THEREPAIREROFREPUTATIONS
I
Neraillonspaslesfous;
leurfoliedurepluslongtempsquelanôtre....
Voilatouteladifférence."
Towardthe
fine
endoftheyear1920theGovernmentoftheUnitedStatesaveva
hadpracticallycompletedtheprogramme,adoptedduringthedurante
lastmonthsofPresidentWinthrop'sadministration.Il
Thecountrywasapparentlytranquil.Tutti
EverybodyknowshowtheTariffe
andLabourquestionsweresettled.The
guerra
warwithGermany,incidentonthatcountry'sseizureoftheSamoanIslands,aveva
hadleftnovisiblescarsupontherepublic,e
andthetemporaryoccupationofNorfolkbytheinvadingarmyaveva
hadbeenforgotteninthejoyoverrepeatednavalvictories,e
andthesubsequentridiculousplightofGeneralVonGartenlaube'sforcesintheStateofNewJersey.TheCuban
e
andHawaiianinvestmentshadpaidonehundredpercente
andtheterritoryofSamoawaswellworthitscostasacoalingstation.Il
Thecountrywasinasuperbstateofdefence.Ogni
Everycoastcityhadbeenwellsupplieddi
withlandfortifications;thearmy
sotto
undertheparentaleyeofil
theGeneralStaff,organizedaccordingtoil
thePrussiansystem,hadbeenincreasedto300,000men,withaterritorialreserveofamilione
million;andsixmagnificentsquadronsofcruisers
e
andbattle-shipspatrolledthesixstationsofle
thenavigableseas,leavingasteamreserveamplyfittedtocontrollare
controlhomewaters.ThegentlemenfromtheWesthadatlastbeenconstrainedtoacknowledge
che
thatacollegeforthetrainingofdiplomatswasasnecessaryaslegge
lawschoolsareforthetrainingofbarristers;consequentlywewere
non
nolongerrepresentedabroadbyincompetentpatriots.La
Thenationwasprosperous;Chicago,for
un
amomentparalyzedafterasecondgrande
greatfire,hadrisenfromitsruins,whitee
andimperial,andmorebeautifulthanil
thewhitecitywhichhadbeenbuiltforitsplaythingin1893.Everywheregoodarchitecturewasreplacingbad,
e
andeveninNewYork,asuddencravingfordecencyaveva
hadsweptawayagreatportionofla
theexistinghorrors.Streetshadbeenwidened,properlypaved
e
andlighted,treeshadbeenplanted,squareslaidout,elevatedstructuresdemolishede
andundergroundroadsbuilttoreplacethem.Thenewgovernmentbuildings
e
andbarrackswerefinebitsofarchitecture,e
andthelongsystemofstonequaysche
whichcompletelysurroundedtheislandhadbeenturnedintoparksche
whichprovedagod-sendtothepopulation.La
Thesubsidizingofthestatetheatree
andstateoperabroughtitsownreward.TheUnitedStatesNationalAcademyofDesignwasmuchlikeEuropeaninstitutionsofthe
stesso
samekind.NobodyenviedtheSecretaryofFineArts,eitherhiscabinetpositionorhisportfolio.
Il
TheSecretaryofForestryandGioco
GamePreservationhadamucheasiertempo
time,thankstothenewsystemofNationalMountedPolizia
Police.Wehadprofitedwellby
la
thelatesttreatieswithFrancee
andEngland;theexclusionofforeign-bornJewsasameasureofself-preservation,thesettlementofthe
nuovo
newindependentnegrostateofSuanee,thecontrollo
checkingofimmigration,thenewlawsconcerningnaturalization,e
andthegradualcentralizationofpotere
powerintheexecutiveallcontributedtonationalcalma
calmandprosperity.WhentheGovernmentsolvedtheIndian
problema
problemandsquadronsofIndiancavalryscoutsinnativecostumeweresubstitutedforthepitiableorganizationstackedontothetailofskeletonizedregimentsbyun
aformerSecretaryofWar,thenationdrewun
alongsighofrelief.Quando
When,afterthecolossalCongressofReligions,bigotrye
andintolerancewerelaidintheirgravese
andkindnessandcharitybegantodrawwarringsectstogether,molti
manythoughtthemillenniumhadarrived,atalmeno
leastinthenewworldche
whichafterallisamondo
worldbyitself.Butself-preservationisthe
prima
firstlaw,andtheUnitedStateshadtoguardare
lookoninhelplesssorrowasGermany,Italy,Spaine
andBelgiumwrithedinthethroesofAnarchy,mentre
whileRussia,watchingfromtheCaucasus,stoopede
andboundthemonebyuno
one.InthecityofNewYorkthesummerof1899wassignalizedbythedismantlingoftheElevatedRailroads.
Thesummerof1900will
vivrà
liveinthememoriesofNewYorkpeopleformolti
manyacycle;theDodgeStatuewasremovedinthatyear.
InthefollowingwinterbeganthatagitationfortherepealofthelawsprohibitingsuicidewhichboreitsfinalfruitinthemonthofApril,1920,
quando
whenthefirstGovernmentLethalChamberwasopenedonWashingtonSquare.I
avevo
hadwalkeddownthatdayfromDr.Archer'scasa
houseonMadisonAvenue,whereIavevo
hadbeenasamereformality.Eversince
che
thatfallfrommyhorse,quattro
fouryearsbefore,Ihadbeentroubledattimeswithpainsinil
thebackofmyheade
andneck,butnowformonthstheyhadbeenabsent,e
andthedoctorsentmeawayche
thatdaysayingtherewasnulla
nothingmoretobecuredinme.Itwashardlyworthhisfeetobe
dicessero
toldthat;Iknewitmyself.
StillIdidnotgrudgehim
i
themoney.WhatImindedwasthemistake
che
whichhemadeatfirst.Quando
Whentheypickedmeupfromthepavementdove
whereIlayunconscious,andqualcuno
somebodyhadmercifullysentabulletthroughmyhorse'stesta
head,IwascarriedtoDr.Archer,e
andhe,pronouncingmybrainaffected,placedmeinhisprivateasylumdove
whereIwasobligedtoenduretreatmentforinsanity.Atlasthedecided
che
thatIwaswell,andI,sapendo
knowingthatmymindhadsempre
alwaysbeenassoundassua
his,ifnotsounder,"paidmytuition"ashejokinglychiamava
calledit,andleft.I
dissi
toldhim,smiling,thatIsarei
wouldgetevenwithhimforhismistake,e
andhelaughedheartily,andchiese
askedmetocallonceinawhile.I
feci
didso,hopingforachancetoevenupaccounts,ma
buthegavemenone,e
andItoldhimIwouldaspettato
wait.Thefallfrommyhorse
aveva
hadfortunatelyleftnoevilresults;on
il
thecontraryithadchangedmywholecharacterforil
thebetter.Fromalazy
giovane
youngmanabouttown,Ihaddiventato
becomeactive,energetic,temperate,andaboveall—oh,aboveallelse—ambitious.Therewas
solo
onlyonethingwhichtroubledme,Ilaughedatmyownuneasiness,andyetittroubledme.DuringmyconvalescenceI
avevo
hadboughtandreadfortheprima
firsttime,TheKinginYellow.I
ricordo
rememberafterfinishingthefirstactche
thatitoccurredtomeche
thatIhadbetterstop.Istartedup
e
andflungthebookintoil
thefireplace;thevolumestruckthebarredgrate
e
andfellopenonthehearthinthefirelight.Se
IfIhadnotcaughtun
aglimpseoftheopeningwordsinthesecondactIshouldneverhavefinishedit,ma
butasIstoopedtopickitup,myeyesbecamerivetedtotheopenpage,e
andwithacryofterror,o
orperhapsitwasofjoysopoignantthatIsufferedinogni
everynerve,Isnatchedthecosa
thingoutofthecoalse
andcreptshakingtomybedroom,dove
whereIreaditandrereadit,e
andweptandlaughedandtrembledwithun
ahorrorwhichattimesassailsmeancora
yet.Thisisthething
che
thattroublesme,forIcannotdimenticare
forgetCarcosawhereblackstarspendono
hangintheheavens;wheretheshadowsofmen'sthoughtslengthenintheafternoon,
quando
whenthetwinsunssinkintothelakeofHali;e
andmymindwillbearforeverthememoryofthePallidMask.Ipray
Dio
Godwillcursethewriter,asil
thewriterhascursedthemondo
worldwiththisbeautiful,stupendouscreation,terribleinitssimplicity,irresistibleinitstruth—amondo
worldwhichnowtremblesbeforeil
theKinginYellow.WhentheFrenchGovernmentseizedthetranslatedcopies
che
whichhadjustarrivedinParis,London,ofcourse,becameeagertoreadit.Itiswellknownhow
il
thebookspreadlikeaninfectiousdisease,fromcittà
citytocity,fromcontinenttocontinent,barredoutqui
here,confiscatedthere,denouncedbyPresse
andpulpit,censuredevenbyil
themostadvancedofliteraryanarchists.Nessun
Nodefiniteprincipleshadbeenviolatedinthosewickedpages,nessun
nodoctrinepromulgated,noconvictionsoutraged.Itcouldnotbejudgedbyanyknownstandard,yet,althoughitwasacknowledgedthatthesupremenoteofarthadbeenstruckinThe
Re
KinginYellow,allfeltthathumannaturecouldnotbearthestrain,northriveonwordsinwhichtheessenceofpurestpoisonlurked.La
Theverybanalityandinnocenceofla
thefirstactonlyallowedla
theblowtofallafterwardwithpiù
moreawfuleffect.Itwas,I
ricordo
remember,the13thdayofApril,1920,che
thatthefirstGovernmentLethalChamberwasestablishedonthesouthlato
sideofWashingtonSquare,betweenWoosterStreete
andSouthFifthAvenue.Theblock
che
whichhadformerlyconsistedofun
alotofshabbyoldbuildings,usedascafése
andrestaurantsforforeigners,hadbeenacquiredbyil
theGovernmentinthewinterof1898.I
TheFrenchandItaliancafése
andrestaurantsweretorndown;thewholeblockwasenclosedbyagildedironrailing,
e
andconvertedintoalovelygardenwithlawns,flowerse
andfountains.Inthecentreofthegardenstood
un
asmall,whitebuilding,severelyclassicalinarchitecture,e
andsurroundedbythicketsofflowers.Sei
SixIoniccolumnssupportedtheroof,e
andthesingledoorwasofbronze.Un
Asplendidmarblegroupofthe"Fates"stava
stoodbeforethedoor,theworkofun
ayoungAmericansculptor,BorisYvain,che
whohaddiedinParisquando
whenonlytwenty-threeyearsold.Le
TheinaugurationceremonieswereinprogressasIcrossedUniversityPlacee
andenteredthesquare.Ithreadedmyway
attraverso
throughthesilentthrongofspectators,ma
butwasstoppedatFourthStreetbyun
acordonofpolice.AregimentofUnitedStateslancersweredrawnupin
un
ahollowsquareroundtheLethalChamber.On
una
araisedtribunefacingWashingtonParkstati
stoodtheGovernorofNewYork,e
andbehindhimweregroupedtheMayorofNewYorke
andBrooklyn,theInspector-GeneralofPolizia
Police,theCommandantofthestatetroops,ColonelLivingston,militaryaidtothePresidentoftheUnitedStates,GeneralBlount,commandingatGovernor'sIsland,Major-GeneralHamilton,commandingthegarrisonofNewYorke
andBrooklyn,AdmiralBuffbyofthefleetintheNorthRiver,Surgeon-GeneralLanceford,thestaffoftheNationalFreeHospital,SenatorsWysee
andFranklinofNewYork,e
andtheCommissionerofPublicWorks.La
Thetribunewassurroundedbyasquadronofhussarsofla
theNationalGuard.TheGovernorwasfinishinghisreplytotheshortspeechoftheSurgeon-General.
I
sentito
heardhimsay:"Thelawsprohibitingsuicide
e
andprovidingpunishmentforanyattemptatself-destructionhavebeenrepealed.TheGovernment
ha
hasseenfittoacknowledgethediritto
rightofmantoendun
anexistencewhichmayhavebecomeintolerabletolui
him,throughphysicalsufferingormentaldespair.Itis
ritiene
believedthatthecommunitywillbebenefitedbytheremovalofsuchpersone
peoplefromtheirmidst.Since
il
thepassageofthislaw,il
thenumberofsuicidesinil
theUnitedStateshasnotincreased.Ora
NowtheGovernmenthasdeterminedtoestablishuna
aLethalChamberineverycity,towne
andvillageinthecountry,itremainstobevedere
seenwhetherornotthatclasse
classofhumancreaturesfromwhosedespondingranksnewvictimsofself-destructioncadono
falldailywillacceptthereliefthusprovided."Hepaused,
e
andturnedtothewhiteLethalChamber.Il
Thesilenceinthestreetwasabsolute."There
una
apainlessdeathawaitshimchi
whocannolongerbeari
thesorrowsofthislife.Se
Ifdeathiswelcomelethimseekitthere."Thenquicklyturningto
la
themilitaryaidofthePresident'shousehold,hedisse
said,"IdeclaretheLethalChamberopen,"e
andagainfacingthevastcrowdhecriedinaclearvoice:"CitizensofNewYork
e
andoftheUnitedStatesofAmerica,attraverso
throughmetheGovernmentdeclarestheLethalChambertobeopen."Thesolemnhushwasbrokenby
un
asharpcryofcommand,thesquadronofhussarsfiledaftertheGovernor'scarriage,thelancerswheelede
andformedalongFifthAvenuetoaspettare
waitforthecommandantofthegarrison,e
andthemountedpolicefollowedli
them.Ileftthecrowdtogape
e
andstareatthewhitemarbleMorte
DeathChamber,and,crossingSouthFifthAvenue,camminai
walkedalongthewesternsideofthatthoroughfaretoBleeckerStrada
Street.ThenIturnedto
il
therightandstoppedbeforeun
adingyshopwhichboreil
thesign:.HAWBERK,ARMOURER.
Iglancedinatthedoorway
e
andsawHawberkbusyinhispiccolo
littleshopattheendofthehall.Helookedup,
e
andcatchingsightofmecriedinhisdeep,heartyvoice,"Comein,Mr.Castaigne!"Constance,his
figlia
daughter,rosetomeetmeasIcrossedthethreshold,e
andheldoutherprettymano
hand,butIsawtheblushofdisappointmentonhercheeks,e
andknewthatitwasanotherCastaignesheaveva
hadexpected,mycousinLouis.Ismiledatherconfusion
e
andcomplimentedheronthebannershewasembroideringfromun
acolouredplate.OldHawberk
seduto
satrivetingtheworngreavesofsomeancientsuitofarmour,e
andtheting!ting!
ting!
ofhis
piccolo
littlehammersoundedpleasantlyinthequaintshop.Presentlyhedroppedhishammer,
e
andfussedaboutforamomento
momentwithatinywrench.Il
Thesoftclashofthemailsentun
athrillofpleasurethroughme
me.Ilovedtohearthe
musica
musicofsteelbrushingagainststeel,themellowshockofthemalletonthighpieces,e
andthejingleofchainarmour.Thatwastheonly
ragione
reasonIwenttoseeHawberk.He
aveva
hadneverinterestedmepersonally,norfatto
didConstance,exceptforthefatto
factofherbeinginlovewithLouis.Questo
Thisdidoccupymyattention,e
andsometimesevenkeptmeawakeatnotte
night.ButIknewinmy
cuore
heartthatallwouldcomeright,e
andthatIshouldarrangetheirfutureasIexpectedtoarrangeche
thatofmykinddoctor,JohnArcher.However,Ishouldnever
aveva
havetroubledmyselfaboutvisitingthemjustthen,aveva
haditnotbeen,asIdico
say,thatthemusicofthetinklinghammeraveva
hadformethisstrongfascination.Iwould
sedevo
sitforhours,listeningandascoltando
listening,andwhenastraysunbeamstrucktheinlaidsteel,thesensationitdava
gavemewasalmosttookeentoendure.Myeyeswould
diventavano
becomefixed,dilatingwithapleasureche
thatstretchedeverynervealmosttobreaking,untilqualche
somemovementoftheoldarmourertagliò
cutofftherayofsunlight,then,ancora
stillthrillingsecretly,Ileanedindietro
backandlistenedagaintothesuono
soundofthepolishingrag,swish!swish!
rubbingrustfrom
la
therivets.Constanceworkedwith
il
theembroideryoverherknees,nowandthenpausingtoexaminemorecloselyil
thepatterninthecolouredplatefromil
theMetropolitanMuseum.Whoisthisfor?"
I
chiesto
asked.Hawberkexplained,thatinadditiontothetreasuresofarmourintheMetropolitanMuseumofwhichhehadbeenappointedarmourer,healsohadchargeofseveralcollectionsbelongingtorichamateurs.
Questo
Thiswasthemissinggreaveofun
afamoussuitwhichaclientofhisaveva
hadtracedtoalittleshopinParisonil
theQuaid'Orsay.He,Hawberk,
aveva
hadnegotiatedforandsecuredthegreave,e
andnowthesuitwascomplete.Helaid
giù
downhishammerandreadmethehistoryofthesuit,tracedsince1450fromownertoowneruntilitwasacquiredbyThomasStainbridge.Quando
Whenhissuperbcollectionwassold,questo
thisclientofHawberk'sboughtthesuit,e
andsincethenthesearchforthemissinggreavehadbeenpusheduntilitwas,quasi
almostbyaccident,locatedinParis.Didyoucontinue
la
thesearchsopersistentlywithoutanycertaintyofla
thegreavebeingstillinexistence?"Idemanded.
Ofcourse,"herepliedcoolly.
Thenfor
la
thefirsttimeItookapersonalinterestinHawberk.Itwasworth
qualcosa
somethingtoyou,"Iventured.No,"hereplied,laughing,"mypleasureinfindingitwasmyreward."
Hai
Haveyounoambitiontoberich?"I
chiesto
asked,smiling.Myoneambitionistobethebestarmourerintheworld,"he
rispose
answeredgravely.Constanceaskedme
se
ifIhadseentheceremoniesatle
theLethalChamber.Sheherself
aveva
hadnoticedcavalrypassingupBroadwayche
thatmorning,andhadwishedtovedere
seetheinauguration,butherpadre
fatherwantedthebannerfinished,e
andshehadstayedathisrequest.Didyou
visto
seeyourcousin,Mr.Castaigne,there?"she
chiese
asked,withtheslightesttremorofhersofteyelashes.No,"Irepliedcarelessly.
"Louis'regimentismanœuvringoutinWestchesterCounty."
Irose
e
andpickedupmyhate
andcane.Areyougoingupstairsto
vedere
seethelunaticagain?"laughed
vecchio
oldHawberk.IfHawberkknew
quanto
howIloathethatword"lunatic,"hewouldneveruserebbe
useitinmypresence.Itrousescertainfeelingswithinme
che
whichIdonotcaretoexplain.However,I
risposto
answeredhimquietly:"IthinkIshalldropin
e
andseeMr.Wildeforun
amomentortwo."Poorfellow,"
detto
saidConstance,withashakeofthetesta
head,"itmustbehardtovivere
livealoneyearafteryearpovero
poor,crippledandalmostdemented.Itisvery
buono
goodofyou,Mr.Castaigne,tovisithimasoftenasyoudo."I
penso
thinkheisvicious,"observedHawberk,beginningagainwithhishammer.I
ascoltato
listenedtothegoldentinkleonil
thegreaveplates;whenhehadfinishedIreplied:.
Non
No,heisnotvicious,norisheintheleastdemented.His
mente
mindisawonderchamber,fromwhichhecanextracttreasuresthatyouandIè
wouldgiveyearsofourvita
lifetoacquire."'.Hawberklaughed.
Icontinued
un
alittleimpatiently:"Heknowshistoryas
nessun
nooneelsecouldknowla
it.Nothing,howevertrivial,escapeshissearch,
e
andhismemoryissoabsolute,sopreciseindetails,che
thatwereitknowninNewYorkche
thatsuchamanexisted,thepeoplecouldnothonourhimenough."Nonsense,"mutteredHawberk,searchingonthefloorfor
un
afallenrivet.Isitnonsense,"I
chiesto
asked,managingtosuppresswhatIsentivo
felt,"isitnonsensewhenhedice
saysthatthetassetsandcuissardsoftheenamelledsuitofarmourcommonlyknownasthe'Prince'sEmblazoned'canbefoundamonguna
amassofrustytheatricalproperties,brokenstovese
andragpicker'srefuseinagarretinPellStreet?"Hawberk'shammer
cadde
felltotheground,buthepickeditupe
andasked,withagreatdealofcalma
calm,howIknewthatthetassetse
andleftcuissardweremissingfromthe"Prince'sEmblazoned."Ididnot
sapevo
knowuntilMr.Wildementionedittomeil
theotherday.Hesaidtheywereinthegarretof998PellStreet."
Nonsense,"hecried,
ma
butInoticedhishandtremblingsotto
underhisleathernapron.Is
questa
thisnonsensetoo?"Iaskedpleasantly,"isitnonsense
quando
whenMr.Wildecontinuallyspeaksofyouasil
theMarquisofAvonshireandofMissConstance—".Ididnotfinish,forConstancehad
iniziato
startedtoherfeetwithterrorscritto
writtenoneveryfeature.Hawberk
guardò
lookedatmeandslowlysmoothedhisleathernapron.Thatisimpossible,"heobserved,"Mr.
Wildemay
sapere
knowagreatmanythings—".Aboutarmour,forinstance,
e
andthe'Prince'sEmblazoned,'"Iinterposed,smiling.Yes,"hecontinued,slowly,"aboutarmouralso—maybe—butheiswronginregardto
il
theMarquisofAvonshire,who,asyousapete
know,killedhiswife'straduceryearsfa
ago,andwenttoAustraliadove
wherehedidnotlongsurvivehiswife."Mr.
Wildeiswrong,"murmuredConstance.
Herlipswereblanched,
ma
buthervoicewassweete
andcalm.Letusagree,
se
ifyouplease,thatinquesta
thisonecircumstanceMr.Wildeiswrong,"Idissi
said.II
Iclimbedthe
tre
threedilapidatedflightsofstairs,che
whichIhadsooftenclimbedprima
before,andknockedatasmallporta
doorattheendofi
thecorridor.Mr.Wildeopenedthe
porta
doorandIwalkedin.Quando
Whenhehaddouble-lockedtheporta
doorandpushedaheavychestcontro
againstit,hecameandseduto
satdownbesideme,peeringupintomyviso
facewithhislittlelight-colouredeyes.Metà
Halfadozennewscratchescoveredhisnosee
andcheeks,andthesilverwiresche
whichsupportedhisartificialearshadbecomedisplaced.I
pensavo
thoughtIhadneverseenhimsohideouslyfascinating.He
aveva
hadnoears.Theartificialones,
che
whichnowstoodoutatananglefromla
thefinewire,werehisoneweakness.Theyweremadeofwax
e
andpaintedashellpink,ma
buttherestofhisviso
facewasyellow.Hemight
meglio
betterhaverevelledintheluxuryofsomeartificialfingersforhisleftmano
hand,whichwasabsolutelyfingerless,ma
butitseemedtocausehimnon
noinconvenience,andhewassatisfiedwithhiswaxears.Hewasvery
piccolo
small,scarcelyhigherthanabambino
childoften,buthisarmsweremagnificentlydeveloped,e
andhisthighsasthickasqualsiasi
anyathlete's.Still,themostremarkable
cosa
thingaboutMr.Wildewasche
thatamanofhismarvellousintelligencee
andknowledgeshouldhavesuchatesta
head.Itwasflatandpointed,
come
liketheheadsofmanyofthoseunfortunateswhompeopleimprisoninasylumsfortheweak-minded.Molti
Manycalledhiminsane,butIsapevo
knewhimtobeassaneasIwas.Idonotdeny
che
thathewaseccentric;themaniahe
aveva
hadforkeepingthatcate
andteasingheruntilsheflewathisfaccia
facelikeademon,wascertainlyeccentric.Inevercould
capire
understandwhyhekeptthecreature,norwhatpleasurehetrovasse
foundinshuttinghimselfupinhisroomwithquesta
thissurly,viciousbeast.I
ricordo
rememberonce,glancingupfromil
themanuscriptIwasstudyingbyil
thelightofsometallowdips,e
andseeingMr.Wildesquattingmotionlessonhishighchair,hiseyesfairlyblazingwithexcitement,mentre
whilethecat,whichhadrisenfromherposto
placebeforethestove,camecreepingacrossil
thefloorrightathim.Prima
BeforeIcouldmovesheflattenedherbellytola
theground,crouched,trembled,andsprangintohisfaccia
face.Howlingandfoamingtheyrolledover
e
andoveronthefloor,scratchinge
andclawing,untilthecatscreamede
andfledunderthecabinet,e
andMr.Wildeturnedoveronhisschiena
back,hislimbscontractingandcurlingupcome
likethelegsofamorente
dyingspider.Hewaseccentric.
Mr.
Wilde
ha
hadclimbedintohishighchair,e
and,afterstudyingmyface,pickedupun
adog's-earedledgerandopenedlo
it.HenryB.
Matthews,"he
letto
read,"book-keeperwithWhysotWhysotandCompany,dealersinchurchornaments.Chiamato
CalledApril3rd.Reputationdamagedon
la
therace-track.Knownasawelcher.
ReputationtoberepairedbyAugust1st.
Retainer
Cinque
FiveDollars."