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The King in Yellow | Gradually Hardening Swedish A1-B2

The King in Yellow | Gradually Hardening Swedish A1-B2

Discover the advantages of this innovative translation method, designed to cater to your learning needs. You can select your preferred difficulty level, ensuring a well-balanced challenge that isn't too overwhelming. This technique sharpens your comprehension skills by encouraging you to derive meaning from context, minimizing the need for direct translations. While some words are purposefully obscured to promote contextual guessing, looking up unclear terms is always an option. With this method, language learning becomes both accessible and enjoyable, blending challenge with support. Explore translated classics and experience the excitement of learning through literature.

THEREPAIREROFREPUTATIONS
I
Neraillonspaslesfous;
leurfoliedure
plus
pluslongtempsquelanôtre....
Voilatouteladifférence."
Mot
Towardtheendofthe
året
year1920theGovernmentof
de
theUnitedStateshadpracticallycompleted
de
theprogramme,adoptedduringthe
sista
lastmonthsofPresidentWinthrop's
administration
administration.
Thecountrywasapparentlytranquil.
Everybody
vet
knowshowtheTariffandLabourquestionsweresettled.
Thewar
med
withGermany,incidentonthatcountry'sseizureoftheSamoanIslands,
hade
hadleftnovisiblescarsuponthe
republiken
republic,andthetemporaryoccupationofNorfolkbytheinvading
armén
armyhadbeenforgotteninthejoy
över
overrepeatednavalvictories,andthesubsequentridiculous
situationen
plightofGeneralVonGartenlaube'sforcesintheStateofNewJersey.
De
TheCubanandHawaiianinvestments
hade
hadpaidonehundredper
procent
centandtheterritoryofSamoawas
väl
wellworthitscostas
en
acoalingstation.
Thecountrywasin
ett
asuperbstateofdefence.
Varje
Everycoastcityhadbeen
väl
wellsuppliedwithlandfortifications;
det
thearmyundertheparental
öga
eyeoftheGeneralStaff,organizedaccordingto
det
thePrussiansystem,hadbeen
ökat
increasedto300,000men,with
en
aterritorialreserveofa
miljon
million;
andsixmagnificentsquadronsofcruisers
och
andbattle-shipspatrolledthesixstationsof
de
thenavigableseas,leavingasteamreserveamplyfittedto
kontrollera
controlhomewaters.
Thegentlemenfrom
de
theWesthadatlastbeenconstrainedto
erkänna
acknowledgethatacollegefor
de
thetrainingofdiplomatswasasnecessaryaslawschoolsarefor
de
thetrainingofbarristers;
consequentlywewere
inte
nolongerrepresentedabroadbyincompetentpatriots.
Thenationwas
välmående
prosperous;
Chicago,foramomentparalyzedafter
en
asecondgreatfire,had
stigit
risenfromitsruins,white
och
andimperial,andmorebeautiful
än
thanthewhitecitywhich
hade
hadbeenbuiltforitsplaythingin1893.
Överallt
Everywheregoodarchitecturewasreplacing
dålig
bad,andeveninNewYork,
en
asuddencravingfordecency
hade
hadsweptawayagreatportionof
de
theexistinghorrors.
Streetshadbeenwidened,
rätt sätt
properlypavedandlighted,trees
hade
hadbeenplanted,squareslaid
ut
out,elevatedstructuresdemolishedandundergroundroadsbuiltto
ersätta
replacethem.
Thenewgovernmentbuildings
och
andbarrackswerefinebitsofarchitecture,
och
andthelongsystemofstonequayswhichcompletely
omgav
surroundedtheislandhadbeenturnedintoparkswhichproved
en
agod-sendtothepopulation.
Den
Thesubsidizingofthestatetheatre
och
andstateoperabroughtits
egen
ownreward.
TheUnitedStatesNational
Academy
AcademyofDesignwasmuchlike
Europeiska
Europeaninstitutionsofthesame
typ
kind.
NobodyenviedtheSecretaryofFineArts,eitherhiscabinetposition
eller
orhisportfolio.
TheSecretaryofForestry
och
andGamePreservationhada
mycket
mucheasiertime,thanksto
det
thenewsystemofNationalMountedPolice.
We
hade
hadprofitedwellbythelatesttreaties
med
withFranceandEngland;
theexclusionofforeign-bornJewsas
ett
ameasureofself-preservation,thesettlementofthenew
oberoende
independentnegrostateofSuanee,thecheckingof
invandring
immigration,thenewlawsconcerningnaturalization,
och
andthegradualcentralizationofpowerinthe
verkställande
executiveallcontributedtonationalcalm
och
andprosperity.
WhentheGovernment
löste
solvedtheIndianproblemandsquadronsofIndiancavalryscoutsin
infödda
nativecostumeweresubstitutedforthepitiableorganizationstackedontothe
svans
tailofskeletonizedregimentsby
en
aformerSecretaryofWar,thenation
drog
drewalongsighof
lättnad
relief.
When,afterthecolossal
Kongressen
CongressofReligions,bigotryandintolerancewerelaidintheirgraves
och
andkindnessandcharitybeganto
dra
drawwarringsectstogether,many
trodde
thoughtthemillenniumhadarrived,at
åtminstone
leastinthenewworldwhichafter
allt
allisaworldbyitself.
Men
Butself-preservationisthefirst
lagen
law,andtheUnitedStateshadtolookonin
hjälplös
helplesssorrowasGermany,Italy,Spain
och
andBelgiumwrithedinthethroesofAnarchy,
medan
whileRussia,watchingfromtheCaucasus,stooped
och
andboundthemonebyone.
Inthe
staden
cityofNewYorkthe
sommaren
summerof1899wassignalizedbythedismantlingoftheElevatedRailroads.
The
sommaren
summerof1900willliveinthememoriesofNewYorkpeoplefor
många
manyacycle;
theDodge
Staty
Statuewasremovedinthat
år
year.
Inthefollowingwinterbegan
som
thatagitationfortherepealofthelawsprohibiting
självmord
suicidewhichboreitsfinal
frukt
fruitinthemonthof
April
April,1920,whenthefirstGovernment
Dödliga
LethalChamberwasopenedonWashington
Square
Square.
Ihadwalkeddown
som
thatdayfromDr.Archer's
hus
houseonMadisonAvenue,whereI
hade
hadbeenasamere
formalitet
formality.
Eversincethatfallfrommy
häst
horse,fouryearsbefore,I
hade
hadbeentroubledattimeswithpainsinthebackofmyhead
och
andneck,butnowformonthsthey
hade
hadbeenabsent,andthedoctor
skickade
sentmeawaythatday
sade
sayingtherewasnothingmoretobe
bota
curedinme.
Itwas
knappast
hardlyworthhisfeetobetoldthat;
I
visste
knewitmyself.
StillIdidnotgrudgehimthemoney.
WhatImindedwasthemistakewhichhe
gjorde
madeatfirst.
Whenthey
plockade
pickedmeupfromthe
trottoaren
pavementwhereIlayunconscious,
och
andsomebodyhadmercifullysent
en
abulletthroughmyhorse's
huvud
head,IwascarriedtoDr.
Archer
Archer,andhe,pronouncingmy
hjärna
brainaffected,placedmeinhisprivate
asyl
asylumwhereIwasobligedto
uthärda
enduretreatmentforinsanity.
Atlasthe
bestämde
decidedthatIwaswell,
och
andI,knowingthatmymind
hade
hadalwaysbeenassoundas
hans
his,ifnotsounder,"paidmytuition"ashejokingly
kallade
calledit,andleft.
I
sa
toldhim,smiling,thatIwouldgeteven
med
withhimforhismistake,
och
andhelaughedheartily,and
bad
askedmetocalloncein
en
awhile.
Ididso,hopingfor
en
achancetoevenupaccounts,
men
buthegavemenone,
och
andItoldhimIwould
vänta
wait.
Thefallfrommy
häst
horsehadfortunatelyleftno
onda
evilresults;
onthecontraryit
hade
hadchangedmywholecharacterfor
det
thebetter.
Fromalazy
ung
youngmanabouttown,I
hade
hadbecomeactive,energetic,temperate,
och
andaboveall—oh,aboveallelse—ambitious.
Therewas
bara
onlyonethingwhichtroubledme,I
skrattade
laughedatmyownuneasiness,
och
andyetittroubledme.
DuringmyconvalescenceI
hade
hadboughtandreadforthe
första
firsttime,TheKinginYellow.
I
minns
rememberafterfinishingthefirstactthatitoccurredtomethatI
ha
hadbetterstop.
Istarted
upp
upandflungthebookintothefireplace;
det
thevolumestruckthebarredgrate
och
andfellopenonthehearthin
det
thefirelight.
IfIhadnotcaughta
glimt
glimpseoftheopeningwordsinthe
andra
secondactIshouldnever
ha
havefinishedit,butasIstoopedto
plocka
pickitup,myeyes
blev
becamerivetedtotheopenpage,
och
andwithacryofterror,
eller
orperhapsitwasof
glädje
joysopoignantthatI
led
sufferedineverynerve,I
ryckte
snatchedthethingoutofthecoals
och
andcreptshakingtomy
sovrum
bedroom,whereIreadit
och
andrereadit,andwept
och
andlaughedandtrembledwithahorrorwhichattimesassailsmeyet.
Här
Thisisthethingthattroublesme,forIcannot
glömma
forgetCarcosawhereblackstars
hänger
hangintheheavens;
where
de
theshadowsofmen'sthoughtslengthenin
de
theafternoon,whenthetwinsuns
sjunker
sinkintothelakeofHali;
och
andmymindwillbearforever
den
thememoryofthePallid
Masken
Mask.
IprayGodwill
förbanna
cursethewriter,asthewriter
har
hascursedtheworldwith
denna
thisbeautiful,stupendouscreation,terribleinits
enkelhet
simplicity,irresistibleinitstruth—a
världen
worldwhichnowtremblesbeforethe
Kungen
KinginYellow.
WhentheFrench
Regeringen
Governmentseizedthetranslatedcopieswhich
hade
hadjustarrivedinParis,London,ofcourse,
blev
becameeagertoreadit.
Itiswellknown
hur
howthebookspreadlikeaninfectious
sjukdom
disease,fromcitytocity,from
kontinent
continenttocontinent,barredout
här
here,confiscatedthere,denouncedby
Pressen
Pressandpulpit,censuredevenbythe
mest
mostadvancedofliteraryanarchists.
Ingen
Nodefiniteprincipleshadbeenviolatedin
dessa
thosewickedpages,nodoctrinepromulgated,
ingen
noconvictionsoutraged.
Itcouldnotbejudgedby
någon
anyknownstandard,yet,althoughitwasacknowledged
att
thatthesupremenoteof
konst
arthadbeenstruckinTheKinginYellow,all
kände
feltthathumannaturecouldnot
bära
bearthestrain,northriveonwordsinwhichthe
essensen
essenceofpurestpoisonlurked.
Theverybanality
och
andinnocenceofthefirstact
bara
onlyallowedtheblowto
falla
fallafterwardwithmoreawfuleffect.
Itwas,I
minns
remember,the13thdayof
April
April,1920,thatthefirstGovernment
Dödliga
LethalChamberwasestablishedonthe
södra
southsideofWashingtonSquare,
mellan
betweenWoosterStreetandSouthFifth
Avenue
Avenue.
Theblockwhichhad
tidigare
formerlyconsistedofalotofshabby
gamla
oldbuildings,usedascafés
och
andrestaurantsforforeigners,hadbeenacquiredbythe
Regeringen
Governmentinthewinterof1898.
De
TheFrenchandItaliancafés
och
andrestaurantsweretorndown;
thewholeblockwasenclosedbyagildedironrailing,
och
andconvertedintoalovely
trädgård
gardenwithlawns,flowersandfountains.
Inthe
mitten
centreofthegardenstood
en
asmall,whitebuilding,severely
klassisk
classicalinarchitecture,andsurroundedbythicketsofflowers.
Sex
SixIoniccolumnssupportedthe
taket
roof,andthesingledoorwasof
brons
bronze.
Asplendidmarblegroupofthe"Fates"
stod
stoodbeforethedoor,theworkofa
ung
youngAmericansculptor,BorisYvain,who
hade
haddiedinPariswhen
bara
onlytwenty-threeyearsold.
TheinaugurationceremonieswereinprogressasI
korsade
crossedUniversityPlaceandenteredthe
torget
square.
Ithreadedmywaythrough
den
thesilentthrongofspectators,
men
butwasstoppedatFourth
Street
Streetbyacordonofpolice.
Ett
AregimentofUnitedStateslancersweredrawn
upp
upinahollowsquareround
den
theLethalChamber.
OnaraisedtribunefacingWashington
Park
ParkstoodtheGovernorofNewYork,
och
andbehindhimweregrouped
de
theMayorofNewYork
och
andBrooklyn,theInspector-Generalof
Polisen
Police,theCommandantofthestatetroops,
Överste
ColonelLivingston,militaryaidto
de
thePresidentoftheUnitedStates,GeneralBlount,commandingatGovernor's
Ö
Island,Major-GeneralHamilton,commandingthe
garnison
garrisonofNewYorkandBrooklyn,
Amiral
AdmiralBuffbyofthefleetin
de
theNorthRiver,Surgeon-GeneralLanceford,
de
thestaffoftheNationalFreeHospital,SenatorsWyse
och
andFranklinofNewYork,
och
andtheCommissionerofPublicWorks.
Thetribunewassurroundedby
en
asquadronofhussarsoftheNationalGuard.
TheGovernorwas
avsluta
finishinghisreplytothe
korta
shortspeechoftheSurgeon-General.
I
hörde
heardhimsay:
"Thelawsprohibiting
självmord
suicideandprovidingpunishmentforany
försök
attemptatself-destructionhavebeenrepealed.
Det
TheGovernmenthasseenfitto
erkänna
acknowledgetherightofmanto
avsluta
endanexistencewhichmayhave
blivit
becomeintolerabletohim,throughphysicalsuffering
eller
ormentaldespair.
Itis
tror
believedthatthecommunitywillbebenefitedbytheremovalofsuch
människor
peoplefromtheirmidst.
Sincethepassageof
denna
thislaw,thenumberofsuicidesintheUnitedStates
har
hasnotincreased.
Nowthe
Regeringen
Governmenthasdeterminedtoestablish
en
aLethalChamberineverycity,town
och
andvillageinthecountry,it
återstår
remainstobeseenwhetherornotthatclassof
mänskliga
humancreaturesfromwhosedespondingranksnewvictimsofself-destruction
faller
falldailywillacceptthe
lättnad
reliefthusprovided."
Hepaused,
och
andturnedtothewhite
Dödliga
LethalChamber.
Thesilenceinthe
gatan
streetwasabsolute.
"Therea
smärtfri
painlessdeathawaitshimwho
kan
cannolongerbearthesorrowsof
detta
thislife.
Ifdeathis
välkommen
welcomelethimseekitthere."
Then
snabbt
quicklyturningtothemilitaryaidof
den
thePresident'shousehold,hesaid,"I
förklarar
declaretheLethalChamberopen,"
och
andagainfacingthevast
folkmassan
crowdhecriedina
tydlig
clearvoice:
"CitizensofNewYork
och
andoftheUnitedStatesofAmerica,
genom
throughmetheGovernmentdeclares
den
theLethalChambertobeopen."
Den
Thesolemnhushwasbrokenby
ett
asharpcryofcommand,
den
thesquadronofhussarsfiledafter
den
theGovernor'scarriage,thelancerswheeled
och
andformedalongFifthAvenueto
vänta
waitforthecommandantof
den
thegarrison,andthemounted
polisen
policefollowedthem.
Ileft
den
thecrowdtogapeand
stirra
stareatthewhitemarbleDeathChamber,
och
and,crossingSouthFifthAvenue,
gick
walkedalongthewesternsideofthatthoroughfaretoBleecker
Street
Street.
ThenIturnedtothe
höger
rightandstoppedbeforeadingy
butik
shopwhichborethesign:.
HAWBERK,ARMOURER.
Iglancedinatthe
dörröppningen
doorwayandsawHawberkbusyinhis
lilla
littleshopattheendofthehall.
Helooked
upp
up,andcatchingsightofmecriedinhis
djupa
deep,heartyvoice,"Comein,Mr.Castaigne!"
Constance,his
dotter
daughter,rosetomeetmeasIcrossed
det
thethreshold,andheldouther
vackra
prettyhand,butIsaw
det
theblushofdisappointmentonhercheeks,
och
andknewthatitwas
en annan
anotherCastaigneshehadexpected,my
kusin
cousinLouis.
Ismiledather
förvirring
confusionandcomplimentedheron
den
thebannershewasembroideringfrom
en
acolouredplate.
OldHawberk
satt
satrivetingtheworngreavesofsomeancientsuitof
rustning
armour,andtheting!
ting!
ting!
ofhis
lilla
littlehammersoundedpleasantlyin
den
thequaintshop.
Presentlyhe
släppte
droppedhishammer,andfussedaboutfora
ögonblick
momentwithatinywrench.
Den
Thesoftclashofthemail
skickade
sentathrillofpleasure
genom
throughme.
Ilovedto
höra
hearthemusicofsteel
borsta
brushingagainststeel,themellowshockof
den
themalletonthighpieces,
och
andthejingleofchain
rustning
armour.
ThatwastheonlyreasonI
gick
wenttoseeHawberk.
He
hade
hadneverinterestedmepersonally,
inte heller
nordidConstance,exceptfor
det
thefactofherbeinginlovewithLouis.
Detta
Thisdidoccupymyattention,
och
andsometimesevenkeptme
vaken
awakeatnight.
ButI
visste
knewinmyheartthat
allt
allwouldcomeright,andthatIshould
ordna
arrangetheirfutureasI
förväntade
expectedtoarrangethatofmykind
läkare
doctor,JohnArcher.
However,Ishould
aldrig
neverhavetroubledmyselfabout
besöka
visitingthemjustthen,haditnotbeen,asI
säger
say,thatthemusicof
det
thetinklinghammerhadforme
denna
thisstrongfascination.
Iwould
satt
sitforhours,listeningand
lyssnade
listening,andwhenastraysunbeamstrucktheinlaidsteel,thesensationit
gav
gavemewasalmosttookeento
uthärda
endure.
Myeyeswouldbecomefixed,dilatingwith
ett
apleasurethatstretchedeverynerve
nästan
almosttobreaking,untilsome
rörelse
movementoftheoldarmourercutoff
den
therayofsunlight,then,
fortfarande
stillthrillingsecretly,Ileaned
tillbaka
backandlistenedagainto
den
thesoundofthepolishing
trasa
rag,swish!
swish!
rubbingrustfromtherivets.
Constance
arbetade
workedwiththeembroideryoverherknees,now
och
andthenpausingtoexaminemoreclosely
den
thepatterninthecolouredplatefrom
den
theMetropolitanMuseum.
Whois
här
thisfor?"
Iasked.
Hawberk
förklarade
explained,thatinadditiontothetreasuresofarmourinthe
Metropolitan
MetropolitanMuseumofwhichhe
hade
hadbeenappointedarmourer,he
också
alsohadchargeofseveralcollections
tillhörde
belongingtorichamateurs.
Thiswas
den
themissinggreaveofafamous
kostym
suitwhichaclientofhis
hade
hadtracedtoalittle
butik
shopinParisontheQuaid'Orsay.
Han
He,Hawberk,hadnegotiatedfor
och
andsecuredthegreave,and
nu
nowthesuitwascomplete.
He
lade
laiddownhishammerand
läste
readmethehistoryofthesuit,tracedsince1450from
ägare
ownertoowneruntilitwasacquiredbyThomasStainbridge.
När
Whenhissuperbcollectionwassold,
denna
thisclientofHawberk'sboughtthe
kostym
suit,andsincethenthe
sökandet
searchforthemissinggreave
hade
hadbeenpusheduntilitwas,
nästan
almostbyaccident,locatedinParis.
Didyou
fortsatte
continuethesearchsopersistentlywithout
någon
anycertaintyofthegreavebeing
fortfarande
stillinexistence?"
Idemanded.
Ofcourse,"he
svarade
repliedcoolly.
Thenforthe
första
firsttimeItookapersonal
intresse
interestinHawberk.
Itwas
värt
worthsomethingtoyou,"I
vågade
ventured.
No,"hereplied,laughing,"my
glädje
pleasureinfindingitwasmyreward."
Har
Haveyounoambitiontoberich?"
I
frågade
asked,smiling.
Myoneambitionistobethe
bästa
bestarmourerintheworld,"he
svarade
answeredgravely.
ConstanceaskedmeifI
hade
hadseentheceremoniesat
den
theLethalChamber.
Sheherself
hade
hadnoticedcavalrypassingupBroadwaythatmorning,
och
andhadwishedtosee
den
theinauguration,butherfatherwanted
den
thebannerfinished,andshe
hade
hadstayedathisrequest.
Didyou
såg
seeyourcousin,Mr.Castaigne,there?"
she
frågade
asked,withtheslightesttremorofher
mjuka
softeyelashes.
No,"Irepliedcarelessly.
"Louis'
regemente
regimentismanœuvringoutinWestchesterCounty."
Irose
och
andpickedupmyhat
och
andcane.
Areyougoingupstairstoseethelunaticagain?"
skrattade
laughedoldHawberk.
IfHawberk
visste
knewhowIloathethat
ordet
word"lunatic,"hewouldnever
använda
useitinmypresence.
Itrouses
vissa
certainfeelingswithinmewhichIdonotcareto
förklara
explain.
However,Iansweredhim
tyst
quietly:
"IthinkIshalldropin
och
andseeMr.Wildefor
en
amomentortwo."
Poorfellow,"
sade
saidConstance,withashakeof
det
thehead,"itmustbe
svårt
hardtolivealoneyearafter
år
yearpoor,crippledandalmostdemented.
Itis
mycket
verygoodofyou,Mr.Castaigne,to
besöka
visithimasoftenasyoudo."
I
tror
thinkheisvicious,"observedHawberk,
börjar
beginningagainwithhishammer.
I
lyssnade
listenedtothegoldentinkleonthegreaveplates;
när
whenhehadfinishedI
svarade
replied:.
No,heisnot
ond
vicious,norishein
det
theleastdemented.
Hismindis
en
awonderchamber,fromwhichhe
kan
canextracttreasuresthatyou
och
andIwouldgiveyearsofour
liv
lifetoacquire."'.
Hawberklaughed.
I
fortsatte
continuedalittleimpatiently:
"Heknowshistoryas
ingen
nooneelsecouldknowit.
Ingenting
Nothing,howevertrivial,escapeshis
sökning
search,andhismemoryisso
absolut
absolute,sopreciseindetails,thatwereit
känt
knowninNewYorkthat
sådan
suchamanexisted,thepeoplecouldnothonourhimenough."
Nonsense,"mutteredHawberk,searchingonthe
golvet
floorforafallenrivet.
Isitnonsense,"I
frågade
asked,managingtosuppresswhatI
kände
felt,"isitnonsensewhenhe
säger
saysthatthetassetsandcuissardsoftheenamelledsuitofarmour
allmänt
commonlyknownasthe'Prince'sEmblazoned'
kan
canbefoundamonga
massa
massofrustytheatricalproperties,brokenstoves
och
andragpicker'srefuseinagarretinPellStreet?"
Hawberk's
hammare
hammerfelltotheground,
men
buthepickeditup
och
andasked,withagreatdealofcalm,
hur
howIknewthatthetassets
och
andleftcuissardweremissingfromthe"Prince'sEmblazoned."
Ididnot
visste
knowuntilMr.Wildementionedittome
det
theotherday.
Hesaidtheywerein
de
thegarretof998PellStreet."
Nonsense,"hecried,
men
butInoticedhishandtremblingunderhisleathernapron.
Is
här
thisnonsensetoo?"
Iaskedpleasantly,"isit
nonsens
nonsensewhenMr.Wildecontinually
talar
speaksofyouasthe
Marquis
MarquisofAvonshireandof
Miss
MissConstance—".
Ididnotfinish,forConstance
hade
hadstartedtoherfeet
med
withterrorwrittenoneveryfeature.
Hawberk
tittade
lookedatmeandslowly
jämnade
smoothedhisleathernapron.
Thatisimpossible,"he
konstaterade
observed,"Mr.
Wildemayknow
en
agreatmanythings—".
About
rustning
armour,forinstance,andthe'Prince'sEmblazoned,'"Iinterposed,smiling.
Yes,"he
fortsatte
continued,slowly,"aboutarmouralso—maybe—butheiswronginregardto
det
theMarquisofAvonshire,who,asyou
vet
know,killedhiswife'straduceryears
sedan
ago,andwenttoAustraliawherehedidnot
länge
longsurvivehiswife."
Mr.
Wildeiswrong,"murmuredConstance.
Herlipswereblanched,
men
buthervoicewassweet
och
andcalm.
Letusagree,ifyouplease,
att
thatinthisonecircumstanceMr.Wildeiswrong,"Isaid.
II
Iclimbed
de
thethreedilapidatedflightsofstairs,whichI
hade
hadsooftenclimbedbefore,
och
andknockedatasmall
dörr
doorattheendof
de
thecorridor.
Mr.Wildeopenedthe
dörren
doorandIwalkedin.
När
Whenhehaddouble-lockedthe
dörren
doorandpushedaheavy
kista
chestagainstit,hecame
och
andsatdownbesideme,peering
upp
upintomyfacewithhis
små
littlelight-colouredeyes.
Halfa
dussin
dozennewscratchescoveredhis
näsa
noseandcheeks,andthesilverwireswhich
stödde
supportedhisartificialearshad
blivit
becomedisplaced.
IthoughtI
hade
hadneverseenhimsohideously
fascinerande
fascinating.
Hehadnoears.
The
konstgjorda
artificialones,whichnowstood
ut
outatananglefromthe
fina
finewire,werehisone
svaghet
weakness.
Theyweremadeof
vax
waxandpaintedashell
rosa
pink,buttherestofhis
ansikte
facewasyellow.
Hemight
bättre
betterhaverevelledinthe
lyxen
luxuryofsomeartificialfingersforhisleft
hand
hand,whichwasabsolutelyfingerless,
men
butitseemedtocausehim
inte
noinconvenience,andhewassatisfied
med
withhiswaxears.
Hewas
mycket
verysmall,scarcelyhigherthan
ett
achildoften,buthisarmsweremagnificently
utvecklade
developed,andhisthighsasthickas
någon
anyathlete's.
Still,themost
anmärkningsvärda
remarkablethingaboutMr.Wildewas
att
thatamanofhis
underbara
marvellousintelligenceandknowledgeshould
ha
havesuchahead.
Itwas
platt
flatandpointed,liketheheadsof
många
manyofthoseunfortunateswhom
människor
peopleimprisoninasylumsfortheweak-minded.
Många
Manycalledhiminsane,butI
visste
knewhimtobeassaneasIwas.
Idonot
förnekar
denythathewaseccentric;
themaniahe
hade
hadforkeepingthatcat
och
andteasingheruntilshe
flög
flewathisfacelike
en
ademon,wascertainlyeccentric.
I
aldrig
nevercouldunderstandwhyhe
behöll
keptthecreature,norwhat
glädje
pleasurehefoundinshuttinghimselfupinhis
rum
roomwiththissurly,viciousbeast.
I
minns
rememberonce,glancingupfrom
det
themanuscriptIwasstudyingby
det
thelightofsometallowdips,
och
andseeingMr.Wildesquattingmotionlessonhis
höga
highchair,hiseyesfairlyblazing
med
withexcitement,whilethecat,which
hade
hadrisenfromherplacebefore
det
thestove,camecreepingacross
det
thefloorrightathim.
Innan
BeforeIcouldmovesheflattenedherbellytotheground,crouched,trembled,
och
andsprangintohisface.
Howling
och
andfoamingtheyrolledover
och
andoveronthefloor,scratching
och
andclawing,untilthecat
skrek
screamedandfledunderthe
skåpet
cabinet,andMr.Wildeturnedoveronhisback,hislimbscontracting
och
andcurlinguplikethelegsof
en
adyingspider.
Hewas
excentrisk
eccentric.
Mr.
Wildehadclimbedintohis
höga
highchair,and,afterstudyingmy
ansikte
face,pickedupadog's-earedledger
och
andopenedit.
HenryB.
Matthews,"he
läste
read,"book-keeperwithWhysotWhysotandCompany,dealersinchurchornaments.
Ringde
CalledApril3rd.
Reputationdamagedontherace-track.
Knownas
en
awelcher.
Reputationtoberepairedby
Augusti
August1st.
RetainerFiveDollars."