THEREPAIREROFREPUTATIONS
I
Neraillonspaslesfous;
leurfoliedurepluslongtempsquelanôtre....
Voilatouteladifférence."
Towardtheendoftheyear1920theGovernmentoftheUnitedStateshadpracticallycompletedtheprogramme,adoptedduringthelastmonthsofPresidentWinthrop'sadministration.
Thecountrywasapparentlytranquil.
EverybodyknowshowtheTariffandLabourquestionsweresettled.
ThewarwithGermany,incidentonthatcountry'sseizureoftheSamoanIslands,hadleftnovisiblescarsupontherepublic,andthetemporaryoccupationofNorfolkbytheinvadingarmyhadbeenforgotteninthejoyoverrepeatednavalvictories,andthesubsequentridiculousplightofGeneralVonGartenlaube'sforcesintheStateofNewJersey.
TheCubanandHawaiianinvestmentshadpaidonehundredpercentandtheterritoryofSamoawaswellworthitscostasacoalingstation.
Thecountrywasinasuperbstateofdefence.
Every
해안
coastcityhadbeenwellsuppliedwithlandfortifications;thearmyundertheparentaleyeoftheGeneralStaff,organizedaccordingtothePrussiansystem,hadbeenincreasedto300,000men,withaterritorialreserveofamillion;
andsixmagnificentsquadronsofcruisersandbattle-shipspatrolledthesixstationsofthenavigableseas,leavingasteamreserveamplyfittedtocontrolhomewaters.
ThegentlemenfromtheWesthadatlastbeenconstrainedtoacknowledgethatacollegeforthetrainingofdiplomatswasasnecessaryaslawschoolsareforthetrainingofbarristers;
consequentlywewerenolongerrepresentedabroadbyincompetentpatriots.
Thenationwasprosperous;
Chicago,foramomentparalyzedafterasecondgreatfire,hadrisenfromitsruins,whiteandimperial,andmorebeautifulthanthewhitecitywhichhadbeenbuiltforitsplaythingin1893.
Everywheregoodarchitecturewasreplacingbad,andeveninNewYork,asuddencravingfordecencyhadsweptawayagreatportionoftheexistinghorrors.
Streetshadbeenwidened,
제대로
properlypavedandlighted,treeshadbeenplanted,squareslaidout,elevatedstructuresdemolishedandundergroundroadsbuilttoreplacethem.Thenewgovernmentbuildingsandbarrackswerefinebitsofarchitecture,andthelongsystemofstonequayswhichcompletelysurroundedtheislandhadbeenturnedintoparkswhichprovedagod-sendtothepopulation.
Thesubsidizingofthestatetheatreandstateoperabroughtitsownreward.
TheUnitedStates
국립
NationalAcademyofDesignwasmuchlikeEuropeaninstitutionsofthesamekind.NobodyenviedtheSecretaryofFineArts,eitherhiscabinetpositionorhisportfolio.
TheSecretaryofForestryandGamePreservationhadamucheasiertime,thankstothenewsystemofNationalMountedPolice.
Wehadprofitedwellbythe
최신
latesttreatieswithFranceandEngland;theexclusionofforeign-bornJewsasameasureofself-preservation,thesettlementofthenewindependentnegrostateofSuanee,thecheckingofimmigration,thenewlawsconcerningnaturalization,andthegradualcentralizationofpowerintheexecutiveallcontributedtonationalcalmandprosperity.
WhentheGovernmentsolvedtheIndianproblemandsquadronsofIndiancavalryscoutsinnativecostumeweresubstitutedforthepitiableorganizationstackedontothetailofskeletonizedregimentsbyaformerSecretaryofWar,thenationdrewalongsighofrelief.
When,afterthecolossalCongressofReligions,bigotryandintolerancewerelaidintheirgravesandkindnessandcharitybegantodrawwarringsectstogether,manythoughtthemillenniumhadarrived,atleastinthenewworldwhichafterallisaworldbyitself.
Butself-preservationisthefirstlaw,andtheUnitedStateshadtolookoninhelplesssorrowasGermany,Italy,SpainandBelgiumwrithedinthethroesofAnarchy,whileRussia,watchingfromtheCaucasus,stoopedandboundthemonebyone.
InthecityofNewYorkthesummerof1899wassignalizedbythedismantlingoftheElevatedRailroads.
Thesummerof1900willliveinthememoriesofNewYorkpeopleformanyacycle;
theDodgeStatuewasremovedinthatyear.
InthefollowingwinterbeganthatagitationfortherepealofthelawsprohibitingsuicidewhichboreitsfinalfruitinthemonthofApril,1920,whenthefirstGovernmentLethalChamberwasopenedonWashingtonSquare.
IhadwalkeddownthatdayfromDr.Archer'shouseonMadisonAvenue,whereIhadbeenasamereformality.
Eversincethatfallfrommyhorse,fouryearsbefore,Ihadbeentroubledattimeswithpainsinthebackofmyheadandneck,butnowformonthstheyhadbeenabsent,andthedoctorsentmeawaythatdaysayingtherewasnothingmoretobecuredinme.
Itwas
거의
hardlyworthhisfeetobetoldthat;Iknewitmyself.
StillIdidnotgrudgehimthemoney.
WhatImindedwasthemistakewhichhemadeatfirst.
WhentheypickedmeupfromthepavementwhereIlayunconscious,andsomebodyhadmercifullysentabulletthroughmyhorse'shead,IwascarriedtoDr.Archer,andhe,pronouncingmybrainaffected,placedmeinhisprivateasylumwhereIwasobligedtoenduretreatmentforinsanity.
AtlasthedecidedthatIwaswell,andI,knowingthatmymindhadalwaysbeenassoundashis,ifnotsounder,"paidmytuition"ashejokinglycalledit,andleft.
Itoldhim,smiling,thatIwouldgetevenwithhimforhismistake,andhelaughedheartily,andaskedmetocallonceinawhile.
Ididso,hopingforachancetoevenupaccounts,buthegavemenone,andItoldhimIwouldwait.
Thefallfrommyhorsehadfortunatelyleftnoevilresults;
onthecontraryithadchangedmywhole
성격
characterforthebetter.Fromalazyyoungmanabouttown,Ihadbecomeactive,energetic,temperate,andaboveall—oh,aboveallelse—ambitious.
Therewasonlyonethingwhichtroubledme,Ilaughedatmyownuneasiness,andyetittroubledme.
DuringmyconvalescenceIhadboughtandreadforthefirsttime,TheKinginYellow.
IrememberafterfinishingthefirstactthatitoccurredtomethatIhadbetterstop.
Istartedupandflungthebookintothefireplace;
thevolumestruckthebarredgrateandfellopenonthehearthinthefirelight.
IfIhadnotcaughtaglimpseoftheopeningwordsinthesecondactIshouldneverhavefinishedit,butasIstoopedtopickitup,myeyesbecamerivetedtotheopenpage,andwithacryofterror,orperhapsitwasofjoysopoignantthatIsufferedineverynerve,Isnatchedthethingoutofthecoalsandcreptshakingtomybedroom,whereIreaditandrereadit,andweptandlaughedandtrembledwithahorrorwhichattimesassailsmeyet.
Thisisthethingthattroublesme,forIcannotforgetCarcosawhereblackstarshangintheheavens;
wheretheshadowsofmen'sthoughtslengthenintheafternoon,whenthetwinsunssinkintothelakeofHali;
andmymindwillbearforeverthememoryofthePallidMask.
IprayGodwillcursethewriter,asthewriterhascursedtheworldwiththisbeautiful,stupendouscreation,terribleinitssimplicity,irresistibleinitstruth—aworldwhichnowtremblesbeforetheKinginYellow.
WhentheFrenchGovernmentseizedthetranslatedcopieswhichhadjustarrivedinParis,London,ofcourse,becameeagertoreadit.
Itiswellknownhowthebookspreadlikeaninfectiousdisease,fromcitytocity,fromcontinenttocontinent,barredouthere,confiscatedthere,denouncedbyPressandpulpit,censuredevenbythemostadvancedofliteraryanarchists.
Nodefiniteprincipleshadbeenviolatedinthosewickedpages,nodoctrinepromulgated,noconvictionsoutraged.
Itcouldnotbejudgedbyanyknownstandard,yet,althoughitwasacknowledgedthatthesupremenoteofarthadbeenstruckinTheKinginYellow,allfeltthathumannaturecouldnotbearthestrain,northriveonwordsinwhichtheessenceofpurestpoisonlurked.
Theverybanalityandinnocenceofthefirstactonlyallowedtheblowtofallafterwardwithmore
끔찍한
awfuleffect.Itwas,Iremember,the13thdayofApril,1920,thatthefirstGovernmentLethalChamberwasestablishedonthesouthsideofWashingtonSquare,betweenWoosterStreetandSouthFifthAvenue.
Theblockwhichhadformerlyconsistedofalotofshabbyoldbuildings,usedascafésandrestaurantsforforeigners,hadbeenacquiredbytheGovernmentinthewinterof1898.
TheFrenchandItaliancafésandrestaurantsweretorndown;
thewholeblockwasenclosedbyagildedironrailing,andconvertedintoalovelygardenwithlawns,flowersandfountains.
Inthecentreofthegardenstoodasmall,whitebuilding,severelyclassicalinarchitecture,andsurroundedbythicketsofflowers.
SixIoniccolumnssupportedtheroof,andthesingledoorwasofbronze.
Asplendidmarblegroupofthe"Fates"stoodbeforethedoor,theworkofayoungAmericansculptor,BorisYvain,whohaddiedinPariswhenonlytwenty-threeyearsold.
TheinaugurationceremonieswereinprogressasIcrossed
유니버시티
UniversityPlaceandenteredthesquare.Ithreadedmywaythroughthe
조용한
silentthrongofspectators,butwasstoppedatFourthStreetbyacordonofpolice.AregimentofUnitedStateslancersweredrawnupinahollowsquareroundtheLethalChamber.
OnaraisedtribunefacingWashingtonParkstoodthe
주지사
GovernorofNewYork,andbehindhimweregroupedtheMayorofNewYorkandBrooklyn,theInspector-GeneralofPolice,theCommandantofthestatetroops,대령
ColonelLivingston,militaryaidtothePresidentoftheUnitedStates,GeneralBlount,commandingatGovernor'sIsland,Major-GeneralHamilton,commandingthegarrisonofNewYorkandBrooklyn,AdmiralBuffbyofthefleetintheNorthRiver,Surgeon-GeneralLanceford,the직원
staffoftheNationalFreeHospital,SenatorsWyseandFranklinofNewYork,andtheCommissionerofPublicWorks.Thetribunewassurroundedbyasquadronofhussarsofthe
국립
NationalGuard.TheGovernorwasfinishinghisreplytotheshortspeechoftheSurgeon-General.
Iheardhimsay:
"Thelawsprohibitingsuicideandprovidingpunishmentforanyattemptatself-destructionhavebeenrepealed.
TheGovernmenthasseenfittoacknowledgetherightofmantoendanexistencewhichmayhavebecomeintolerabletohim,throughphysicalsufferingormentaldespair.
Itisbelievedthatthecommunitywillbebenefitedbytheremovalofsuchpeoplefromtheirmidst.
Sincethepassageofthislaw,thenumberofsuicidesintheUnitedStateshasnotincreased.
NowtheGovernmenthasdeterminedtoestablishaLethalChamberineverycity,townandvillageinthecountry,itremainstobeseenwhetherornotthatclassofhumancreaturesfromwhosedespondingranksnewvictimsofself-destructionfall
매일
dailywillacceptthereliefthusprovided."Hepaused,andturnedtothewhiteLethalChamber.
Thesilenceinthestreetwasabsolute.
"Thereapainlessdeathawaitshimwhocannolongerbearthesorrowsofthislife.
Ifdeathiswelcomelethimseekitthere."
ThenquicklyturningtothemilitaryaidofthePresident'shousehold,hesaid,"IdeclaretheLethalChamberopen,"andagainfacingthevastcrowdhecriedinaclearvoice:
"CitizensofNewYorkandoftheUnitedStatesofAmerica,throughmetheGovernmentdeclarestheLethalChambertobeopen."
Thesolemnhushwasbrokenbya
날카로운
sharpcryofcommand,thesquadronofhussarsfiledaftertheGovernor'scarriage,thelancerswheeledandformedalongFifthAvenuetowaitforthecommandantofthegarrison,andthemountedpolicefollowedthem.IleftthecrowdtogapeandstareatthewhitemarbleDeathChamber,and,crossingSouthFifthAvenue,walkedalongthewesternsideofthatthoroughfaretoBleeckerStreet.
ThenIturnedtotherightandstoppedbeforeadingyshopwhichborethesign:.
HAWBERK,ARMOURER.
IglancedinatthedoorwayandsawHawberkbusyinhislittleshopattheendofthe
홀
hall.Helookedup,andcatchingsightofmecriedinhisdeep,heartyvoice,"Comein,Mr.Castaigne!"
Constance,hisdaughter,rosetomeetmeasIcrossedthethreshold,andheldoutherprettyhand,butIsawtheblushofdisappointmentonhercheeks,andknewthatitwasanotherCastaigneshehadexpected,mycousinLouis.
Ismiledatherconfusionandcomplimentedheronthebannershewasembroideringfromacolouredplate.
OldHawberksatrivetingtheworngreavesofsomeancientsuitofarmour,andtheting!
ting!
ting!
ofhislittlehammersoundedpleasantlyinthequaintshop.
Presentlyhedroppedhishammer,andfussedaboutforamomentwitha
작은
tinywrench.Thesoftclashofthemailsentathrillofpleasurethroughme.
Ilovedtohearthemusicofsteelbrushingagainststeel,themellow
충격
shockofthemalletonthighpieces,andthejingleof사슬
chainarmour.ThatwastheonlyreasonIwenttoseeHawberk.
Hehadneverinterestedme
개인적으로
personally,nordidConstance,exceptforthefactofherbeinginlovewithLouis.Thisdidoccupymyattention,andsometimesevenkeptmeawakeatnight.
ButIknewinmyheartthatallwouldcomeright,andthatIshouldarrangetheirfutureasIexpectedtoarrangethatofmykinddoctor,JohnArcher.
However,Ishouldneverhavetroubledmyselfaboutvisitingthemjustthen,haditnotbeen,asIsay,thatthemusicofthetinklinghammerhadformethisstrongfascination.
Iwouldsitforhours,listeningandlistening,andwhenastraysunbeamstrucktheinlaidsteel,thesensationitgavemewasalmosttookeentoendure.
Myeyeswouldbecomefixed,dilatingwithapleasurethatstretchedeverynervealmosttobreaking,untilsomemovementoftheoldarmourercutofftherayofsunlight,then,stillthrillingsecretly,Ileanedbackandlistenedagaintothesoundofthepolishingrag,swish!
swish!
rubbingrustfromtherivets.
Constanceworkedwiththeembroideryoverherknees,nowandthenpausingtoexaminemorecloselythepatterninthecolouredplatefromtheMetropolitan
박물관
Museum.Whoisthisfor?"
Iasked.
Hawberkexplained,thatinadditiontothetreasuresofarmourintheMetropolitanMuseumofwhichhehadbeenappointedarmourer,healsohadchargeofseveralcollectionsbelongingtorichamateurs.
ThiswasthemissinggreaveofafamoussuitwhichaclientofhishadtracedtoalittleshopinParisontheQuaid'Orsay.
He,Hawberk,hadnegotiatedforandsecuredthegreave,andnowthesuitwascomplete.
Helaiddownhishammerandreadmethehistoryofthesuit,tracedsince1450fromownertoowneruntilitwasacquiredbyThomasStainbridge.
Whenhissuperbcollectionwassold,thisclientofHawberk'sboughtthesuit,andsincethenthesearchforthemissinggreavehadbeenpusheduntilitwas,almostbyaccident,locatedinParis.
Didyoucontinuethesearchsopersistentlywithoutanycertaintyofthegreavebeingstillinexistence?"
Idemanded.
Ofcourse,"herepliedcoolly.
ThenforthefirsttimeItookapersonalinterestinHawberk.
Itwasworthsomethingtoyou,"Iventured.
No,"hereplied,laughing,"mypleasureinfindingitwasmyreward."
Haveyounoambitiontoberich?"
Iasked,smiling.
Myoneambitionistobethebestarmourerintheworld,"heansweredgravely.
ConstanceaskedmeifIhadseentheceremoniesattheLethalChamber.
SheherselfhadnoticedcavalrypassingupBroadwaythatmorning,andhadwishedtoseetheinauguration,butherfatherwantedthebannerfinished,andshehadstayedathisrequest.
Didyouseeyourcousin,Mr.Castaigne,there?"
sheasked,withtheslightesttremorofher
부드러운
softeyelashes.No,"Irepliedcarelessly.
"Louis'regimentismanœuvringoutinWestchesterCounty."
Iroseandpickedupmyhatandcane.
Areyougoingupstairstoseethelunaticagain?"
laughedoldHawberk.
IfHawberkknewhowIloathethatword"lunatic,"hewouldneveruseitinmypresence.
ItrousescertainfeelingswithinmewhichIdonotcaretoexplain.
However,Iansweredhim
조용히
quietly:"IthinkIshalldropinandseeMr.Wildeforamomentortwo."
Poorfellow,"saidConstance,withashakeofthehead,"itmustbehardtolivealoneyearafteryearpoor,crippledandalmostdemented.
Itisverygoodofyou,Mr.Castaigne,tovisithimasoftenasyoudo."
Ithinkheisvicious,"observedHawberk,beginningagainwithhishammer.
Ilistenedtothe
황금
goldentinkleonthegreaveplates;whenhehadfinishedIreplied:.
No,heisnotvicious,norisheintheleastdemented.
Hismindisawonderchamber,fromwhichhecanextracttreasuresthatyouandIwouldgiveyearsofourlifetoacquire."'.
Hawberklaughed.
Icontinuedalittleimpatiently:
"Heknowshistoryasnooneelsecouldknowit.
Nothing,howevertrivial,escapeshissearch,andhismemoryissoabsolute,sopreciseindetails,thatwereitknowninNewYorkthatsuchamanexisted,thepeoplecouldnothonourhimenough."
Nonsense,"mutteredHawberk,searchingonthefloorforafallenrivet.
Isitnonsense,"Iasked,managingtosuppresswhatIfelt,"isitnonsensewhenhesaysthatthetassetsandcuissardsoftheenamelledsuitofarmourcommonlyknownasthe'Prince'sEmblazoned'canbefoundamonga
질량
massofrustytheatricalproperties,brokenstovesandragpicker'srefuseinagarretinPellStreet?"Hawberk'shammerfelltotheground,buthepickeditupandasked,withagreatdealofcalm,howIknewthatthetassetsandleftcuissardweremissingfromthe"Prince'sEmblazoned."
IdidnotknowuntilMr.Wildementionedittometheotherday.
Hesaidtheywereinthegarretof998PellStreet."
Nonsense,"hecried,butInoticedhishandtremblingunderhisleathernapron.
Isthisnonsensetoo?"
Iaskedpleasantly,"isitnonsensewhenMr.WildecontinuallyspeaksofyouastheMarquisofAvonshireandofMissConstance—".
Ididnotfinish,forConstancehadstartedtoherfeetwithterrorwrittenoneveryfeature.
Hawberklookedatmeand
천천히
slowlysmoothedhisleathernapron.Thatisimpossible,"heobserved,"Mr.
Wildemayknowagreatmanythings—".
Aboutarmour,forinstance,andthe'Prince'sEmblazoned,'"Iinterposed,smiling.
Yes,"hecontinued,
천천히
slowly,"aboutarmouralso—maybe—butheiswronginregardtotheMarquisofAvonshire,who,asyouknow,killedhiswife'straduceryearsago,andwenttoAustraliawherehedidnotlongsurvivehiswife."Mr.
Wildeiswrong,"murmuredConstance.
Herlipswereblanched,buthervoicewassweetandcalm.
Letusagree,ifyouplease,thatinthisonecircumstanceMr.Wildeiswrong,"Isaid.
II
Iclimbedthethreedilapidatedflightsofstairs,whichIhadsooftenclimbedbefore,andknockedatasmalldoorattheendofthecorridor.
Mr.WildeopenedthedoorandIwalkedin.
Whenhehaddouble-lockedthedoorandpushedaheavychestagainstit,hecameandsatdownbesideme,peeringupintomyfacewithhislittlelight-colouredeyes.
Halfadozennewscratchescoveredhisnoseandcheeks,andthe
은색
silverwireswhichsupportedhisartificialearshadbecomedisplaced.IthoughtIhadneverseenhimsohideouslyfascinating.
Hehadnoears.
Theartificialones,whichnowstoodoutatananglefromthefinewire,werehisoneweakness.
Theyweremadeofwaxandpaintedashellpink,buttherestofhisfacewasyellow.
Hemightbetterhaverevelledintheluxuryofsomeartificialfingersforhislefthand,whichwasabsolutelyfingerless,butitseemedtocausehimnoinconvenience,andhewassatisfiedwithhiswaxears.
Hewasverysmall,scarcelyhigherthanachildoften,buthisarmsweremagnificentlydeveloped,andhisthighsasthickasanyathlete's.
Still,themostremarkablethingaboutMr.Wildewasthatamanofhismarvellousintelligenceandknowledgeshouldhavesuchahead.
Itwasflatandpointed,liketheheadsofmanyofthoseunfortunateswhompeopleimprisoninasylumsfortheweak-minded.
Manycalledhiminsane,butIknewhimtobeassaneasIwas.
Idonotdenythathewaseccentric;
themaniahehadforkeepingthatcatandteasingheruntilsheflewathisfacelikeademon,wascertainlyeccentric.
Inevercouldunderstandwhyhekeptthecreature,norwhatpleasurehefoundinshuttinghimselfupinhisroomwiththissurly,viciousbeast.
Irememberonce,glancingupfromthemanuscriptIwasstudyingbythelightofsometallowdips,andseeingMr.Wildesquattingmotionlessonhishighchair,hiseyesfairlyblazingwithexcitement,whilethecat,whichhadrisenfromherplacebeforethestove,camecreepingacrossthefloorrightathim.
BeforeIcouldmovesheflattenedherbellytotheground,crouched,trembled,andsprangintohisface.
Howlingandfoamingtheyrolledoverandoveronthefloor,scratchingandclawing,untilthecatscreamedandfledunderthecabinet,andMr.Wildeturnedoveronhisback,hislimbscontractingandcurlinguplikethelegsofadyingspider.
Hewaseccentric.
Mr.
Wildehadclimbedintohishighchair,and,afterstudyingmyface,pickedupadog's-earedledgerandopenedit.
HenryB.
Matthews,"heread,"book-keeperwithWhysotWhysotandCompany,dealersinchurchornaments.
CalledApril3rd.
Reputationdamagedontherace-track.
Knownasawelcher.
ReputationtoberepairedbyAugust1st.
RetainerFiveDollars."