THEREPAIREROFREPUTATIONS
I
Neraillonspaslesfous;
leurfoliedurepluslongtempsquelanôtre....
Voilatouteladifférence."
Toward
de
theendoftheyear1920de
theGovernmentoftheUnitedStateshade
hadpracticallycompletedtheprogramme,adoptedduringde
thelastmonthsofPresidentWinthrop'sadministration.Thecountrywasapparentlytranquil.
Alla
EverybodyknowshowtheTariffoch
andLabourquestionsweresettled.Thewar
med
withGermany,incidentonthatcountry'sseizureoftheSamoanIslands,hade
hadleftnovisiblescarsupontherepublic,och
andthetemporaryoccupationofNorfolkbytheinvadingarmyhade
hadbeenforgotteninthejoyöver
overrepeatednavalvictories,andthesubsequentridiculousplightofGeneralVonGartenlaube'sforcesintheStateofNewJersey.De
TheCubanandHawaiianinvestmentshade
hadpaidonehundredpercentoch
andtheterritoryofSamoawasväl
wellworthitscostasacoalingstation.Thecountrywasin
ett
asuperbstateofdefence.Varje
Everycoastcityhadbeenväl
wellsuppliedwithlandfortifications;det
thearmyundertheparentaleyeofdet
theGeneralStaff,organizedaccordingtodet
thePrussiansystem,hadbeenincreasedto300,000men,med
withaterritorialreserveofen
amillion;andsixmagnificentsquadronsofcruisers
och
andbattle-shipspatrolledthesixstationsofde
thenavigableseas,leavingasteamreserveamplyfittedtokontrollera
controlhomewaters.Thegentlemenfrom
de
theWesthadatlastbeenconstrainedtoacknowledgethaten
acollegeforthetrainingofdiplomatswasasnecessaryaslawschoolsareforde
thetrainingofbarristers;consequentlywewere
inte
nolongerrepresentedabroadbyincompetentpatriots.Thenationwasprosperous;
Chicago,for
en
amomentparalyzedafteraandra
secondgreatfire,hadrisenfromitsruins,whiteoch
andimperial,andmorebeautifulän
thanthewhitecitywhichhade
hadbeenbuiltforitsplaythingin1893.Everywhere
god
goodarchitecturewasreplacingbad,och
andeveninNewYork,en
asuddencravingfordecencyhade
hadsweptawayagreatportionofde
theexistinghorrors.Streetshadbeenwidened,properlypaved
och
andlighted,treeshadbeenplanted,squareslaidut
out,elevatedstructuresdemolishedandundergroundroadsbuilttoreplacedem
them.Thenewgovernmentbuildings
och
andbarrackswerefinebitsofarchitecture,och
andthelongsystemofstonequayswhichcompletelysurroundedtheislandhade
hadbeenturnedintoparkswhichproveden
agod-sendtothepopulation.Den
Thesubsidizingofthestatetheatreoch
andstateoperabroughtitsegen
ownreward.TheUnitedStatesNationalAcademyofDesignwasmuchlikeEuropeaninstitutionsof
den
thesamekind.NobodyenviedtheSecretaryofFineArts,eitherhiscabinetposition
eller
orhisportfolio.TheSecretaryofForestry
och
andGamePreservationhadamycket
mucheasiertime,thankstodet
thenewsystemofNationalMountedPolice.We
hade
hadprofitedwellbythelatesttreatiesmed
withFranceandEngland;theexclusionofforeign-bornJewsas
ett
ameasureofself-preservation,thesettlementofthenya
newindependentnegrostateofSuanee,thecheckingofimmigration,thenya
newlawsconcerningnaturalization,andthegradualcentralizationofmakten
powerintheexecutiveallcontributedtonationalcalmoch
andprosperity.WhentheGovernmentsolvedtheIndianproblem
och
andsquadronsofIndiancavalryscoutsinnativecostumeweresubstitutedforthepitiableorganizationstackedontothetailofskeletonizedregimentsbyen
aformerSecretaryofWar,thenationdrewen
alongsighofrelief.När
When,afterthecolossalCongressofReligions,bigotryoch
andintolerancewerelaidintheirgravesoch
andkindnessandcharitybegantodrawwarringsectssamman
together,manythoughtthemillenniumhade
hadarrived,atleastinden
thenewworldwhichafterallt
allisaworldbyitself.Men
Butself-preservationisthefirstlagen
law,andtheUnitedStateshadtolookoninhelplesssorrowasGermany,Italy,Spainoch
andBelgiumwrithedinthethroesofAnarchy,medan
whileRussia,watchingfromtheCaucasus,stoopedoch
andboundthemonebyen
one.InthecityofNewYorkthesummerof1899wassignalizedbythedismantlingoftheElevatedRailroads.
Thesummerof1900
kommer
willliveinthememoriesofNewYorkpeopleformånga
manyacycle;theDodgeStatuewasremovedinthat
år
year.InthefollowingwinterbeganthatagitationfortherepealofthelawsprohibitingsuicidewhichboreitsfinalfruitinthemonthofApril,1920,whenthe
första
firstGovernmentLethalChamberwasopenedonWashingtonSquare.I
hade
hadwalkeddownthatdayfromDr.Archer'shus
houseonMadisonAvenue,whereIhade
hadbeenasamereformality.Ever
sedan
sincethatfallfrommyhorse,fyra
fouryearsbefore,Ihadbeentroubledattimeswithpainsinthebackofmyheadoch
andneck,butnowformonthstheyhade
hadbeenabsent,andthedoctorskickade
sentmeawaythatdaysade
sayingtherewasnothingmoretobecuredinmig
me.Itwashardlyworthhisfeetobetoldthat;
I
visste
knewitmyself.StillIdidnotgrudgehimthemoney.
WhatImindedwasthemistake
som
whichhemadeatfirst.När
WhentheypickedmeupfromthepavementwhereIlåg
layunconscious,andsomebodyhadmercifullyskickat
sentabulletthroughmyhorse'shuvud
head,IwascarriedtoDr.Archer,och
andhe,pronouncingmybrainaffected,placerade
placedmeinhisprivateasylumwhereIwasobligedtoenduretreatmentforinsanity.AtlasthedecidedthatIwas
bra
well,andI,knowingthatmysinne
mindhadalwaysbeenassoundashans
his,ifnotsounder,"paidmytuition"ashejokinglykallade
calledit,andleft.I
sa
toldhim,smiling,thatIwouldgetevenmed
withhimforhismistake,och
andhelaughedheartily,andbad
askedmetocallonceinen
awhile.Ididso,hopingfor
en
achancetoevenupaccounts,men
buthegavemenone,och
andItoldhimIwouldvänta
wait.Thefallfrommyhorse
hade
hadfortunatelyleftnoevilresults;onthecontraryit
hade
hadchangedmywholecharacterforthebättre
better.Fromalazyyoung
man
manabouttown,Ihadblivit
becomeactive,energetic,temperate,andaboveall—oh,aboveallt
allelse—ambitious.Therewasonly
en
onethingwhichtroubledme,Ilaughedatmyegen
ownuneasiness,andyetittroubledmig
me.DuringmyconvalescenceI
hade
hadboughtandreadfortheförsta
firsttime,TheKinginYellow.I
minns
rememberafterfinishingthefirstactthatitoccurredtomethatIha
hadbetterstop.Istarted
upp
upandflungthebookintothefireplace;det
thevolumestruckthebarredgrateoch
andfellopenonthehearthindet
thefirelight.IfIhadnotcaughtaglimpseofthe
öppna
openingwordsinthesecondactIshouldaldrig
neverhavefinishedit,butasIstoopedtoplocka
pickitup,myeyesblev
becamerivetedtotheopenpage,och
andwithacryofterror,eller
orperhapsitwasofjoysopoignantthatIsufferedineverynerve,Isnatchedthesaken
thingoutofthecoalsoch
andcreptshakingtomybedroom,whereIläste
readitandrereadit,och
andweptandlaughedandtrembledmed
withahorrorwhichattimesassailsmeyet.Här
Thisisthethingthattroublesmig
me,forIcannotforgetCarcosadär
whereblackstarshangindet
theheavens;wheretheshadowsofmen'sthoughtslengthenin
de
theafternoon,whenthetwinsunssinkintode
thelakeofHali;andmy
sinne
mindwillbearforeverden
thememoryofthePallidMask.Ipray
Gud
Godwillcursethewriter,asthewriterhar
hascursedtheworldwithdenna
thisbeautiful,stupendouscreation,terribleinitssimplicity,irresistibleinitstruth—avärlden
worldwhichnowtremblesbeforetheKungen
KinginYellow.WhentheFrenchGovernmentseizedthetranslatedcopies
som
whichhadjustarrivedinParis,London,ofcourse,blev
becameeagertoreadit.Itiswellknown
hur
howthebookspreadlikeen
aninfectiousdisease,fromcitytostad
city,fromcontinenttocontinent,barredouthär
here,confiscatedthere,denouncedbyPressoch
andpulpit,censuredevenbythemest
mostadvancedofliteraryanarchists.Nodefiniteprinciples
hade
hadbeenviolatedinthosewickedpages,nodoctrinepromulgated,noconvictionsoutraged.Itcouldnotbejudgedbyany
kände
knownstandard,yet,althoughitwasacknowledgedatt
thatthesupremenoteofarthade
hadbeenstruckinTheKinginYellow,allkände
feltthathumannaturecouldnotbearthestrain,northriveonwordsinvilka
whichtheessenceofpurestpoisonlurked.Theverybanality
och
andinnocenceofthefirstactbara
onlyallowedtheblowtofalla
fallafterwardwithmoreawfuleffect.Itwas,I
minns
remember,the13thdayofApril,1920,att
thatthefirstGovernmentLethalChamberwasestablishedonthesouthsidan
sideofWashingtonSquare,betweenWoosterStreet
StreetandSouthFifthAvenue.Theblockwhich
hade
hadformerlyconsistedofalotofshabbygamla
oldbuildings,usedascafésoch
andrestaurantsforforeigners,hadbeenacquiredbytheGovernmentinthewinterof1898.De
TheFrenchandItaliancafésoch
andrestaurantsweretorndown;the
hela
wholeblockwasenclosedbyagildedironrailing,och
andconvertedintoalovelygardenmed
withlawns,flowersandfountains.Inthecentreofthegarden
stod
stoodasmall,whitebuilding,severelyclassicalinarchitecture,och
andsurroundedbythicketsofflowers.Sex
SixIoniccolumnssupportedtheroof,och
andthesingledoorwasofbronze.Asplendidmarblegroupofthe"Fates"
stod
stoodbeforethedoor,theverk
workofayoungAmericansculptor,BorisYvain,som
whohaddiedinParisnär
whenonlytwenty-threeyearsold.TheinaugurationceremonieswereinprogressasIcrossedUniversityPlace
och
andenteredthesquare.Ithreadedmywaythrough
den
thesilentthrongofspectators,men
butwasstoppedatFourthStreet
Streetbyacordonofpolice.Ett
AregimentofUnitedStateslancersweredrawnupp
upinahollowsquareroundden
theLethalChamber.OnaraisedtribunefacingWashingtonPark
stod
stoodtheGovernorofNewYork,och
andbehindhimweregroupedde
theMayorofNewYorkoch
andBrooklyn,theInspector-GeneralofPolisen
Police,theCommandantofthestatetroops,ColonelLivingston,militaryaidtode
thePresidentoftheUnitedStates,GeneralBlount,commandingatGovernor'sIsland,Major-GeneralHamilton,commandingde
thegarrisonofNewYorkoch
andBrooklyn,AdmiralBuffbyofde
thefleetintheNorthRiver,Surgeon-GeneralLanceford,de
thestaffoftheNationalFreeHospital,SenatorsWyseoch
andFranklinofNewYork,och
andtheCommissionerofPublicWorks.Thetribunewassurroundedby
en
asquadronofhussarsoftheNationalGuard.TheGovernorwasfinishinghisreplytotheshortspeechoftheSurgeon-General.
I
hörde
heardhimsay:"Thelawsprohibitingsuicide
och
andprovidingpunishmentforanyattemptatself-destructionhar
havebeenrepealed.TheGovernmenthasseenfittoacknowledge
det
therightofmantoavsluta
endanexistencewhichmayhaveblivit
becomeintolerabletohim,throughphysicalsufferingeller
ormentaldespair.Itis
tror
believedthatthecommunitywillbebenefitedbytheremovalofsuchmänniskor
peoplefromtheirmidst.Sincethepassageof
denna
thislaw,thenumberofsuicidesintheUnitedStateshar
hasnotincreased.NowtheGovernment
har
hasdeterminedtoestablishaLethalChamberinvarje
everycity,townandvillageinthecountry,itremainstobese
seenwhetherornotthatclassofmänskliga
humancreaturesfromwhosedespondingranksnya
newvictimsofself-destructionfalldailykommer
willacceptthereliefthusprovided."Hepaused,
och
andturnedtothewhiteLethalChamber.Thesilenceinthe
gatan
streetwasabsolute."Thereapainless
död
deathawaitshimwhocaninte
nolongerbearthesorrowsofdetta
thislife.Ifdeathis
välkommen
welcomelethimseekitthere."Thenquickly
vände
turningtothemilitaryaidofden
thePresident'shousehold,hesaid,"Ideclareden
theLethalChamberopen,"andigen
againfacingthevastcrowdhecriedinen
aclearvoice:"CitizensofNewYork
och
andoftheUnitedStatesofAmerica,genom
throughmetheGovernmentdeclaresden
theLethalChambertobeopen."Den
Thesolemnhushwasbrokenbyett
asharpcryofcommand,den
thesquadronofhussarsfiledafterden
theGovernor'scarriage,thelancerswheeledoch
andformedalongFifthAvenuetovänta
waitforthecommandantofden
thegarrison,andthemountedpolisen
policefollowedthem.Ileft
den
thecrowdtogapeandstareatden
thewhitemarbleDeathChamber,och
and,crossingSouthFifthAvenue,gick
walkedalongthewesternsideofthatthoroughfaretoBleeckerStreet
Street.ThenIturnedtothe
höger
rightandstoppedbeforeadingyshopsom
whichborethesign:.HAWBERK,ARMOURER.
Iglancedinatthedoorway
och
andsawHawberkbusyinhislilla
littleshopattheendofthehall.Helooked
upp
up,andcatchingsightofmecriedinhisdeep,heartyvoice,"Comein,Mr.Castaigne!"Constance,his
dotter
daughter,rosetomeetmeasIcrossedthethreshold,och
andheldoutherprettyhand
hand,butIsawtheblushofdisappointmentonhercheeks,och
andknewthatitwasanotherCastaigneshehade
hadexpected,mycousinLouis.Ismiledatherconfusion
och
andcomplimentedheronthebannershewasembroideringfromen
acolouredplate.OldHawberk
satt
satrivetingtheworngreavesofsomeancientsuitofarmour,och
andtheting!ting!
ting!
ofhis
lilla
littlehammersoundedpleasantlyinden
thequaintshop.Presentlyhedroppedhishammer,
och
andfussedaboutforamomentmed
withatinywrench.Thesoftclashof
den
themailsentathrillofpleasuregenom
throughme.Ilovedto
höra
hearthemusicofsteelbrushingmot
againststeel,themellowshockofden
themalletonthighpieces,och
andthejingleofchainarmour.Thatwas
det
theonlyreasonIwenttoseeHawberk.He
hade
hadneverinterestedmepersonally,nordidConstance,exceptfordet
thefactofherbeinginlovewithLouis.Detta
Thisdidoccupymyattention,och
andsometimesevenkeptmeawakeatnight.Men
ButIknewinmyhjärta
heartthatallwouldcomeright,och
andthatIshouldarrangetheirfutureasIexpectedtoarrangethatofmykindläkare
doctor,JohnArcher.However,Ishould
aldrig
neverhavetroubledmyselfaboutvisitingthemjustthen,haditnotbeen,asIsäger
say,thatthemusicofthetinklinghammerhadformedenna
thisstrongfascination.Iwould
satt
sitforhours,listeningandlyssnade
listening,andwhenastraysunbeamstrucktheinlaidsteel,thesensationitgav
gavemewasalmosttookeentoendure.Myeyeswould
blev
becomefixed,dilatingwithapleasurethatstretchedeverynervenästan
almosttobreaking,untilsomemovementofden
theoldarmourercutoffden
therayofsunlight,then,fortfarande
stillthrillingsecretly,Ileanedtillbaka
backandlistenedagaintoden
thesoundofthepolishingrag,swish!swish!
rubbingrustfromtherivets.
Constance
arbetade
workedwiththeembroideryoverherknees,nowoch
andthenpausingtoexaminemorecloselyden
thepatterninthecolouredplatefromden
theMetropolitanMuseum.Whois
här
thisfor?"Iasked.
Hawberkexplained,thatinadditiontothetreasuresofarmourintheMetropolitanMuseumofwhichhe
hade
hadbeenappointedarmourer,heockså
alsohadchargeofseveralcollectionsbelongingtorichamateurs.Detta
Thiswasthemissinggreaveofen
afamoussuitwhichaclientofhishade
hadtracedtoalittleshopinParisonden
theQuaid'Orsay.He,Hawberk,
hade
hadnegotiatedforandsecuredthegreave,och
andnowthesuitwascomplete.Helaid
ner
downhishammerandreadmethehistoryofthesuit,tracedsince1450fromownertoowneruntilitwasacquiredbyThomasStainbridge.När
Whenhissuperbcollectionwassold,denna
thisclientofHawberk'sboughtthesuit,och
andsincethenthesearchforthesaknade
missinggreavehadbeenpushedtills
untilitwas,almostbyaccident,locatedinParis.Didyoucontinuethesearchsopersistently
utan
withoutanycertaintyofthegreavebeingfortfarande
stillinexistence?"Idemanded.
Ofcourse,"herepliedcoolly.
Thenforthe
första
firsttimeItookapersonalinterestinHawberk.Itwasworth
något
somethingtoyou,"Iventured.No,"hereplied,laughing,"mypleasurein
hitta
findingitwasmyreward."Har
Haveyounoambitiontoberich?"I
frågade
asked,smiling.Myoneambitionistobethe
bästa
bestarmourerintheworld,"hesvarade
answeredgravely.Constanceaskedme
om
ifIhadseentheceremoniesatden
theLethalChamber.Sheherself
hade
hadnoticedcavalrypassingupBroadwaythatmorning,och
andhadwishedtoseeden
theinauguration,butherfatherwantedden
thebannerfinished,andshehade
hadstayedathisrequest.Didyou
såg
seeyourcousin,Mr.Castaigne,there?"she
frågade
asked,withtheslightesttremorofhersofteyelashes.No,"Irepliedcarelessly.
"Louis'regimentismanœuvringoutinWestchesterCounty."
Irose
och
andpickedupmyhatoch
andcane.Areyougoingupstairstoseethelunaticagain?"
laughedoldHawberk.
Om
IfHawberkknewhowIloathethatordet
word"lunatic,"hewouldneveranvända
useitinmypresence.Itrousescertainfeelingswithinme
som
whichIdonotcaretoexplain.However,I
svarade
answeredhimquietly:"IthinkIshalldropin
och
andseeMr.Wildeforen
amomentortwo."Poorfellow,"
sade
saidConstance,withashakeofthehead,"itmåste
mustbehardtoliveensam
aloneyearafteryearpoor,crippledoch
andalmostdemented.Itis
mycket
verygoodofyou,Mr.Castaigne,tovisithimasoftenasyoudo."I
tror
thinkheisvicious,"observedHawberk,beginningigen
againwithhishammer.I
lyssnade
listenedtothegoldentinkleonthegreaveplates;när
whenhehadfinishedIreplied:.No,heisnotvicious,norishein
det
theleastdemented.Hismindis
en
awonderchamber,fromwhichhekan
canextracttreasuresthatyouoch
andIwouldgiveyearsofourliv
lifetoacquire."'.Hawberklaughed.
Icontinueda
lite
littleimpatiently:"Heknowshistoryas
ingen
nooneelsecouldknowdet
it.Nothing,howevertrivial,escapeshissearch,
och
andhismemoryissoabsolute,sopreciseindetails,thatwereitkänt
knowninNewYorkthatsådan
suchamanexisted,thepeoplecouldnothonourhimenough."Nonsense,"mutteredHawberk,searchingonthefloorfor
en
afallenrivet.Isitnonsense,"I
frågade
asked,managingtosuppresswhatIkände
felt,"isitnonsensewhenhesäger
saysthatthetassetsandcuissardsoftheenamelledsuitofarmourcommonlykände
knownasthe'Prince'sEmblazoned'kan
canbefoundamongamassofrustytheatricalproperties,brokenstovesoch
andragpicker'srefuseinagarretinPellStreet?"Hawberk'shammer
föll
felltotheground,butheplockade
pickeditupandasked,med
withagreatdealoflugn
calm,howIknewthatthetassetsoch
andleftcuissardweremissingfromthe"Prince'sEmblazoned."Ididnot
visste
knowuntilMr.Wildementionedittometheotherday.He
sa
saidtheywereinthegarretof998PellStreet."Nonsense,"hecried,
men
butInoticedhishandtremblingunder
underhisleathernapron.Is
här
thisnonsensetoo?"Iaskedpleasantly,"isitnonsense
när
whenMr.WildecontinuallyspeaksofyouastheMarquisofAvonshireoch
andofMissConstance—".Ididnotfinish,forConstance
hade
hadstartedtoherfeetmed
withterrorwrittenoneveryfeature.Hawberk
tittade
lookedatmeandslowlysmoothedhisleathernapron.Thatisimpossible,"heobserved,"Mr.
Wilde
kan
mayknowagreatmanythings—".Om
Aboutarmour,forinstance,andthe'Prince'sEmblazoned,'"Iinterposed,smiling.Yes,"hecontinued,slowly,"aboutarmouralso—maybe—butheis
fel
wronginregardtotheMarquisofAvonshire,who,asyouvet
know,killedhiswife'straduceryearssedan
ago,andwenttoAustraliadär
wherehedidnotlongsurvivehiswife."Mr.
Wildeiswrong,"murmuredConstance.
Herlipswereblanched,
men
buthervoicewassweetoch
andcalm.Letusagree,
om
ifyouplease,thatindenna
thisonecircumstanceMr.Wildeiswrong,"Isaid.II
Iclimbed
de
thethreedilapidatedflightsofstairs,som
whichIhadsooftenclimbedbefore,och
andknockedatasmalldörr
doorattheendofde
thecorridor.Mr.Wildeopenedthe
dörren
doorandIwalkedin.När
Whenhehaddouble-lockedthedörren
doorandpushedaheavychestmot
againstit,hecameandsatdownbesidemig
me,peeringupintomyansikte
facewithhislittlelight-colouredeyes.Halvt
Halfadozennewscratchescoveredhisnoseoch
andcheeks,andthesilverwiressom
whichsupportedhisartificialearshade
hadbecomedisplaced.IthoughtI
hade
hadneverseenhimsohideouslyfascinating.He
hade
hadnoears.Theartificialones,
som
whichnowstoodoutatananglefromthefina
finewire,werehisoneweakness.Theyweremadeofwax
och
andpaintedashellpink,men
buttherestofhisansikte
facewasyellow.Hemight
bättre
betterhaverevelledintheluxuryofnågra
someartificialfingersforhislefthand
hand,whichwasabsolutelyfingerless,men
butitseemedtocausehiminte
noinconvenience,andhewassatisfiedmed
withhiswaxears.Hewas
mycket
verysmall,scarcelyhigherthanett
achildoften,buthisarmsweremagnificentlydeveloped,och
andhisthighsasthickasnågon
anyathlete's.Still,themostremarkablethingaboutMr.Wildewas
att
thatamanofhismarvellousintelligenceoch
andknowledgeshouldhavesuchahuvud
head.Itwasflatandpointed,
som
liketheheadsofmanyofthoseunfortunateswhommänniskor
peopleimprisoninasylumsfortheweak-minded.Många
Manycalledhiminsane,butIvisste
knewhimtobeassaneasIwas.Idonotdeny
att
thathewaseccentric;themaniahe
hade
hadforkeepingthatcatoch
andteasingheruntilsheflewathisansikte
facelikeademon,wascertainlyeccentric.I
aldrig
nevercouldunderstandwhyhebehöll
keptthecreature,norwhatpleasurehefann
foundinshuttinghimselfupinhisrum
roomwiththissurly,viciousbeast.I
minns
rememberonce,glancingupfromdet
themanuscriptIwasstudyingbydet
thelightofsometallowdips,och
andseeingMr.Wildesquattingmotionlessonhishöga
highchair,hiseyesfairlyblazingmed
withexcitement,whilethecat,som
whichhadrisenfromherplats
placebeforethestove,camecreepingacrossdet
thefloorrightathim.Innan
BeforeIcouldmovesheflattenedherbellytotheground,crouched,trembled,och
andsprangintohisface.Howling
och
andfoamingtheyrolledoveroch
andoveronthefloor,scratchingoch
andclawing,untilthecatscreamedoch
andfledunderthecabinet,och
andMr.Wildeturnedoveronhisback,hislimbscontractingoch
andcurlinguplikethelegsofen
adyingspider.Hewaseccentric.
Mr.
Wildehadclimbedintohis
höga
highchair,and,afterstudyingmyansikte
face,pickedupadog's-earedledgeroch
andopenedit.HenryB.
Matthews,"he
läste
read,"book-keeperwithWhysotWhysotandCompany,dealersinchurchornaments.Ringde
CalledApril3rd.Reputationdamagedontherace-track.
Knownas
en
awelcher.ReputationtoberepairedbyAugust1st.
Retainer
Fem
FiveDollars."