THEREPAIREROFREPUTATIONS
I
Neraillonspaslesfous;
leurfoliedurepluslongtempsquelanôtre....
Voilatouteladifférence."
Towardtheendoftheyear1920the
Gobierno
GovernmentoftheUnitedStateshadpracticallycompletado
completedtheprogramme,adoptedduringthelastmonthsofPresidente
PresidentWinthrop'sadministration.Thecountrywasapparentlytranquil.
EverybodyknowshowtheTariffandLabourquestionsweresettled.
ThewarwithGermany,incidentonthatcountry'sseizureoftheSamoanIslands,hadleftnovisiblescarsupontherepublic,andthetemporaryoccupationofNorfolkbytheinvading
ejército
armyhadbeenforgotteninthejoyoverrepeatednavalvictories,andthesubsequentridiculousplightofGeneral
GeneralVonGartenlaube'sforcesintheEstado
StateofNewJersey.TheCubanandHawaiianinvestmentshadpaidonehundredpercentandtheterritoryofSamoawaswellworthits
costo
costasacoalingstation.Thecountrywasinasuperb
estado
stateofdefence.Everycoastcityhadbeenwellsuppliedwithlandfortifications;
the
ejército
armyundertheparentaleyeoftheGeneralStaff,organizedacuerdo
accordingtothePrussiansystem,hadbeenincreasedto300,000men,withaterritorialreserveofamillion;andsixmagnificentsquadronsofcruisersandbattle-shipspatrolledthesixstationsofthenavigableseas,leavingasteamreserveamplyfittedtocontrolhomewaters.
ThegentlemenfromtheWesthadatlastbeenconstrainedtoacknowledgethatacollegeforthetrainingofdiplomatswasas
necesario
necessaryaslawschoolsareforthetrainingofbarristers;consequentlywewerenolongerrepresentedabroadbyincompetentpatriots.
Thenationwasprosperous;
Chicago,foramomentparalyzedafterasecondgreatfire,hadrisenfromitsruins,whiteandimperial,andmorebeautifulthanthewhitecitywhichhadbeenbuiltforitsplaythingin1893.
En todas partes
Everywheregoodarchitecturewasreplacingbad,andeveninNewYork,asuddencravingfordecencyhadsweptawayagreatportionoftheexistinghorrors.Streetshadbeenwidened,properlypavedandlighted,treeshadbeenplanted,squareslaidout,elevatedstructuresdemolishedandundergroundroads
construido
builttoreplacethem.Thenewgovernmentbuildingsandbarrackswerefinebitsofarchitecture,andthelong
sistema
systemofstonequayswhichcompletamente
completelysurroundedtheislandhadbeenturnedintoparkswhichprovedagod-sendtothepopulation.Thesubsidizingofthestatetheatreandstateoperabroughtitsownreward.
TheUnitedStatesNationalAcademyofDesignwasmuchlikeEuropeaninstitutionsofthesamekind.
NobodyenviedtheSecretaryofFineArts,eitherhiscabinetpositionorhisportfolio.
TheSecretaryofForestryandGamePreservationhadamucheasiertime,thankstothenew
sistema
systemofNationalMountedPolice.WehadprofitedwellbythelatesttreatieswithFranceandEngland;
theexclusionofforeign-bornJewsasameasureofself-preservation,thesettlementofthenewindependentnegro
estado
stateofSuanee,thecheckingofimmigration,thenewlawsconcerningnaturalization,andthegradualcentralizationofpowerintheexecutiveallcontributedtonationalcalmandprosperity.Whenthe
Gobierno
GovernmentsolvedtheIndianproblemandsquadronsofIndiancavalryscoutsinnativecostumeweresubstitutedforthepitiableorganizationstackedontothetailofskeletonizedregimentsbyaformerSecretaryofWar,thenationdrewalongsighofrelief.When,afterthecolossalCongressofReligions,bigotryandintolerancewerelaidintheirgravesandkindnessandcharity
comenzaron
begantodrawwarringsectstogether,manythoughtthemillenniumhadarrived,atleastinthenewworldwhichafterallisaworldbyitself.Butself-preservationisthefirstlaw,andtheUnitedStateshadtolookoninhelplesssorrowasGermany,Italy,SpainandBelgiumwrithedinthethroesofAnarchy,whileRussia,watchingfromtheCaucasus,stoopedandboundthemonebyone.
InthecityofNewYorkthe
verano
summerof1899wassignalizedbythedismantlingoftheElevatedRailroads.The
verano
summerof1900willliveinthememoriesofNewYorkpeopleformanyacycle;theDodgeStatuewasremovedinthatyear.
Inthefollowingwinter
comenzó
beganthatagitationfortherepealofthelawsprohibitingsuicidewhichboreitsfinal
finalfruitinthemonthofApril,1920,whenthefirstGobierno
GovernmentLethalChamberwasopenedonWashingtonSquare.IhadwalkeddownthatdayfromDr.Archer'shouseonMadisonAvenue,whereIhadbeenasamereformality.
Eversincethatfallfrommy
caballo
horse,fouryearsbefore,Ihadbeentroubledattimeswithpainsinthebackofmyheadandcuello
neck,butnowformonthstheyhadbeenabsent,andthedoctorsentmeawaythatdaysayingtherewasnothingmoretobecuredinme.Itwashardlyworthhisfeetobetoldthat;
Iknewitmyself.
StillIdidnotgrudgehimthemoney.
WhatImindedwasthe
error
mistakewhichhemadeatfirst.WhentheypickedmeupfromthepavementwhereIlayunconscious,andsomebodyhadmercifullysentabulletthroughmyhorse'shead,Iwas
llevaron
carriedtoDr.Archer,andhe,pronouncingmycerebro
brainaffected,placedmeinhisprivado
privateasylumwhereIwasobligedtoenduretreatmentforinsanity.Atlasthe
decidió
decidedthatIwaswell,andI,knowingthatmymindhadalwaysbeenassoundashis,ifnotsounder,"paidmytuition"ashejokinglycalledit,andleft.Itoldhim,
sonriendo
smiling,thatIwouldgetevenwithhimforhiserror
mistake,andhelaughedheartily,andaskedmetocallonceinawhile.Ididso,hopingforachancetoevenupaccounts,buthegavemenone,andItoldhimIwouldwait.
Thefallfrommy
caballo
horsehadfortunatelyleftnoevilresults;onthecontraryithadchangedmywholecharacterforthebetter.
Fromalazyyoungmanabouttown,Ihadbecomeactive,energetic,temperate,andaboveall—oh,aboveallelse—ambitious.
Therewasonlyonethingwhichtroubledme,Ilaughedatmyownuneasiness,andyetittroubledme.
Durante
DuringmyconvalescenceIhadboughtandreadforthefirsttime,TheKinginYellow.Irememberafter
terminar
finishingthefirstactthatitoccurredtomethatIhadbetterstop.Istartedupandflungthebookintothefireplace;
thevolumestruckthebarredgrateandfellopenonthehearthinthefirelight.
IfIhadnotcaughtaglimpseoftheopeningwordsinthesecond
acto
actIshouldneverhaveterminado
finishedit,butasIstoopedtopickitup,myeyesbecamerivetedtotheopenpage,andwithagrito
cryofterror,orperhapsitwasofjoysopoignantthatIsufferedineverynerve,Isnatchedthethingoutofthecoalsandcreptshakingtomybedroom,whereIreaditandrereadit,andweptandlaughedandtrembledwithahorrorwhichattimesassailsmeyet.Thisisthethingthattroublesme,forIcannotforgetCarcosawhereblackstarshangintheheavens;
wheretheshadowsofmen'sthoughtslengtheninthe
tarde
afternoon,whenthetwinsunssinkintothelakeofHali;andmymindwillbearforeverthe
recuerdo
memoryofthePallidMask.IprayGodwillcursethewriter,asthewriterhascursedtheworldwiththisbeautiful,stupendouscreation,
terrible
terribleinitssimplicity,irresistibleinitstruth—aworldwhichnowtremblesbeforetheKinginYellow.WhentheFrench
Gobierno
GovernmentseizedthetranslatedcopieswhichhadjustarrivedinParis,London,ofcourse,becameeagertoreadit.Itiswellknownhowthebookspreadlikeaninfectiousdisease,fromcitytocity,fromcontinenttocontinent,barredouthere,confiscatedthere,denouncedby
Prensa
Pressandpulpit,censuredevenbythemostadvancedofliteraryanarchists.Nodefiniteprincipleshadbeenviolatedinthosewickedpages,nodoctrinepromulgated,noconvictionsoutraged.
Itcouldnotbe
juzgar
judgedbyanyknownstandard,yet,althoughitwasacknowledgedthatthesupremenoteofarte
arthadbeenstruckinTheKinginYellow,allfeltthathumannaturaleza
naturecouldnotbearthestrain,ni
northriveonwordsinwhichtheessenceofpurestpoisonlurked.Theverybanalityandinnocenceofthefirst
acto
actonlyallowedtheblowtofallafterwardwithmoreawfuleffect.Itwas,Iremember,the13thdayofApril,1920,thatthefirst
Gobierno
GovernmentLethalChamberwasestablishedonthesur
southsideofWashingtonSquare,betweenWoosterStreetandSur
SouthFifthAvenue.Theblockwhichhadformerlyconsistedofalotofshabbyoldbuildings,usedascafésandrestaurantsforforeigners,hadbeenacquiredbythe
Gobierno
Governmentinthewinterof1898.TheFrenchandItaliancafésandrestaurantsweretorndown;
thewholeblockwasenclosedbyagildedironrailing,andconvertedintoalovelygardenwithlawns,flowersandfountains.
Inthecentreofthegardenstoodasmall,white
edificio
building,severelyclassicalinarchitecture,andsurroundedbythicketsofflowers.SixIoniccolumns
apoyaban
supportedtheroof,andthesingledoorwasofbronze.Asplendidmarble
grupo
groupofthe"Fates"stoodbeforethedoor,theworkofayoungAmericansculptor,BorisYvain,whohaddiedinPariswhenonlytwenty-threeyearsold.TheinaugurationceremonieswereinprogressasIcrossedUniversityPlaceandenteredthesquare.
Ithreadedmywaythroughthesilentthrongofspectators,butwasstoppedatFourthStreetbyacordonofpolice.
AregimentofUnitedStateslancersweredrawnupinahollowsquareroundtheLethalChamber.
OnaraisedtribunefacingWashingtonParkstoodtheGovernorofNewYork,andbehindhimweregroupedtheMayorofNewYorkandBrooklyn,theInspector-GeneralofPolice,theCommandantofthestatetroops,ColonelLivingston,
militar
militaryaidtothePresidentoftheUnitedStates,General
GeneralBlount,commandingatGovernor'sIsland,Major-GeneralHamilton,commandingthegarrisonofNewYorkandBrooklyn,AdmiralBuffbyofthefleetintheNorte
NorthRiver,Surgeon-GeneralLanceford,thestaffoftheNationalFreeHospital,SenatorsWyseandFranklinofNewYork,andtheCommissionerofPublicWorks.ThetribunewassurroundedbyasquadronofhussarsoftheNational
Guardia
Guard.TheGovernorwasfinishinghisreplytothe
breve
shortspeechoftheSurgeon-General.Iheardhimsay:
"Thelawsprohibitingsuicideandprovidingpunishmentforanyattemptatself-destructionhavebeenrepealed.
The
Gobierno
Governmenthasseenfittoacknowledgetherightofmantoendanexistencewhichmayhavebecomeintolerabletohim,throughphysicalsufferingormentaldespair.Itisbelievedthatthecommunitywillbebenefitedbytheremovalofsuchpeoplefromtheirmidst.
Sincethepassageofthislaw,thenumberofsuicidesintheUnitedStateshasnotincreased.
Nowthe
Gobierno
GovernmenthasdeterminedtoestablishaLethalChamberineverycity,townandvillageinthecountry,itremainstobeseensi
whetherornotthatclassofhumancreaturesfromcuyas
whosedespondingranksnewvictimsofself-destructionfalldailywillaceptará
acceptthereliefthusprovided."Hepaused,andturnedtothewhiteLethalChamber.
Thesilenceinthestreetwasabsolute.
"Thereapainlessdeathawaitshimwhocannolonger
soportar
bearthesorrowsofthislife.Ifdeathiswelcomelethimseekitthere."
Then
rápidamente
quicklyturningtothemilitaryaidofthePresident'shousehold,hesaid,"IdeclaretheLethalChamberopen,"andagainfacingthevastcrowdhecriedinaclearvoz
voice:"CitizensofNewYorkandoftheUnitedStatesofAmerica,throughmethe
Gobierno
GovernmentdeclarestheLethalChambertobeopen."Thesolemnhushwasbrokenbyasharp
grito
cryofcommand,thesquadronofhussarsfiledaftertheGovernor'scarriage,thelancerswheeledandformaron
formedalongFifthAvenuetowaitforthecommandantofthegarrison,andthemountedpolicefollowedthem.IleftthecrowdtogapeandstareatthewhitemarbleDeathChamber,and,
cruzando
crossingSouthFifthAvenue,walkedalongthewesternsideofthatthoroughfaretoBleeckerStreet.ThenIturnedtotherightandstoppedbeforeadingy
tienda
shopwhichborethesign:.HAWBERK,ARMOURER.
IglancedinatthedoorwayandsawHawberk
ocupado
busyinhislittleshopattheendofthehall.Helookedup,andcatchingsightofmecriedinhisdeep,hearty
voz
voice,"Comein,Mr.Castaigne!"Constance,hisdaughter,rosetomeetmeasI
crucé
crossedthethreshold,andheldoutherprettyhand,butIsawtheblushofdisappointmentonhercheeks,andknewthatitwasanotherCastaigneshehadesperado
expected,mycousinLouis.I
sonreí
smiledatherconfusionandcomplimentedheronthebannershewasembroideringfromacolouredplate.OldHawberksatrivetingtheworngreavesofsomeancient
traje
suitofarmour,andtheting!ting!
ting!
ofhislittlehammersoundedpleasantlyinthequaint
tienda
shop.Presentlyhedroppedhishammer,andfussedaboutforamomentwithatinywrench.
Thesoftclashofthemailsentathrillof
placer
pleasurethroughme.Ilovedtohearthemusicofsteelbrushingagainststeel,themellowshockofthemalletonthighpieces,andthejingleofchainarmour.
ThatwastheonlyreasonIwenttoseeHawberk.
Hehadnever
interesado
interestedmepersonally,nordidConstance,excepto
exceptforthefactofherbeinginlovewithLouis.Thisdidoccupymyattention,andsometimesevenkeptmeawakeatnight.
ButIknewinmyheartthatallwouldcomeright,andthatIshouldarrangetheir
futuro
futureasIexpectedtoarrangethatofmykinddoctor,JohnArcher.However,Ishouldneverhavetroubledmyselfaboutvisitingthemjustthen,haditnotbeen,asIsay,thatthemusicofthetinklinghammerhadformethis
fuerte
strongfascination.Iwouldsitforhours,listeningandlistening,andwhenastraysunbeamstrucktheinlaidsteel,thesensationitgavemewasalmosttookeentoendure.
Myeyeswouldbecomefixed,dilatingwitha
placer
pleasurethatstretchedeverynervealmosttobreaking,untilsomemovementoftheoldarmourercutofftherayo
rayofsunlight,then,stillthrillingsecretly,Ileanedbackandlistenedagaintothesoundofthepolishingrag,swish!swish!
rubbingrustfromtherivets.
Constanceworkedwiththeembroideryoverherknees,nowandthenpausingtoexaminemorecloselythepatterninthecolouredplatefromtheMetropolitanMuseum.
Whoisthisfor?"
Iasked.
Hawberk
explicó
explained,thatinadditiontothetreasuresofarmourintheMetropolitanMuseumofwhichhehadbeenappointedarmourer,healsohadcargo
chargeofseveralcollectionsbelongingtorichamateurs.Thiswasthemissinggreaveofa
famoso
famoussuitwhichaclientofhishadtracedtoalittletienda
shopinParisontheQuaid'Orsay.He,Hawberk,hadnegotiatedforandsecuredthegreave,andnowthe
traje
suitwascomplete.Helaiddownhishammerandreadmethe
historia
historyofthesuit,tracedsince1450fromownertoowneruntilitwasacquiredbyThomasStainbridge.Whenhissuperbcollectionwassold,thisclientofHawberk'sboughtthe
traje
suit,andsincethenthebúsqueda
searchforthemissinggreavehadbeenpusheduntilitwas,almostbyaccidente
accident,locatedinParis.Didyou
continuó
continuethesearchsopersistentlywithoutanycertaintyofthegreavebeingstillinexistence?"Idemanded.
Ofcourse,"herepliedcoolly.
ThenforthefirsttimeItookapersonal
interesé
interestinHawberk.Itwas
valía
worthsomethingtoyou,"Iventured.No,"hereplied,laughing,"my
placer
pleasureinfindingitwasmyreward."Haveyounoambitiontoberich?"
Iasked,smiling.
Myoneambitionistobethebestarmourerintheworld,"heansweredgravely.
ConstanceaskedmeifIhadseentheceremoniesattheLethalChamber.
Sheherselfhad
notado
noticedcavalrypassingupBroadwaythatmorning,andhadwishedtoseetheinauguration,butherfatherwantedthebannerfinished,andshehadstayedathisrequest.Didyouseeyour
primo
cousin,Mr.Castaigne,there?"sheasked,withtheslightesttremorofhersofteyelashes.
No,"Irepliedcarelessly.
"Louis'regimentismanœuvringoutinWestchesterCounty."
Iroseandpickedupmyhatandcane.
Areyougoingupstairstoseethelunaticagain?"
laughedoldHawberk.
IfHawberkknewhowIloathethatword"lunatic,"hewouldneveruseitinmypresence.
Itrouses
ciertos
certainfeelingswithinmewhichIdonotcaretoexplicar
explain.However,Iansweredhimquietly:
"IthinkIshalldropinandseeMr.Wildeforamomentortwo."
Poorfellow,"saidConstance,withashakeofthehead,"itmustbehardtolivealoneyearafteryearpoor,crippledandalmostdemented.
Itisverygoodofyou,Mr.Castaigne,tovisithimasoftenasyoudo."
Ithinkheisvicious,"observedHawberk,beginningagainwithhishammer.
Ilistenedtothegoldentinkleonthegreaveplates;
whenhehad
terminó
finishedIreplied:.No,heisnotvicious,
ni
norisheintheleastdemented.Hismindisawonderchamber,fromwhichhecanextracttreasuresthatyouandIwouldgiveyearsofourlifetoacquire."'.
Hawberklaughed.
I
continué
continuedalittleimpatiently:"Heknows
historia
historyasnooneelsecouldknowit.Nothing,howevertrivial,
escapa
escapeshissearch,andhismemoria
memoryissoabsolute,sopreciseindetails,thatwereitknowninNewYorkthatsuchamanexisted,thepeoplecouldnothonourhimenough."Nonsense,"mutteredHawberk,searchingonthe
suelo
floorforafallenrivet.Isitnonsense,"Iasked,managingtosuppresswhatIfelt,"isitnonsensewhenhesaysthatthetassetsandcuissardsoftheenamelled
traje
suitofarmourcommonlyknownasthe'Prince'sEmblazoned'canbefoundamongamassofrustytheatricalproperties,brokenstovesandragpicker'srefuseinagarretinPellStreet?"Hawberk'shammerfelltothe
suelo
ground,buthepickeditupandasked,withagreatdealofcalm,howIknewthatthetassetsandleftcuissardweremissingfromthe"Prince'sEmblazoned."IdidnotknowuntilMr.Wilde
mencionó
mentionedittometheotherday.Hesaidtheywereinthegarretof998PellStreet."
Nonsense,"he
lloró
cried,butInoticedhishandtremblingunderhisleathernapron.Isthisnonsensetoo?"
Iaskedpleasantly,"isitnonsensewhenMr.WildecontinuallyspeaksofyouastheMarquisofAvonshireandofMissConstance—".
Ididnot
terminé
finish,forConstancehadstartedtoherfeetwithterrorwrittenoneveryfeature.Hawberklookedatmeandslowlysmoothedhisleathernapron.
Thatisimpossible,"heobserved,"Mr.
Wildemayknowagreatmanythings—".
Aboutarmour,forinstance,andthe'Prince'sEmblazoned,'"Iinterposed,
sonriendo
smiling.Yes,"hecontinued,slowly,"aboutarmouralso—maybe—butheiswronginregardtotheMarquisofAvonshire,who,asyouknow,killedhiswife'straduceryearsago,andwenttoAustraliawherehedidnotlongsurvivehiswife."
Mr.
Wildeiswrong,"murmuredConstance.
Herlipswereblanched,buther
voz
voicewassweetandcalm.Letus
acuerdo
agree,ifyouplease,thatinthisonecircumstanceMr.Wildeiswrong,"Isaid.II
Iclimbedthethreedilapidatedflightsofstairs,whichIhadsooftenclimbedbefore,and
llamé
knockedatasmalldoorattheendofthecorridor.Mr.WildeopenedthedoorandIwalkedin.
Whenhehaddouble-lockedthedoorand
empujado
pushedaheavychestagainstit,hecameandsatdownbesideme,peeringupintomyfacewithhislittlelight-colouredeyes.Halfadozennewscratches
cubrían
coveredhisnoseandcheeks,andthesilverwireswhichsupportedhisartificialearshadbecomedisplaced.IthoughtIhadneverseenhimsohideouslyfascinating.
Hehadnoears.
Theartificialones,whichnowstoodoutatananglefromthefinewire,werehisoneweakness.
Theyweremadeofwaxandpaintedashellpink,buttherestofhisfacewasyellow.
Hemightbetterhaverevelledintheluxuryofsomeartificialfingersforhislefthand,whichwasabsolutelyfingerless,butit
parecía
seemedtocausehimnoinconvenience,andhewassatisfiedwithhiswaxears.Hewasverysmall,scarcelyhigherthanachildoften,buthisarmsweremagnificentlydeveloped,andhisthighsasthickasanyathlete's.
Still,themostremarkablethingaboutMr.Wildewasthatamanofhismarvellousintelligenceandknowledgeshouldhavesuchahead.
Itwasflatandpointed,liketheheadsofmanyofthoseunfortunateswhompeopleimprisoninasylumsfortheweak-minded.
Manycalledhiminsane,butIknewhimtobeassaneasIwas.
Idonotdenythathewaseccentric;
themaniahehadforkeepingthat
gato
catandteasingheruntilshevoló
flewathisfacelikeademon,wasciertamente
certainlyeccentric.Inevercouldunderstandwhyhekeptthecreature,
ni
norwhatpleasurehefoundinshuttinghimselfupinhisroomwiththissurly,viciousbeast.Irememberonce,glancingupfromthemanuscriptIwas
estudiando
studyingbythelightofsometallowdips,andseeingMr.Wildesquattingmotionlessonhishighchair,hiseyesfairlyblazingwithexcitement,whilethegato
cat,whichhadrisenfromherplacebeforethestove,camecreepingacrossthesuelo
floorrightathim.BeforeIcouldmovesheflattenedherbellytothe
suelo
ground,crouched,trembled,andsprangintohisface.Howlingandfoamingthey
rodaron
rolledoverandoveronthesuelo
floor,scratchingandclawing,untilthegato
catscreamedandfledunderthecabinet,andMr.Wildeturnedoveronhisback,hislimbscontractingandcurlinguplikethelegsofadyingspider.Hewaseccentric.
Mr.
Wildehadclimbedintohishighchair,and,after
estudiar
studyingmyface,pickedupadog's-earedledgerandopenedit.HenryB.
Matthews,"heread,"book-keeperwithWhysotWhysotandCompany,dealersin
iglesia
churchornaments.CalledApril3rd.
Reputationdamagedontherace-track.
Knownasawelcher.
ReputationtoberepairedbyAugust1st.
RetainerFiveDollars."