THEREPAIREROFREPUTATIONS
I
Neraillonspaslesfous;
leurfoliedurepluslongtempsquelanôtre....
Voilatouteladifférence."
Vers
Towardtheendoftheyear1920theGovernmentoftheUnitedStateshadpratiquement
practicallycompletedtheprogramme,adoptedduringthelastmonthsofPresidentWinthrop'sadministration.Thecountrywasapparentlytranquil.
EverybodyknowshowtheTariffandLabourquestionsweresettled.
ThewarwithGermany,incidentonthatcountry's
saisie
seizureoftheSamoanIslands,hadleftnovisible
visiblescarsupontherepublic,andthetemporaire
temporaryoccupationofNorfolkbytheinvadingarmyhadbeenforgotteninthejoyoverrepeatednavalvictories,andthesubsequentridiculousplightofGeneralVonGartenlaube'sforcesintheStateofNewJersey.TheCubanandHawaiianinvestmentshadpaidonehundredpercentandthe
territoire
territoryofSamoawaswellworthitscostasacoalingstation.Thecountrywasina
superbe
superbstateofdefence.Everycoastcityhadbeenwellsuppliedwithlandfortifications;
thearmyunderthe
parental
parentaleyeoftheGeneralStaff,organizedaccordingtothePrussiansystem,hadbeenincreasedto300,000men,withaterritorialréserve
reserveofamillion;andsixmagnificentsquadronsofcruisersandbattle-ships
patrouillaient
patrolledthesixstationsofthenavigableseas,leavingavapeur
steamreserveamplyfittedtocontrolhomewaters.ThegentlemenfromtheWesthadatlastbeenconstrainedto
reconnaître
acknowledgethatacollegeforthetrainingofdiplomatswasasnecessaryaslawschoolsareforthetrainingofbarristers;consequentlywewerenolongerrepresentedabroadbyincompetentpatriots.
Thenationwas
prospère
prosperous;Chicago,foramomentparalyzedafterasecondgreatfire,hadrisenfromitsruins,whiteand
impériale
imperial,andmorebeautifulthanthewhitecitywhichhadbeenbuiltforitsplaythingin1893.Everywheregood
architecture
architecturewasreplacingbad,andeveninNewYork,asuddencravingfordécence
decencyhadsweptawayagreatpartie
portionoftheexistinghorrors.Streetshadbeenwidened,properlypavedandlighted,treeshadbeenplanted,squareslaidout,elevatedstructuresdemolishedandundergroundroadsbuiltto
remplacer
replacethem.Thenewgovernmentbuildingsandbarrackswerefinebitsofarchitecture,andthelongsystemofstonequayswhichcompletely
entourait
surroundedtheislandhadbeenturnedintoparkswhichprovedagod-sendtothepopulation
population.Thesubsidizingofthestatetheatreandstateoperabroughtitsownreward.
TheUnitedStatesNationalAcademyofDesignwasmuchlikeEuropeaninstitutionsofthesamekind.
NobodyenviedtheSecretaryofFineArts,eitherhiscabinetpositionorhis
portefeuille
portfolio.TheSecretaryofForestryandGame
Préservation
Preservationhadamucheasiertime,thankstothenewsystemofNationalMountedPolice.WehadprofitedwellbythelatesttreatieswithFranceandEngland;
theexclusionofforeign-bornJewsasa
mesure
measureofself-preservation,thesettlementofthenewindépendant
independentnegrostateofSuanee,thecheckingofimmigration,thenewlawsconcerningnaturalization,andthegradualcentralizationofpowerintheexecutiveallcontribué
contributedtonationalcalmandprospérité
prosperity.WhentheGovernmentsolvedtheIndianproblemandsquadronsofIndian
cavalerie
cavalryscoutsinnativecostumeweresubstitutedforthepitiableorganizationstackedontothetailofskeletonizedregimentsbyaformerSecretaryofWar,thenationdrewalongsoupir
sighofrelief.When,afterthecolossal
Congrès
CongressofReligions,bigotryandintolerancewerelaidintheirgravesandbonté
kindnessandcharitybegantodrawwarringsectstogether,manythoughtthemillénaire
millenniumhadarrived,atleastinthenewworldwhichafterallisaworldbyitself.Butself-preservationisthefirstlaw,andtheUnitedStateshadtolookoninhelpless
tristesse
sorrowasGermany,Italy,SpainandBelgiumwrithedinthethroesofAnarchy,whileRussia,watchingfromtheCaucasus,stoopedandboundthemonebyone.InthecityofNewYorkthesummerof1899wassignalizedbythedismantlingoftheElevatedRailroads.
Thesummerof1900willliveinthememoriesofNewYorkpeopleformanyacycle;
the
Dodge
DodgeStatuewasremovedinthatyear.InthefollowingwinterbeganthatagitationfortherepealofthelawsprohibitingsuicidewhichboreitsfinalfruitinthemonthofApril,1920,whenthefirstGovernment
Létale
LethalChamberwasopenedonWashingtonSquare.IhadwalkeddownthatdayfromDr.Archer'shouseonMadison
Avenue
Avenue,whereIhadbeenasamereformalité
formality.Eversincethatfallfrommyhorse,fouryearsbefore,Ihadbeentroubledattimeswithpainsinthebackofmyheadandneck,butnowformonthstheyhadbeenabsent,andthedoctorsentmeawaythatdaysayingtherewasnothingmoretobecuredinme.
Itwashardlyworthhisfeetobetoldthat;
Iknewitmyself.
StillIdidnotgrudgehimthemoney.
WhatImindedwasthemistakewhichhemadeatfirst.
Whentheypickedmeupfromthe
trottoir
pavementwhereIlayunconscious,andsomebodyhadmercifullysentabulletthroughmyhorse'shead,IwascarriedtoDr.Archer
Archer,andhe,pronouncingmybrainaffecté
affected,placedmeinhisprivateasile
asylumwhereIwasobligedtosubir
enduretreatmentforinsanity.AtlasthedecidedthatIwaswell,andI,knowingthatmymindhadalwaysbeenassoundashis,ifnotsounder,"paidmytuition"ashejokinglycalledit,andleft.
Itoldhim,smiling,thatIwouldgetevenwithhimforhismistake,andhelaughedheartily,andaskedmetocallonceinawhile.
Ididso,hopingforachancetoevenupaccounts,buthegavemenone,andItoldhimIwouldwait.
Thefallfrommyhorsehad
heureusement
fortunatelyleftnoevilresults;onthecontraryithadchangedmywholecharacterforthebetter.
Froma
paresseux
lazyyoungmanabouttown,Ihadbecomeactif
active,energetic,temperate,andaboveall—oh,aboveallelse—ambitious.Therewasonlyonethingwhichtroubledme,Ilaughedatmyownuneasiness,andyetittroubledme.
DuringmyconvalescenceIhadboughtandreadforthefirsttime,TheKinginYellow.
IrememberafterfinishingthefirstactthatitoccurredtomethatIhadbetterstop.
Istartedupandflungthebookintothe
cheminée
fireplace;thevolumestruckthebarredgrateandfellopenonthehearthinthefirelight.
IfIhadnotcaughtaglimpseoftheopeningwordsinthesecondactIshouldneverhavefinishedit,butasIstoopedtopickitup,myeyesbecamerivetedtotheopenpage,andwithacryof
terreur
terror,orperhapsitwasofjoysopoignantthatIsufferedineverynerf
nerve,Isnatchedthethingoutofthecoalsandcreptshakingtomybedroom,whereIreaditandrereadit,andweptandlaughedandtrembledwithahorreur
horrorwhichattimesassailsmeyet.Thisisthethingthattroublesme,forIcannotforgetCarcosawhereblackstarshangintheheavens;
wheretheshadowsofmen'sthoughtslengthenintheafternoon,whenthetwinsunssinkintothelakeofHali;
andmymindwillbearforeverthememoryofthePallidMask.
IprayGodwillcursethewriter,asthewriterhascursedtheworldwiththisbeautiful,stupendous
création
creation,terribleinitssimplicity,irrésistible
irresistibleinitstruth—aworldwhichnowtremble
tremblesbeforetheKinginYellow.WhentheFrenchGovernment
saisi
seizedthetranslatedcopieswhichhadjustarrivedinParis,London,ofcourse,becameimpatient
eagertoreadit.Itiswellknownhowthebookspreadlikeaninfectiousdisease,fromcitytocity,from
continent
continenttocontinent,barredouthere,confisqué
confiscatedthere,denouncedbyPressandpulpit,censuredevenbythemostadvancedofliteraryanarchists.Nodefiniteprincipleshadbeen
violé
violatedinthosewickedpages,nodoctrine
doctrinepromulgated,noconvictionsoutraged.Itcouldnotbejudgedbyanyknownstandard,yet,althoughitwas
reconnu
acknowledgedthatthesupremenoteofarthadbeenstruckinTheKinginYellow,allfeltthathumannaturecouldnotbearthestrain,norprospérer
thriveonwordsinwhichtheessenceofpurestpoisonlurked.Theverybanalityandinnocenceofthefirstactonlyallowedtheblowtofallafterwardwithmoreawfuleffect.
Itwas,Iremember,the13thdayofApril,1920,thatthefirstGovernment
Létale
LethalChamberwasestablishedonthesouthsideofWashingtonSquare,betweenWoosterStreetandSouthFifthAvenue
Avenue.Theblockwhichhad
auparavant
formerlyconsistedofalotofshabbyoldbuildings,usedascafésandrestaurantsforforeigners,hadbeenacquis
acquiredbytheGovernmentinthewinterof1898.TheFrenchandItaliancafésandrestaurantsweretorndown;
thewholeblockwasenclosedbyagildedironrailing,and
converti
convertedintoalovelygardenwithlawns,flowersandfountains.Inthe
centre
centreofthegardenstoodasmall,whitebuilding,severelyclassique
classicalinarchitecture,andsurroundedbythicketsofflowers.SixIoniccolumnssupportedtheroof,andthesingledoorwasof
bronze
bronze.Asplendidmarblegroupofthe"Fates"stoodbeforethedoor,theworkofayoungAmericansculptor,BorisYvain,whohaddiedinPariswhenonlytwenty-threeyearsold.
TheinaugurationceremonieswereinprogressasIcrossedUniversityPlaceandenteredthesquare.
Ithreadedmywaythroughthesilentthrongofspectators,butwasstoppedatFourthStreetbyacordonofpolice.
A
régiment
regimentofUnitedStateslancersweredrawnupinacreux
hollowsquareroundtheLethalChamber.OnaraisedtribunefacingWashingtonParkstoodtheGovernorofNewYork,andbehindhimweregroupedtheMayorofNewYorkandBrooklyn,theInspector-GeneralofPolice,theCommandantofthestatetroops,ColonelLivingston,militaryaidtothePresidentoftheUnitedStates,GeneralBlount,commandingatGovernor'sIsland,Major-GeneralHamilton,commandingthe
garnison
garrisonofNewYorkandBrooklyn,AdmiralBuffbyoftheflotte
fleetintheNorthRiver,Surgeon-GeneralLanceford,thestaffoftheNationalFreeHospital,SenatorsWyseandFranklinofNewYork,andtheCommissionerofPublicWorks.ThetribunewassurroundedbyasquadronofhussarsoftheNationalGuard.
TheGovernorwasfinishinghis
réponse
replytotheshortspeechoftheSurgeon-General.Iheardhimsay:
"Thelawsprohibitingsuicideandprovidingpunishmentforanyattemptatself-destructionhavebeenrepealed.
TheGovernmenthasseenfitto
reconnaître
acknowledgetherightofmantoendanexistence
existencewhichmayhavebecomeintolérable
intolerabletohim,throughphysicalsufferingormentaldésespoir
despair.Itisbelievedthatthecommunitywillbe
bénéficiera
benefitedbytheremovalofsuchpeoplefromtheirmidst.Sincethepassageofthislaw,thenumberofsuicidesintheUnitedStateshasnot
augmenté
increased.NowtheGovernmenthasdeterminedtoestablisha
Mortelle
LethalChamberineverycity,townandvillageinthecountry,itremainstobeseenwhetherornotthatclassofhumancreaturesfromwhosedespondingranksnewvictimsofself-destructionfalldailywillacceptthesecours
reliefthusprovided."Hepaused,andturnedtothewhite
Létale
LethalChamber.Thesilenceinthestreetwas
absolu
absolute."Thereapainlessdeath
attend
awaitshimwhocannolongerbearthesorrowsofthislife.Ifdeathiswelcomelethimseekitthere."
ThenquicklyturningtothemilitaryaidofthePresident'shousehold,hesaid,"I
déclare
declaretheLethalChamberopen,"andagainfacingthevastcrowdhecriedinaclearvoice:"CitizensofNewYorkandoftheUnitedStatesofAmerica,throughmetheGovernment
déclare
declarestheLethalChambertobeopen."The
solennel
solemnhushwasbrokenbyasharpcryofcommand,thesquadronofhussarsfiledaftertheGovernor'scarriage,thelancerswheeledandformedalongCinquième
FifthAvenuetowaitforthecommandantofthegarnison
garrison,andthemountedpolicefollowedthem.Ileftthecrowdtogapeand
regarder
stareatthewhitemarbleDeathChamber,and,crossingSouthCinquième
FifthAvenue,walkedalongtheouest
westernsideofthatthoroughfaretoBleeckerStreet.ThenIturnedtotherightandstoppedbeforeadingyshopwhichborethesign:.
HAWBERK,ARMOURER.
Iglancedinatthe
porte
doorwayandsawHawberkbusyinhislittleshopattheendofthehall.Helookedup,andcatchingsightofmecriedinhisdeep,heartyvoice,"Comein,Mr.Castaigne!"
Constance,hisdaughter,rosetomeetmeasIcrossedthe
seuil
threshold,andheldoutherprettyhand,butIsawtherougissement
blushofdisappointmentonhercheeks,andknewthatitwasanotherCastaigneshehadexpected,mycousinLouis.Ismiledather
confusion
confusionandcomplimentedheronthebannière
bannershewasembroideringfromacolouredplate.OldHawberksatrivetingtheworngreavesofsomeancientsuitof
armure
armour,andtheting!ting!
ting!
ofhislittle
marteau
hammersoundedpleasantlyinthequaintshop.Presentlyhedroppedhis
marteau
hammer,andfussedaboutforamomentwithatinyclé
wrench.Thesoftclashofthemailsenta
frisson
thrillofpleasurethroughme.Ilovedtohearthemusicofsteel
brossant
brushingagainststeel,themellowshockofthemalletoncuisse
thighpieces,andthejingleofchainarmour.ThatwastheonlyreasonIwenttoseeHawberk.
Hehadneverinterestedmepersonally,nordidConstance,exceptforthefactofherbeinginlovewithLouis.
Thisdid
occupait
occupymyattention,andsometimesevenkeptmeawakeatnight.ButIknewinmyheartthatallwouldcomeright,andthatIshouldarrangetheirfutureasIexpectedtoarrangethatofmykinddoctor,John
Archer
Archer.However,Ishouldneverhavetroubledmyselfaboutvisitingthemjustthen,haditnotbeen,asIsay,thatthemusicofthetinkling
marteau
hammerhadformethisstrongfascination
fascination.Iwouldsitforhours,listeningandlistening,andwhenastraysunbeamstrucktheinlaidsteel,the
sensation
sensationitgavemewasalmosttookeentoendure.Myeyeswouldbecomefixed,dilatingwithapleasurethatstretchedevery
nerf
nervealmosttobreaking,untilsomemovementoftheoldarmourercutofftherayofsunlight,then,stillthrillingsecrètement
secretly,Ileanedbackandlistenedagaintothesoundofthepolishingrag,swish!swish!
rubbing
rouille
rustfromtherivets.Constanceworkedwiththeembroideryoverherknees,nowandthenpausingto
examiner
examinemorecloselythepatterninthecolouredplatefromtheMetropolitan
MetropolitanMuseum.Whoisthisfor?"
Iasked.
Hawberkexplained,thatin
plus
additiontothetreasuresofarmourintheMetropolitan
MetropolitanMuseumofwhichhehadbeennommé
appointedarmourer,healsohadchargeofseveralcollectionsbelongingtorichamateurs.ThiswasthemissinggreaveofafamoussuitwhichaclientofhishadtracedtoalittleshopinParisontheQuaid'Orsay.
He,Hawberk,had
négocié
negotiatedforandsecuredthegreave,andnowthesuitwascomplete.Helaiddownhis
marteau
hammerandreadmethehistoryofthesuit,tracedsince1450fromownertoowneruntilitwasacquis
acquiredbyThomasStainbridge.Whenhis
superbe
superbcollectionwassold,thisclientofHawberk'sboughtthesuit,andsincethenthesearchforthemissinggreavehadbeenpusheduntilitwas,almostbyaccident,recherche
locatedinParis.Didyoucontinuethesearchsopersistentlywithoutany
certitude
certaintyofthegreavebeingstillinexistence?"I
exigé
demanded.Ofcourse,"herepliedcoolly.
ThenforthefirsttimeItookapersonalinterestinHawberk.
Itwasworthsomethingtoyou,"Iventured.
No,"he
répondit
replied,laughing,"mypleasureinfindingitwasmyreward."Haveyounoambitiontoberich?"
Iasked,smiling.
Myone
ambition
ambitionistobethebestarmourerintheworld,"heansweredgravely.ConstanceaskedmeifIhadseentheceremoniesatthe
Létale
LethalChamber.Sheherselfhadnoticed
cavalerie
cavalrypassingupBroadwaythatmorning,andhadwishedtoseetheinauguration,butherfatherwantedthebannière
bannerfinished,andshehadstayedathisrequest.Didyouseeyourcousin,Mr.Castaigne,there?"
sheasked,withtheslightesttremorofhersofteyelashes.
No,"I
répondu
repliedcarelessly."Louis'regimentismanœuvringoutinWestchesterCounty."
Iroseandpickedupmyhatand
canne
cane.Areyougoingupstairstoseethe
fou
lunaticagain?"laughedoldHawberk.
IfHawberkknewhowI
déteste
loathethatword"lunatic,"hewouldneveruseitinmypresence.ItrousescertainfeelingswithinmewhichIdonotcaretoexplain.
However,Iansweredhimquietly:
"IthinkIshalldropinandseeMr.Wildeforamomentortwo."
Poorfellow,"saidConstance,withashakeofthehead,"itmustbehardtolivealoneyearafteryearpoor,crippledandalmostdemented.
Itisverygoodofyou,Mr.Castaigne,tovisithimasoftenasyoudo."
Ithinkheisvicious,"
observé
observedHawberk,beginningagainwithhismarteau
hammer.Ilistenedtothegoldentinkleonthegreaveplates;
whenhehadfinishedI
répondu
replied:.No,heisnot
vicieux
vicious,norisheintheleastdemented.Hismindisawonderchamber,fromwhichhecan
extraire
extracttreasuresthatyouandIwouldgiveyearsofourlifetoacquire."'.Hawberklaughed.
Icontinuedalittleimpatiently:
"Heknowshistoryasnooneelsecouldknowit.
Nothing,however
trivial
trivial,escapeshissearch,andhismemoryissoabsolue
absolute,sopreciseindetails,thatwereitknowninNewYorkthatsuchamanexisted,thepeoplecouldnothonourhimenough."Nonsense,"mutteredHawberk,searchingonthefloorforafallenrivet.
Isitnonsense,"Iasked,managingto
réprimer
suppresswhatIfelt,"isitnonsensewhenhesaysthatthetassetsandcuissardsoftheenamelledsuitofarmourcommunément
commonlyknownasthe'Prince'sEmblazoned'canbefoundamongamassofrustytheatricalproperties,brokenstovesandragpicker'srefuseinagarretinPellStreet?"Hawberk's
marteau
hammerfelltotheground,buthepickeditupandasked,withagreatdealofcalm,howIknewthatthetassetsandleftcuissardweremissingfromthe"Prince'sEmblazoned."IdidnotknowuntilMr.Wildementionedittometheotherday.
Hesaidtheywereinthegarretof998PellStreet."
Nonsense,"hecried,butInoticedhishand
tremblant
tremblingunderhisleathernapron.Isthisnonsensetoo?"
Iaskedpleasantly,"isitnonsensewhenMr.Wilde
continuellement
continuallyspeaksofyouastheMarquis
MarquisofAvonshireandofMissConstance—".Ididnotfinish,forConstancehadstartedtoherfeetwith
terreur
terrorwrittenoneveryfeature.Hawberklookedatmeandslowly
lissé
smoothedhisleathernapron.Thatisimpossible,"heobserved,"Mr.
Wildemayknowagreatmanythings—".
Aboutarmour,for
exemple
instance,andthe'Prince'sEmblazoned,'"Iinterposed,smiling.Yes,"hecontinued,slowly,"aboutarmouralso—maybe—butheiswrongin
en ce qui concerne
regardtotheMarquisofAvonshire,who,asyouknow,killedhiswife'straduceryearsago,andwenttoAustraliawherehedidnotlongsurvivehiswife."Mr.
Wildeiswrong,"murmuredConstance.
Herlipswereblanched,buthervoicewassweetandcalm.
Letusagree,ifyouplease,thatinthisone
circonstance
circumstanceMr.Wildeiswrong,"Isaid.II
Iclimbedthethreedilapidatedflightsofstairs,whichIhadsooftenclimbedbefore,andknockedatasmalldoorattheendofthe
couloir
corridor.Mr.WildeopenedthedoorandIwalkedin.
Whenhehaddouble-lockedthedoorandpushedaheavychestagainstit,hecameandsatdownbesideme,peeringupintomyfacewithhislittlelight-colouredeyes.
Halfa
douzaine
dozennewscratchescoveredhisnoseandcheeks,andthesilverwireswhichsupportedhisartificialearshadbecomedisplaced.IthoughtIhadneverseenhimsohideously
fascinant
fascinating.Hehadnoears.
Theartificialones,whichnowstoodoutatan
angle
anglefromthefinewire,werehisonefaiblesse
weakness.Theyweremadeof
cire
waxandpaintedashellpink,buttherestofhisfacewasyellow.Hemightbetterhaverevelledinthe
luxe
luxuryofsomeartificialfingersforhislefthand,whichwasabsolutelyfingerless,butitseemedtocausehimnoinconvénient
inconvenience,andhewassatisfiedwithhiscire
waxears.Hewasverysmall,
à peine
scarcelyhigherthanachildoften,buthisarmsweremagnificentlydeveloped,andhisthighsasthickasanyathlete's.Still,themost
remarquable
remarkablethingaboutMr.Wildewasthatamanofhismarvellousintelligenceandknowledgeshouldhavesuchahead.Itwasflatandpointed,liketheheadsofmanyofthoseunfortunateswhompeopleimprisoninasylumsfortheweak-minded.
Manycalledhiminsane,butIknewhimtobeas
sain
saneasIwas.Idonotdenythathewas
excentrique
eccentric;themaniahehadforkeepingthatcatand
taquiner
teasingheruntilsheflewathisfacelikeademon,wascertainlyexcentrique
eccentric.Inevercouldunderstandwhyhekeptthecreature,norwhatpleasurehefoundinshuttinghimselfupinhisroomwiththissurly,viciousbeast.
Irememberonce,glancingupfromthe
manuscrit
manuscriptIwasstudyingbythelightofsometallowdips,andseeingMr.Wildesquattingmotionlessonhishighchair,hiseyesfairlyblazingwithexcitement,whilethecat,whichhadrisenfromherplacebeforethestove,camerampant
creepingacrossthefloorrightathim.BeforeIcouldmovesheflattenedherbellytotheground,crouched,
tremblé
trembled,andsprangintohisface.Howlingandfoamingtheyrolledoverandoveronthefloor,scratchingandclawing,untilthecatscreamedandfledunderthecabinet,andMr.Wildeturnedoveronhisback,hislimbscontractingandcurlinguplikethelegsofadying
araignée
spider.Hewaseccentric.
Mr.
Wildehadclimbedintohishighchair,and,afterstudyingmyface,pickedupadog's-earedledgerandopenedit.
HenryB.
Matthews,"heread,"book-keeperwithWhysotWhysotandCompany,dealersinchurchornaments.
CalledApril3rd.
Reputationdamagedontherace-track.
Knownasawelcher.
ReputationtoberepairedbyAugust1st.
RetainerFiveDollars."