THEREPAIREROFREPUTATIONS
I
Neraillonspaslesfous;
leurfoliedurepluslongtempsquelanôtre....
Voilatouteladifférence."
Towardtheendoftheyear1920theGovernmentoftheUnitedStateshadpractically
tamamlamıştı
completedtheprogramme,adoptedduringthelastmonthsofBaşkan
PresidentWinthrop'sadministration.Thecountrywasapparentlytranquil.
EverybodyknowshowtheTariffandLabourquestionsweresettled.
ThewarwithGermany,incidentonthatcountry'sseizureoftheSamoanIslands,hadleftnovisiblescarsupontherepublic,andthetemporaryoccupationofNorfolkbytheinvading
ordu
armyhadbeenforgotteninthejoyoverrepeatednavalvictories,andthesubsequentgülünç
ridiculousplightofGeneralVonGartenlaube'sforcesintheStateofNewJersey.TheCubanandHawaiianinvestmentshadpaidone
yüz
hundredpercentandtheterritoryofSamoawaswellworthitscostasacoalingistasyonu
station.Thecountrywasinasuperbstateofdefence.
Everycoastcityhadbeenwellsuppliedwith
kara
landfortifications;thearmyundertheparental
gözü
eyeoftheGeneralStaff,organizedgöre
accordingtothePrussiansystem,hadbeenincreasedto300,000men,withaterritorialreserveofamillion;andsixmagnificentsquadronsofcruisersandbattle-shipspatrolledthesixstationsofthenavigableseas,leavingasteamreserveamplyfittedtocontrolhomewaters.
Thegentlemenfromthe
Batı
Westhadatlastbeenconstrainedtoacknowledgethatacollegeforthetrainingofdiplomatswasasgerekli
necessaryaslawschoolsareforthetrainingofbarristers;consequentlywewerenolongerrepresentedabroadbyincompetentpatriots.
Thenationwasprosperous;
Chicago,foramomentparalyzedafterasecondgreatfire,hadrisenfromitsruins,whiteandimperial,andmorebeautifulthanthewhitecitywhichhadbeenbuiltforitsplaythingin1893.
Everywheregoodarchitecturewasreplacingbad,andeveninNewYork,asuddencravingfordecencyhadsweptawayagreatportionoftheexistinghorrors.
Streetshadbeenwidened,properlypavedandlighted,treeshadbeenplanted,squareslaidout,elevatedstructuresdemolishedandundergroundroadsbuilttoreplacethem.
Thenew
hükümet
governmentbuildingsandbarrackswerefinebitsofarchitecture,andthelongsystemofstonequayswhichtamamen
completelysurroundedtheislandhadbeenturnedintoparkswhichprovedagod-sendtothepopulation.Thesubsidizingofthe
devlet
statetheatreandstateoperabroughtitsownreward.TheUnitedStatesNationalAcademyofDesignwasmuchlikeEuropeaninstitutionsofthesamekind.
NobodyenviedtheSecretaryofFineArts,eitherhiscabinetpositionorhisportfolio.
TheSecretaryofForestryandGamePreservationhadamucheasiertime,thankstothenewsystemofNationalMountedPolice.
WehadprofitedwellbythelatesttreatieswithFranceandEngland;
theexclusionofforeign-bornJewsasameasureofself-preservation,thesettlementofthenewindependentnegro
devlet
stateofSuanee,thecheckingofimmigration,thenewlawsconcerningnaturalization,andthegradualcentralizationofpowerintheexecutiveallcontributedtonationalcalmandprosperity.Whenthe
Hükümet
GovernmentsolvedtheIndianproblemandsquadronsofIndiancavalryscoutsinnativecostumeweresubstitutedforthepitiableorganizationstackedontothetailofskeletonizedregimentsbyaformerSecretaryofWar,thenationdrewalongsighofrelief.When,afterthecolossalCongressofReligions,bigotryandintolerancewerelaidintheirgravesandkindnessandcharity
a
begantodrawwarringsectstogether,manythoughtthemillenniumhadarrived,atleastinthenewworldwhichafterallisaworldbyitself.Butself-preservationisthefirstlaw,andtheUnitedStateshadtolookoninhelplesssorrowasGermany,Italy,SpainandBelgiumwrithedinthethroesofAnarchy,whileRussia,watchingfromtheCaucasus,stoopedandboundthemonebyone.
InthecityofNewYorkthesummerof1899wassignalizedbythedismantlingoftheElevatedRailroads.
Thesummerof1900willliveinthememoriesofNewYorkpeopleformanyacycle;
theDodgeStatuewasremovedinthatyear.
Inthefollowingwinter
başladı
beganthatagitationfortherepealofthelawsprohibitingsuicidewhichboreitsson
finalfruitinthemonthofApril,1920,whenthefirstHükümet
GovernmentLethalChamberwasopenedonWashingtonSquare.IhadwalkeddownthatdayfromDr.Archer'shouseonMadisonAvenue,whereIhadbeenasamereformality.
Eversincethatfallfrommyhorse,fouryearsbefore,Ihadbeentroubledattimeswithpainsinthebackofmyheadandneck,butnowformonthstheyhadbeenabsent,andthedoctorsentmeawaythatdaysayingtherewasnothingmoretobecuredinme.
Itwashardlyworthhisfeetobetoldthat;
Iknewitmyself.
StillIdidnotgrudgehimthemoney.
WhatImindedwasthe
hata
mistakewhichhemadeatfirst.WhentheypickedmeupfromthepavementwhereIlayunconscious,andsomebodyhadmercifullysentabulletthroughmyhorse'shead,IwascarriedtoDr.Archer,andhe,pronouncingmybrainaffected,placedmeinhisprivateasylumwhereIwasobligedtoenduretreatmentforinsanity.
Atlasthe
karar
decidedthatIwaswell,andI,knowingthatmymindhadalwaysbeenassoundashis,ifnotsounder,"paidmytuition"ashejokinglycalledit,andleft.Itoldhim,smiling,thatIwouldgetevenwithhimforhismistake,andhe
güldü
laughedheartily,andaskedmetocallonceinawhile.Ididso,hopingforachancetoevenupaccounts,buthegavemenone,andItoldhimIwouldwait.
Thefallfrommyhorsehadfortunatelyleftno
kötü
evilresults;onthecontraryithadchangedmywholecharacterforthebetter.
Fromalazyyoungmanabouttown,Ihadbecomeactive,energetic,temperate,andaboveall—oh,aboveallelse—ambitious.
Therewasonlyonethingwhichtroubledme,I
güldüm
laughedatmyownuneasiness,andyetittroubledme.DuringmyconvalescenceIhadboughtandreadforthefirsttime,TheKinginYellow.
IrememberafterfinishingthefirstactthatitoccurredtomethatIhadbetterstop.
Istartedupandflungthebookintothefireplace;
thevolumestruckthebarredgrateandfellopenonthehearthinthefirelight.
IfIhadnotcaughtaglimpseoftheopeningwordsinthesecondactIshouldneverhavefinishedit,butasIstoopedtopickitup,myeyesbecamerivetedtotheopenpage,andwitha
ağladım
cryofterror,orperhapsitwasofjoysopoignantthatIsufferedineverynerve,Isnatchedthethingoutofthecoalsandcreptshakingtomybedroom,whereIreaditandrereadit,andweptandgüldüm
laughedandtrembledwithahorrorwhichattimesassailsmeyet.Thisisthethingthattroublesme,forIcannotforgetCarcosawhereblackstarshangintheheavens;
wheretheshadowsofmen'sthoughtslengtheninthe
öğleden sonra
afternoon,whenthetwinsunssinkintothelakeofHali;andmymindwillbearforeverthememoryofthePallidMask.
IprayGodwillcursethewriter,asthewriterhascursedtheworldwiththisbeautiful,stupendouscreation,
korkunç
terribleinitssimplicity,irresistibleinitstruth—aworldwhichnowtremblesbeforetheKinginYellow.WhentheFrenchGovernmentseizedthetranslatedcopieswhichhadjustarrivedinParis,London,ofcourse,becameeagertoreadit.
Itiswellknownhowthebookspreadlikeaninfectiousdisease,fromcitytocity,fromcontinenttocontinent,barredouthere,confiscatedthere,denouncedby
Basın
Pressandpulpit,censuredevenbythemostadvancedofliteraryanarchists.Nodefiniteprincipleshadbeenviolatedinthosewickedpages,nodoctrinepromulgated,noconvictionsoutraged.
Itcouldnotbejudgedbyanyknownstandard,yet,althoughitwasacknowledgedthatthesupremenoteofarthadbeenstruckinTheKinginYellow,allfeltthathumannaturecouldnotbearthestrain,northriveonwordsinwhichtheessenceofpurestpoisonlurked.
Theverybanalityandinnocenceofthefirstactonlyallowedtheblowtofallafterwardwithmoreawfuleffect.
Itwas,Iremember,the13thdayofApril,1920,thatthefirst
Hükümet
GovernmentLethalChamberwasestablishedonthegüney
southsideofWashingtonSquare,betweenWoosterStreetandGüney
SouthFifthAvenue.Theblockwhichhadformerlyconsistedofalotofshabbyoldbuildings,usedascafésandrestaurantsforforeigners,hadbeenacquiredbythe
Hükümet
Governmentinthewinterof1898.TheFrenchandItaliancafésandrestaurantsweretorndown;
thewholeblockwasenclosedbyagildedironrailing,andconvertedintoa
güzel
lovelygardenwithlawns,flowersandfountains.Inthecentreofthegardenstoodasmall,white
bina
building,severelyclassicalinarchitecture,andsurroundedbythicketsofflowers.SixIoniccolumns
destekliyordu
supportedtheroof,andthetek
singledoorwasofbronze.Asplendidmarble
grubu
groupofthe"Fates"stoodbeforethedoor,theworkofayoungAmericansculptor,BorisYvain,whohaddiedinPariswhenonlytwenty-threeyearsold.TheinaugurationceremonieswereinprogressasIcrossedUniversityPlaceandenteredthesquare.
Ithreadedmywaythroughthesilentthrongofspectators,butwasstoppedatFourthStreetbyacordonofpolice.
AregimentofUnitedStateslancersweredrawnupinahollowsquareroundtheLethalChamber.
OnaraisedtribunefacingWashington
Parkı
ParkstoodtheGovernorofNewYork,andbehindhimweregroupedtheMayorofNewYorkandBrooklyn,theInspector-GeneralofPolice,theCommandantoftheeyalet
statetroops,ColonelLivingston,militaryaidtothePresidentoftheUnitedStates,Genel
GeneralBlount,commandingatGovernor'sAdası
Island,Major-GeneralHamilton,commandingthegarrisonofNewYorkandBrooklyn,AdmiralBuffbyofthefleetintheKuzey
NorthRiver,Surgeon-GeneralLanceford,thestaffoftheNationalFreeHospital,SenatorsWyseandFranklinofNewYork,andtheCommissionerofKamu
PublicWorks.ThetribunewassurroundedbyasquadronofhussarsoftheNationalGuard.
TheGovernorwas
bitiriyordu
finishinghisreplytothekısa
shortspeechoftheSurgeon-General.Iheardhimsay:
"Thelawsprohibitingsuicideandprovidingpunishmentforanyattemptatself-destructionhavebeenrepealed.
The
Hükümet
Governmenthasseenfittoacknowledgetherightofmantoendanexistencewhichmayhavebecomeintolerabletohim,throughphysicalsufferingormentaldespair.Itisbelievedthatthecommunitywillbebenefitedbytheremovalofsuchpeoplefromtheirmidst.
Sincethepassageofthislaw,thenumberofsuicidesintheUnitedStateshasnotincreased.
Nowthe
Hükümet
GovernmenthasdeterminedtoestablishaLethalChamberineverycity,townandvillageinthecountry,itremainstobeseenwhetherornotthatclassofhumancreaturesfromwhosedespondingranksnewvictimsofself-destructionfalldailywillkabul
acceptthereliefthusprovided."Hepaused,andturnedtothewhiteLethalChamber.
Thesilenceinthestreetwasabsolute.
"Thereapainlessdeathawaitshimwhocannolongerbearthesorrowsofthislife.
Ifdeathiswelcomelethimseekitthere."
Thenquicklyturningtothe
askeri
militaryaidofthePresident'shousehold,hesaid,"IdeclaretheLethalChamberopen,"andagainfacingthevastcrowdhecriedinaclearvoice:"CitizensofNewYorkandoftheUnitedStatesofAmerica,throughmethe
Hükümet
GovernmentdeclarestheLethalChambertobeopen."Thesolemnhushwasbrokenbyasharpcryofcommand,thesquadronofhussarsfiledaftertheGovernor'scarriage,thelancerswheeledandformedalongFifthAvenuetowaitforthecommandantofthegarrison,andthemountedpolicefollowedthem.
IleftthecrowdtogapeandstareatthewhitemarbleDeathChamber,and,crossing
Güney
SouthFifthAvenue,walkedalongthewesternsideofthatthoroughfaretoBleeckerStreet.ThenIturnedtotherightandstoppedbeforeadingyshopwhichborethesign:.
HAWBERK,ARMOURER.
IglancedinatthedoorwayandsawHawberk
meşgul
busyinhislittleshopattheendofthehall.Helookedup,andcatchingsightofmecriedinhis
derin
deep,heartyvoice,"Comein,Mr.Castaigne!"Constance,hisdaughter,rosetomeetmeasIcrossedthethreshold,andheldoutherprettyhand,butIsawtheblushofdisappointmentonhercheeks,andknewthatitwasanotherCastaigneshehadexpected,mycousinLouis.
I
gülümsedim
smiledatherconfusionandcomplimentedheronthebannershewasembroideringfromacolouredplate.OldHawberksatrivetingtheworngreavesofsomeancientsuitofarmour,andtheting!
ting!
ting!
ofhislittlehammersoundedpleasantlyinthequaintshop.
Presentlyhedroppedhishammer,andfussedaboutforamomentwithatinywrench.
Thesoftclashofthemailsentathrillof
zevk
pleasurethroughme.Ilovedtohearthemusicofsteelbrushingagainststeel,themellowshockofthemalletonthighpieces,andthejingleofchainarmour.
ThatwastheonlyreasonIwenttoseeHawberk.
Hehadneverinterestedmepersonally,nordidConstance,
hariç
exceptforthefactofherbeinginlovewithLouis.Thisdidoccupymyattention,andsometimesevenkeptmeawakeatnight.
ButIknewinmyheartthatallwouldcomeright,andthatIshouldarrangetheirfutureasIexpectedtoarrangethatofmykinddoctor,JohnArcher.
Bununla birlikte
However,Ishouldneverhavetroubledmyselfaboutvisitingthemjustthen,haditnotbeen,asIsay,thatthemusicofthetinklinghammerhadformethisgüçlü
strongfascination.Iwouldsitforhours,listeningandlistening,andwhenastraysunbeamstrucktheinlaidsteel,thesensationitgavemewasalmosttookeentoendure.
Myeyeswouldbecomefixed,dilatingwithapleasurethatstretchedeverynervealmosttobreaking,untilsomemovementoftheoldarmourercutofftherayofsunlight,then,stillthrillingsecretly,Ileanedbackandlistenedagaintothesoundofthepolishingrag,swish!
swish!
rubbingrustfromtherivets.
Constanceworkedwiththeembroideryoverherknees,nowandthenpausingtoexaminemorecloselythepatterninthecolouredplatefromtheMetropolitanMuseum.
Whoisthisfor?"
Iasked.
Hawberkexplained,thatinadditiontothetreasuresofarmourintheMetropolitanMuseumofwhichhehadbeenappointedarmourer,healsohad
sorumlu
chargeofseveralcollectionsbelongingtozengin
richamateurs.Thiswasthemissinggreaveofa
ünlü
famoussuitwhichaclientofhishadtracedtoalittleshopinParisontheQuaid'Orsay.He,Hawberk,hadnegotiatedforandsecuredthegreave,andnowthesuitwascomplete.
Helaiddownhishammerandreadmethehistoryofthe
takım
suit,tracedsince1450fromownertoowneruntilitwasacquiredbyThomasStainbridge.Whenhissuperbcollectionwas
satın
sold,thisclientofHawberk'sboughtthetakım
suit,andsincethenthesearchforthemissinggreavehadbeenpusheduntilitwas,almostbyaccident,locatedinParis.Didyou
devam
continuethesearchsopersistentlywithoutanycertaintyofthegreavebeingstillinexistence?"Idemanded.
Ofcourse,"herepliedcoolly.
ThenforthefirsttimeItooka
kişisel
personalinterestinHawberk.Itwasworthsomethingtoyou,"Iventured.
No,"hereplied,laughing,"my
zevk
pleasureinfindingitwasmyreward."Haveyounoambitiontoberich?"
Iasked,smiling.
Myoneambitionistobethebestarmourerintheworld,"heansweredgravely.
ConstanceaskedmeifIhadseentheceremoniesattheLethalChamber.
SheherselfhadnoticedcavalrypassingupBroadwaythatmorning,andhadwishedtoseetheinauguration,butherfatherwantedthebannerfinished,andshehadstayedathisrequest.
Didyouseeyourcousin,Mr.Castaigne,there?"
sheasked,withtheslightesttremorofhersofteyelashes.
No,"Irepliedcarelessly.
"Louis'regimentismanœuvringoutinWestchesterCounty."
Iroseandpickedupmyhatandcane.
Areyougoing
yukarı
upstairstoseethelunaticagain?"güldü
laughedoldHawberk.IfHawberkknewhowIloathethatword"lunatic,"hewouldneveruseitinmypresence.
Itrouses
bazı
certainfeelingswithinmewhichIdonotcaretoexplain.Bununla birlikte
However,Iansweredhimquietly:"IthinkIshalldropinandseeMr.Wildeforamomentortwo."
Poorfellow,"saidConstance,withashakeofthehead,"itmustbehardtolivealoneyearafteryearpoor,crippledandalmostdemented.
Itisverygoodofyou,Mr.Castaigne,to
ziyaret
visithimasoftenasyoudo."Ithinkheisvicious,"observedHawberk,beginningagainwithhishammer.
Ilistenedtothegoldentinkleonthegreaveplates;
whenhehadfinishedIreplied:.
No,heisnotvicious,norisheintheleastdemented.
Hismindisa
mucize
wonderchamber,fromwhichhecanextracttreasuresthatyouandIwouldgiveyearsofourlifetoacquire."'.Hawberk
güldü
laughed.Icontinuedalittleimpatiently:
"Heknowshistoryasnooneelsecouldknowit.
Nothing,howevertrivial,
kaçamaz
escapeshissearch,andhismemoryissoabsolute,sopreciseindetails,thatwereitknowninNewYorkthatsuchamanexisted,thepeoplecouldnothonourhimenough."Nonsense,"mutteredHawberk,
arama
searchingonthefloorforafallenrivet.Isitnonsense,"Iasked,managingtosuppresswhatIfelt,"isitnonsensewhenhesaysthatthetassetsandcuissardsoftheenamelledsuitofarmourcommonlyknownasthe'Prince'sEmblazoned'canbefoundamongamassofrustytheatricalproperties,brokenstovesandragpicker'srefuseinagarretinPellStreet?"
Hawberk'shammerfelltothe
yere
ground,buthepickeditupandasked,withagreatdealofcalm,howIknewthatthetassetsandleftcuissardweremissingfromthe"Prince'sEmblazoned."IdidnotknowuntilMr.Wildementionedittometheotherday.
Hesaidtheywereinthegarretof998PellStreet."
Nonsense,"hecried,butInoticedhishandtremblingunderhisleathernapron.
Isthisnonsensetoo?"
Iaskedpleasantly,"isitnonsensewhenMr.WildecontinuallyspeaksofyouastheMarquisofAvonshireandofMissConstance—".
Ididnot
bitirmedim
finish,forConstancehadstartedtoherfeetwithterrorwrittenoneveryfeature.Hawberklookedatmeandslowlysmoothedhisleathernapron.
Thatisimpossible,"heobserved,"Mr.
Wildemayknowagreatmanythings—".
Aboutarmour,forinstance,andthe'Prince'sEmblazoned,'"Iinterposed,smiling.
Yes,"hecontinued,slowly,"aboutarmouralso—maybe—butheiswronginregardtotheMarquisofAvonshire,who,asyouknow,killedhiswife'straduceryearsago,andwenttoAustraliawherehedidnotlongsurvivehiswife."
Mr.
Wildeiswrong,"murmuredConstance.
Herlipswereblanched,buther
sesi
voicewassweetandcalm.Letus
kabul
agree,ifyouplease,thatinthisonecircumstanceMr.Wildeiswrong,"Isaid.II
Iclimbedthethreedilapidatedflightsofstairs,whichIhadsooftenclimbedbefore,andknockedatasmalldoorattheendofthecorridor.
Mr.WildeopenedthedoorandIwalkedin.
Whenhehaddouble-lockedthedoorandpusheda
ağır
heavychestagainstit,hecameandsatdownbesideme,peeringupintomyfacewithhislittlelight-colouredeyes.Halfadozennewscratchescoveredhisnoseandcheeks,andthesilverwireswhichsupportedhisartificialearshadbecomedisplaced.
IthoughtIhadneverseenhimsohideouslyfascinating.
Hehadnoears.
Theartificialones,whichnowstoodoutatananglefromthefinewire,werehisoneweakness.
Theyweremadeofwaxandpaintedashellpink,buttherestofhisfacewasyellow.
Hemightbetterhaverevelledintheluxuryofsomeartificialfingersforhislefthand,whichwas
tamamen
absolutelyfingerless,butitseemedtocausehimnoinconvenience,andhewassatisfiedwithhiswaxears.Hewasverysmall,scarcelyhigherthanachildoften,buthisarmsweremagnificentlydeveloped,andhisthighsasthickasanyathlete's.
Still,themostremarkablethingaboutMr.Wildewasthatamanofhismarvellousintelligenceandknowledgeshouldhavesuchahead.
Itwasflatandpointed,liketheheadsofmanyofthoseunfortunateswhompeopleimprisoninasylumsfortheweak-minded.
Manycalledhiminsane,butIknewhimtobeassaneasIwas.
Idonotdenythathewaseccentric;
themaniahehadforkeepingthatcatandteasingheruntilsheflewathisfacelikeademon,was
kesinlikle
certainlyeccentric.Inevercouldunderstandwhyhekeptthecreature,norwhat
zevk
pleasurehefoundinshuttinghimselfupinhisroomwiththissurly,viciousbeast.Irememberonce,glancingupfromthemanuscriptIwasstudyingbythelightofsometallowdips,andseeingMr.Wildesquattingmotionlessonhishighchair,hiseyesfairlyblazingwithexcitement,whilethecat,whichhadrisenfromherplacebeforethestove,camecreepingacrossthefloorrightathim.
BeforeIcouldmovesheflattenedherbellytothe
yere
ground,crouched,trembled,andsprangintohisface.Howlingandfoamingtheyrolledoverandoveronthefloor,scratchingandclawing,untilthe
kedi
catscreamedandfledunderthecabinet,andMr.Wildeturnedoveronhisback,hislimbscontractingandcurlinguplikethelegsofadyingspider.Hewaseccentric.
Mr.
Wildehadclimbedintohishighchair,and,afterstudyingmyface,pickedupadog's-earedledgerandopenedit.
HenryB.
Matthews,"heread,"book-keeperwithWhysotWhysotandCompany,dealersin
kilise
churchornaments.CalledApril3rd.
Reputationdamagedontherace-track.
Knownasawelcher.
ReputationtoberepairedbyAugust1st.
RetainerFiveDollars."