhichhecanextracttreasuresthatyouandIwouldgiveyearsofourlifetoacquire."'.
Hawberklaughed.
Icontinuedalittleimpatiently:
"Heknowshistoryasnooneelsecouldknowit.
Nothing,howevertrivial,escapeshissearch,andhismemoryissoabsolute,sopreciseindetails,thatwereitknowninNewYorkthatsuchaman
existait
existed
,thepeoplecouldnothonourhimenough."
Nonsense,"mutteredHawberk,searchingonthefloorforafallenrivet.
Isitnonsense,"Iasked,managingtosuppresswhatIfelt,"isit
non-sens
nonsense
whenhesaysthatthetassetsandcuissardsoftheenamelledsuitofarmourcommonlyknownasthe'Prince'sEmblazoned'canbefound
parmi
among
amassofrustytheatricalproperties,brokenstovesandragpicker'srefuseinagarretinPellStreet?"
Hawberk'shammerfelltotheground,buthepickeditupandasked,withagreatdealofcalm,howIknewthatthetassetsandleftcuissardweremissingfromthe"Prince'sEmblazoned."
IdidnotknowuntilMr.Wildementionedittometheotherday.
Hesaidtheywereinthegarretof998PellStreet."
Nonsense,"hecried,butInoticedhishandtremblingunderhisleathernapron.
Isthis
bêtises
nonsense
too?"
Iaskedpleasantly,"isit
non-sens
nonsense
whenMr.WildecontinuallyspeaksofyouastheMarquisofAvonshireandofMissConstance—".
Ididnotfinish,forConstancehadstartedtoherfeetwithterrorwrittenoneveryfeature.
Hawberklookedatmeand
lentement
slowly
smoothedhisleathernapron.
Thatisimpossible,"heobserved,"Mr.
Wildemayknowagreatmanythings—".
Aboutarmour,forinstance,andthe'Prince'sEmblazoned,'"Iinterposed,smiling.
Yes,"hecontinued,
lentement
slowly
,"aboutarmouralso—maybe—butheiswronginregardtotheMarquisofAvonshire,who,asyouknow,killedhiswife'straduceryearsago,andwenttoAustraliawherehedidnotlong
survécu
survive
hiswife."
Mr.
Wildeiswrong,"murmuredConstance.
Herlipswereblanched,buthervoicewassweetandcalm.
Letusagree,ifyouplease,thatinthisonecircumstanceMr.Wildeiswrong,"Isaid.
II
I
grimpé
climbed
thethreedilapidatedflightsof
escaliers
stairs
,whichIhadsooften
grimpé
climbed
before,andknockedatasmalldoorattheendofthecorridor.
Mr.WildeopenedthedoorandIwalkedin.
Whenhehaddouble-lockedthedoorandpushedaheavy
poitrine
chest
againstit,hecameandsatdownbesideme,peeringupintomyfacewithhislittlelight-colouredeyes.
Halfadozennewscratchescoveredhisnoseandcheeks,andthesilverwireswhichsupportedhisartificialearshadbecomedisplaced.
IthoughtIhadneverseenhimsohideouslyfascinating.
Hehadnoears.
Theartificialones,whichnowstoodoutatananglefromthefine
fil
wire
,werehisoneweakness.
Theyweremadeofwaxandpaintedashell
rose
pink
,buttherestofhisfacewas
jaune
yellow
.
Hemightbetterhaverevelledintheluxuryofsomeartificialfingersforhislefthand,whichwasabsolutelyfingerless,butitseemedtocausehimnoinconvenience,andhewassatisfiedwithhiswaxears.
Hewasverysmall,scarcelyhigherthanachildoften,buthisarmsweremagnificentlydeveloped,andhisthighsasthickasanyathlete's.
Still,themostremarkablethingaboutMr.Wildewasthatamanofhismarvellous
intelligence
intelligence
andknowledgeshouldhavesuchahead.
Itwas
plat
flat
andpointed,liketheheadsofmanyofthoseunfortunateswhompeopleimprisoninasylumsfortheweak-minded.
Manycalledhim
fou
insane
,butIknewhimtobeassaneasIwas.
Idonot
nie
deny
thathewaseccentric;
themaniahehadforkeepingthatcatandteasingheruntilsheflewathisfacelikeademon,wascertainlyeccentric.
Inevercouldunderstandwhyhekeptthe
créature
creature
,norwhatpleasurehefoundinshuttinghimselfupinhisroomwiththissurly,vicious
bête
beast
.
Irememberonce,glancingupfromthemanuscriptIwasstudyingbythelightofsometallowdips,andseeingMr.Wildesquattingmotionlessonhishigh
chaise
chair
,hiseyesfairlyblazingwithexcitement,whilethecat,whichhadrisenfromherplacebeforethestove,camecreepingacrossthefloorrightathim.
BeforeIcouldmovesheflattenedherbellytotheground,crouched,trembled,andsprangintohisface.
Howlingandfoamingtheyrolledoverandoveronthefloor,
grattant
scratching
andclawing,untilthecatscreamedandfledunderthecabinet,andMr.Wildeturnedoveronhisback,hislimbs
contractant
contracting
andcurlinguplikethelegsofadyingspider.
Hewaseccentric.
Mr.
Wildehad
monté
climbed
intohishighchair,and,afterstudyingmyface,pickedupadog's-earedledgerandopenedit.
HenryB.
Matthews,"heread,"book-keeperwithWhysotWhysotandCompany,dealersinchurchornaments.
Called
Avril
April
3rd.
Reputationdamagedontherace-track.
Knownasawelcher.
Réputation
Reputation
toberepairedby
Août
August
1st.
RetainerFiveDollars."