THEREPAIREROFREPUTATIONS
I
Neraillonspaslesfous;
leurfoliedurepluslongtempsquelanôtre....
Voilatouteladifférence."
Toward
những
theendoftheyear1920những
theGovernmentoftheUnitedStateshadpracticallycompletednhững
theprogramme,adoptedduringthelastmonthsofTổng thống
PresidentWinthrop'sadministration.Thecountrywas
rõ ràng
apparentlytranquil.EverybodyknowshowtheTariff
và
andLabourquestionsweresettled.Những
ThewarwithGermany,incidentonđó
thatcountry'sseizureoftheSamoanIslands,hadleftkhông
novisiblescarsupontherepublic,và
andthetemporaryoccupationofNorfolkbynhững
theinvadingarmyhadbeenforgotteninnhững
thejoyoverrepeatednavalvictories,và
andthesubsequentridiculousplightofTướng
GeneralVonGartenlaube'sforcesinnhững
theStateofNewJersey.Các
TheCubanandHawaiianinvestmentshadpaidonehundredpercentvà
andtheterritoryofSamoawaswellđáng
worthitscostasacoalingtrạm
station.Thecountrywasinasuperbstateof
phòng
defence.Everycoastcityhadbeen
tốt
wellsuppliedwithlandfortifications;thearmyundertheparentaleyeofthe
Tổng
GeneralStaff,organizedaccordingtothePrussiansystem,hadbeenincreasedto300,000men,với
withaterritorialreserveofmột
amillion;andsixmagnificentsquadronsofcruisers
và
andbattle-shipspatrolledthesixstationsofcác
thenavigableseas,leavingahơi
steamreserveamplyfittedtokiểm soát
controlhomewaters.Thegentlemenfrom
các
theWesthadatlastbeenconstrainedtothừa nhận
acknowledgethatacollegeforcác
thetrainingofdiplomatswasascần thiết
necessaryaslawschoolsareforcác
thetrainingofbarristers;consequentlywewere
không
nolongerrepresentedabroadbyincompetentpatriots.The
quốc gia
nationwasprosperous;Chicago,for
một
amomentparalyzedafterathứ hai
secondgreatfire,hadrisenfromitsruins,trắng
whiteandimperial,andmoređẹp
beautifulthanthewhitecitywhichhadbeenbuiltforitsplaythingin1893.Ở khắp mọi nơi
Everywheregoodarchitecturewasreplacingxấu
bad,andeveninNewYork,một
asuddencravingfordecencyhadsweptawaymột
agreatportionoftheexistinghorrors.Streetshadbeenwidened,
đúng
properlypavedandlighted,treeshadbeenplanted,squareslaidra
out,elevatedstructuresdemolishedandngầm
undergroundroadsbuilttoreplacechúng
them.Thenewgovernmentbuildings
và
andbarrackswerefinebitsofkiến trúc
architecture,andthelongsystemofđá
stonequayswhichcompletelysurroundedtheislandhadbeenturnedintoparksmà
whichprovedagod-sendtothedân số
population.Thesubsidizingofthestate
nhà hát
theatreandstateoperabroughtitsriêng
ownreward.TheUnitedStatesNationalAcademyof
Thiết kế
DesignwasmuchlikeEuropeaninstitutionsofcác
thesamekind.Nobodyenvied
các
theSecretaryofFineArts,eitherhisnội
cabinetpositionorhisportfolio.TheSecretaryofForestry
và
andGamePreservationhadanhiều
mucheasiertime,thankstothemới
newsystemofNationalMountedCảnh sát
Police.Wehadprofitedwellby
các
thelatesttreatieswithFrancevà
andEngland;theexclusionofforeign-bornJewsas
một
ameasureofself-preservation,thesettlementofcác
thenewindependentnegrostateofSuanee,các
thecheckingofimmigration,themới
newlawsconcerningnaturalization,andcác
thegradualcentralizationofpowerincác
theexecutiveallcontributedtonationaltĩnh
calmandprosperity.Whenthe
Chính phủ
GovernmentsolvedtheIndianproblemvà
andsquadronsofIndiancavalryscoutsinbản
nativecostumeweresubstitutedforcác
thepitiableorganizationstackedontocác
thetailofskeletonizedregimentsbymột
aformerSecretaryofWar,các
thenationdrewalongsighofrelief.Khi
When,afterthecolossalCongressofReligions,bigotryvà
andintolerancewerelaidintheirgravesvà
andkindnessandcharitybegantodrawwarringsectsnhau
together,manythoughtthemillenniumhadarrived,atít
leastinthenewworldmà
whichafterallisaworldbyitself.Nhưng
Butself-preservationisthefirstluật
law,andtheUnitedStateshadtonhìn
lookoninhelplesssorrowasGermany,Italy,Spainvà
andBelgiumwrithedinthethroesofAnarchy,khi
whileRussia,watchingfromtheCaucasus,stoopedvà
andboundthemonebymột
one.InthecityofNewYork
các
thesummerof1899wassignalizedbycác
thedismantlingoftheElevatedRailroads.Thesummerof1900
sẽ
willliveinthememoriesofNewYorkngười
peopleformanyacycle;the
Dodge
DodgeStatuewasremovedinđó
thatyear.Inthefollowing
mùa đông
winterbeganthatagitationforcác
therepealofthelawsprohibitingtử
suicidewhichboreitsfinalquả
fruitinthemonthofApril,1920,khi
whenthefirstGovernmentLethalChamberwasopenedonWashingtonSquare.Ihadwalked
xuống
downthatdayfromDr.Archer'snhà
houseonMadisonAvenue,whereIhadbeenasmột
amereformality.Eversincethatfallfrommy
ngựa
horse,fouryearsbefore,Ihadbeentroubledattimeswithpainsinthebackofmyđầu
headandneck,butnowformonthstheyhadbeenabsent,và
andthedoctorsentmeđi
awaythatdaysayingtherewasgì
nothingmoretobecuredinme.Itwashardly
đáng
worthhisfeetobetoldrằng
that;Iknewitmyself.
StillIdidnotgrudgehimthe
tiền
money.WhatImindedwas
những
themistakewhichhemadeatđầu
first.Whentheypickedme
lên
upfromthepavementwhereIlayunconscious,và
andsomebodyhadmercifullysentmột
abulletthroughmyhorse'sđầu
head,IwascarriedtoDr.Archer
Archer,andhe,pronouncingmybrainaffected,placedmeinhistư
privateasylumwhereIwasobligedtochịu đựng
enduretreatmentforinsanity.At
cuối
lasthedecidedthatIwastốt
well,andI,knowingthatmymindhadluôn luôn
alwaysbeenassoundasmình
his,ifnotsounder,"paidmytuition"ashejokinglycallednó
it,andleft.Itoldhim,smiling,
rằng
thatIwouldgetevenvới
withhimforhismistake,và
andhelaughedheartily,andaskedmetogọi
callonceinawhile.Ididso,hopingfor
một
achancetoevenupaccounts,nhưng
buthegavemenone,và
andItoldhimIwouldwait.Thefallfrommyhorsehad
may mắn thay
fortunatelyleftnoevilresults;onthe
ngược lại
contraryithadchangedmywholecharacterforthebetter.From
một
alazyyoungmanaboutthị trấn
town,Ihadbecomeactive,năng
energetic,temperate,andaboveall—oh,trên
aboveallelse—ambitious.Therewas
chỉ
onlyonethingwhichtroubledme,Ilaughedatmyownuneasiness,andnhưng
yetittroubledme.DuringmyconvalescenceIhadbought
và
andreadforthefirsttime,TheKing
KinginYellow.Iremember
sau
afterfinishingthefirstactrằng
thatitoccurredtomerằng
thatIhadbetterstop.Istartedup
và
andflungthebookintothefireplace;thevolumestruckthebarredgrate
và
andfellopenonthehearthinthefirelight.Nếu
IfIhadnotcaughtmột
aglimpseoftheopeningwordsinnhững
thesecondactIshouldkhông bao giờ
neverhavefinishedit,butasIstoopedtonhặt
pickitup,myeyesbecamerivetedtonhững
theopenpage,andwithmột
acryofterror,orcó lẽ
perhapsitwasofjoysopoignantthatIsufferedinmỗi
everynerve,Isnatchedthethứ
thingoutofthecoalsvà
andcreptshakingtomyphòng ngủ
bedroom,whereIreaditvà
andrereadit,andweptvà
andlaughedandtrembledwithmột
ahorrorwhichattimesassailsmeyet.Đây
Thisisthethingthattroublesme,forIcannotquên
forgetCarcosawhereblackstarstreo
hangintheheavens;where
những
theshadowsofmen'sthoughtslengtheninnhững
theafternoon,whenthetwinsunschìm
sinkintothelakeofHali;và
andmymindwillbearforeverthememoryofthePallidMask.Ipray
Chúa
Godwillcursethewriter,asthevăn
writerhascursedtheworldvới
withthisbeautiful,stupendouscreation,terribleinitsđơn giản
simplicity,irresistibleinitstruth—aworldmà
whichnowtremblesbeforetheVua
KinginYellow.WhentheFrench
Chính phủ
Governmentseizedthetranslatedcopieswhichhadvừa
justarrivedinParis,London,ofcourse,becameeagertođọc
readit.Itiswellknownhow
những
thebookspreadlikeaninfectiousbệnh
disease,fromcitytocity,fromlục địa
continenttocontinent,barredoutđây
here,confiscatedthere,denouncedbyBáo chí
Pressandpulpit,censuredevenbynhững
themostadvancedofliteraryanarchists.Không
Nodefiniteprincipleshadbeenviolatedinnhững
thosewickedpages,nodoctrinepromulgated,không
noconvictionsoutraged.Itcouldnotbejudgedby
bất kỳ
anyknownstandard,yet,althoughitwasacknowledgedthatnhững
thesupremenoteofarthadbeenstruckinNhững
TheKinginYellow,allfeltthathumannaturecouldnotchịu
bearthestrain,northriveonwordsinwhichnhững
theessenceofpurestpoisonlurked.Theverybanality
và
andinnocenceofthefirsthành động
actonlyallowedtheblowtorơi
fallafterwardwithmoreawfulhiệu ứng
effect.Itwas,Iremember,the13thdayofApril,1920,thatthefirst
Chính phủ
GovernmentLethalChamberwasestablishedonthesouthphía
sideofWashingtonSquare,betweenWoosterĐường
StreetandSouthFifthAvenue.Theblockwhichhadformerlyconsistedofalotofshabby
cũ
oldbuildings,usedascafésvà
andrestaurantsforforeigners,hadbeenacquiredbytheChính phủ
Governmentinthewinterof1898.Các
TheFrenchandItaliancafésvà
andrestaurantsweretorndown;thewhole
khối
blockwasenclosedbyagildedsắt
ironrailing,andconvertedintomột
alovelygardenwithlawns,flowersvà
andfountains.Inthecentreofthegardenstood
một
asmall,whitebuilding,severelyclassicalinkiến trúc
architecture,andsurroundedbythicketsofflowers.Sáu
SixIoniccolumnssupportedthemái
roof,andthesingledoorwasofđồng
bronze.Asplendidmarblegroupofthe"Fates"stood
trước
beforethedoor,theworkofmột
ayoungAmericansculptor,BorisYvain,người
whohaddiedinPariskhi
whenonlytwenty-threeyearsold.TheinaugurationceremonieswereinprogressasIcrossed
Đại học
UniversityPlaceandenteredthesquare.Ithreadedmyway
qua
throughthesilentthrongofspectators,nhưng
butwasstoppedatFourthStreet
Streetbyacordonofcảnh sát
police.AregimentofUnitedStateslancersweredrawnupin
một
ahollowsquareroundtheLethalChamber.On
một
araisedtribunefacingWashingtonParkstoodtheGovernorofNewYork,và
andbehindhimweregroupedtheMayorofNewYorkvà
andBrooklyn,theInspector-GeneralofCảnh sát
Police,theCommandantofthestatetroops,Đại tá
ColonelLivingston,militaryaidtotheTổng thống
PresidentoftheUnitedStates,GeneralBlount,commandingatGovernor'sĐảo
Island,Major-GeneralHamilton,commandingthegarrisonofNewYorkvà
andBrooklyn,AdmiralBuffbyofthehạm đội
fleetintheNorthRiver,Surgeon-GeneralLanceford,thenhân viên
staffoftheNationalFreeBệnh viện
Hospital,SenatorsWyseandFranklinofNewYork,và
andtheCommissionerofPublicWorks.Thetribunewassurroundedby
một
asquadronofhussarsoftheNationalGuard.TheGovernorwasfinishinghisreplytothe
ngắn
shortspeechoftheSurgeon-General.Iheardhim
nói
say:"Thelawsprohibitingsuicide
và
andprovidingpunishmentforanynỗ lực
attemptatself-destructionhavebeenrepealed.The
Chính phủ
Governmenthasseenfittothừa nhận
acknowledgetherightofmantokết thúc
endanexistencewhichmayhavetrở nên
becomeintolerabletohim,throughchất
physicalsufferingormentaldespair.Itisbelieved
rằng
thatthecommunitywillbebenefitedbynhững
theremovalofsuchpeoplefromtheirmidst.Từ
Sincethepassageofthisluật
law,thenumberofsuicidesintheKỳ
UnitedStateshasnotincreased.Bây giờ
NowtheGovernmenthasdeterminedtolập
establishaLethalChamberineverycity,thị trấn
townandvillageinthenước
country,itremainstobeseenliệu
whetherornotthatclassofnhân
humancreaturesfromwhosedespondingranksmới
newvictimsofself-destructionfalldailysẽ
willacceptthereliefthusprovided."Hepaused,
và
andturnedtothewhiteLethalChamber.The
im lặng
silenceinthestreetwasabsolute."There
một
apainlessdeathawaitshimngười
whocannolongerbearnhững
thesorrowsofthislife.Nếu
Ifdeathiswelcomelethimseekitthere."Then
nhanh chóng
quicklyturningtothemilitaryaidofthePresident'sgia
household,hesaid,"IdeclaretheLethalChamberopen,"và
andagainfacingthevastđám đông
crowdhecriedinacleargiọng nói
voice:"CitizensofNewYork
và
andoftheUnitedStatesofAmerica,throughmetheChính phủ
GovernmentdeclarestheLethalChambertobeopen."Thesolemnhushwasbrokenby
một
asharpcryofcommand,thesquadronofhussarsfiledsau
aftertheGovernor'scarriage,thelancerswheeledvà
andformedalongFifthAvenuetowaitforthecommandantofthegarrison,và
andthemountedpolicefollowedhọ
them.Ileftthecrowdtogape
và
andstareatthewhitemarbleChết
DeathChamber,and,crossingSouthFifthĐại lộ
Avenue,walkedalongthewesternphía
sideofthatthoroughfaretoBleeckerStreet.ThenIturnedtothe
phải
rightandstoppedbeforeadingycửa hàng
shopwhichborethesign:.HAWBERK,ARMOURER.
Iglancedinatthe
cửa
doorwayandsawHawberkbusyinhisnhỏ
littleshopattheendofthehall.Helooked
lên
up,andcatchingsightofmecriedinhisdeep,heartygiọng nói
voice,"Comein,Mr.Castaigne!"Constance,his
con gái
daughter,rosetomeetmeasIcrossedthengưỡng
threshold,andheldoutherđẹp
prettyhand,butIsawtheblushofthất vọng
disappointmentonhercheeks,andknewthatitwasanotherCastaigneshehadexpected,mycousinLouis.Ismiledatherconfusion
và
andcomplimentedheronthebiểu ngữ
bannershewasembroideringfrommột
acolouredplate.OldHawberksatriveting
các
theworngreavesofsomecổ
ancientsuitofarmour,andcác
theting!ting!
ting!
ofhis
nhỏ
littlehammersoundedpleasantlyinthequaintcửa hàng
shop.Presentlyhedroppedhis
búa
hammer,andfussedaboutformột
amomentwithatinywrench.Thesoftclashofthe
thư
mailsentathrillofpleasurethroughtôi
me.Ilovedtohearthemusicof
thép
steelbrushingagainststeel,themellowshockofthemalletonđùi
thighpieces,andthejingleofdây chuyền
chainarmour.Thatwasthe
duy nhất
onlyreasonIwenttoseeHawberk.Hehad
chưa bao giờ
neverinterestedmepersonally,nordidConstance,exceptforthethực tế
factofherbeinginyêu
lovewithLouis.Thisdidoccupymyattention,
và
andsometimesevenkeptmeawakeatđêm
night.ButIknewinmyheart
rằng
thatallwouldcomeright,và
andthatIshouldarrangetheirtương lai
futureasIexpectedtosắp xếp
arrangethatofmykindbác sĩ
doctor,JohnArcher.However,Ishould
không bao giờ
neverhavetroubledmyselfaboutvisitingthemjustthen,haditnotbeen,asIsay,thatthemusicofthetinklingbúa
hammerhadformethisstrongfascination.Iwould
ngồi
sitforhours,listeningandlistening,và
andwhenastraysunbeamstrucktheinlaidthép
steel,thesensationitgavemewasgần
almosttookeentoendure.Myeyeswould
trở nên
becomefixed,dilatingwithapleasuređó
thatstretchedeverynervealmosttobreaking,untilsomemovementofthegià
oldarmourercutoffthetia
rayofsunlight,then,stillthrillingbí mật
secretly,Ileanedbackandlistenedagaintothesoundofthepolishingrag,swish!swish!
rubbingrustfrom
các
therivets.Constanceworkedwiththe
thêu
embroideryoverherknees,nowvà
andthenpausingtoexaminemorechặt chẽ
closelythepatterninthecolouredtấm
platefromtheMetropolitanMuseum.Whois
đây
thisfor?"Iasked.
Hawberkexplained,thatinadditiontothetreasuresofarmourinthe
Metropolitan
MetropolitanMuseumofwhichhehadbeenappointedarmourer,hecũng
alsohadchargeofseveralcollectionsbelongingtogiàu
richamateurs.Thiswasthemissinggreaveof
một
afamoussuitwhichaclientofhishadtracedtomột
alittleshopinParisontheQuaid'Orsay.Ông
He,Hawberk,hadnegotiatedforvà
andsecuredthegreave,andbây giờ
nowthesuitwascomplete.Helaid
xuống
downhishammerandreadmethelịch sử
historyofthesuit,tracedsince1450fromownertoowneruntilitwasacquiredbyThomasStainbridge.Khi
Whenhissuperbcollectionwassold,này
thisclientofHawberk'sboughtthesuit,và
andsincethenthesearchforthemissinggreavehadbeenpushedđến
untilitwas,almostbyaccident,locatedinParis.Didyou
tiếp tục
continuethesearchsopersistentlykhông
withoutanycertaintyofthegreavebeingstillinexistence?"Idemanded.
Ofcourse,"herepliedcoolly.
Thenforthefirst
lần
timeItookapersonalquan tâm
interestinHawberk.Itwas
trị
worthsomethingtoyou,"Iventured.No,"hereplied,laughing,"my
vui
pleasureinfindingitwasmyreward."Có
Haveyounoambitiontoberich?"Iasked,smiling.
Myoneambitionistobethe
nhất
bestarmourerintheworld,"heansweredgravely.Constanceaskedme
nếu
ifIhadseentheceremoniesatcác
theLethalChamber.SheherselfhadnoticedcavalrypassingupBroadway
đó
thatmorning,andhadwishedtoseetheinauguration,nhưng
butherfatherwantedthebiểu ngữ
bannerfinished,andshehadstayedathisyêu cầu
request.Didyouseeyourcousin,Mr.Castaigne,there?"
sheasked,
với
withtheslightesttremorofhermềm
softeyelashes.No,"Irepliedcarelessly.
"Louis'regimentismanœuvringoutinWestchesterCounty."
Irose
và
andpickedupmyhatvà
andcane.Areyougoingupstairstoseethelunaticagain?"
laughed
già
oldHawberk.IfHawberkknewhowIloathethat
từ
word"lunatic,"hewouldneverdùng
useitinmypresence.Itrousescertainfeelingswithinme
mà
whichIdonotcaretogiải thích
explain.However,Iansweredhim
lặng lẽ
quietly:"IthinkIshalldropin
và
andseeMr.Wildeformột
amomentortwo."Poorfellow,"saidConstance,
với
withashakeoftheđầu
head,"itmustbehardtosống
livealoneyearafteryearnghèo
poor,crippledandalmostdemented.Itis
rất
verygoodofyou,Mr.Castaigne,tothăm
visithimasoftenasyoudo."I
nghĩ rằng
thinkheisvicious,"observedHawberk,beginningnữa
againwithhishammer.Ilistenedto
các
thegoldentinkleonthegreaveplates;khi
whenhehadfinishedIreplied:.Không
No,heisnotvicious,cũng
norisheintheleastdemented.Hismindis
một
awonderchamber,fromwhichhecó thể
canextracttreasuresthatyouvà
andIwouldgiveyearsofourcuộc đời
lifetoacquire."'.Hawberklaughed.
Icontinued
một
alittleimpatiently:"Heknows
lịch sử
historyasnooneelsecouldbiết
knowit.Nothing,howevertrivial,escapeshissearch,
và
andhismemoryissoabsolute,sochính xác
preciseindetails,thatwereitknowninNewYorkthatsuchmột
amanexisted,thepeoplecouldnothonourhimenough."Nonsense,"mutteredHawberk,searchingonthefloorfor
một
afallenrivet.Isitnonsense,"Iasked,managingtosuppresswhatIfelt,"isit
vô nghĩa
nonsensewhenhesaysthatthetassetsvà
andcuissardsoftheenamelledsuitofgiáp
armourcommonlyknownasthe'Prince'sEmblazoned'có thể
canbefoundamongakhối lượng
massofrustytheatricalproperties,brokenstovesvà
andragpicker'srefuseinagarretinPellStreet?"Hawberk's
búa
hammerfelltotheground,nhưng
buthepickeditupvà
andasked,withagreatdealoftĩnh
calm,howIknewthatcác
thetassetsandleftcuissardweremissingfromcác
the"Prince'sEmblazoned."Ididnot
biết
knowuntilMr.Wildementionedittometheotherngày
day.Hesaidtheywereinthegarretof998PellStreet."
Nonsense,"hecried,
nhưng
butInoticedhishandtremblingdưới
underhisleathernapron.Is
này
thisnonsensetoo?"Iaskedpleasantly,"isit
vô nghĩa
nonsensewhenMr.WildecontinuallyspeaksofyouastheMarquis
MarquisofAvonshireandofMissConstance—".Ididnot
hoàn thành
finish,forConstancehadstartedtoherchân
feetwithterrorwrittenonmỗi
everyfeature.Hawberklookedatme
và
andslowlysmoothedhisleathernapron.Đó
Thatisimpossible,"heobserved,"Mr.Wilde
có thể
mayknowagreatmanythings—".Về
Aboutarmour,forinstance,andthe'Prince'sEmblazoned,'"Iinterposed,smiling.Yes,"hecontinued,slowly,"aboutarmouralso—maybe—butheis
sai
wronginregardtotheMarquis
MarquisofAvonshire,who,asyoubiết
know,killedhiswife'straduceryearstrước
ago,andwenttoAustralianơi
wherehedidnotlongsống sót
survivehiswife."Mr.
Wildeiswrong,"murmuredConstance.
Herlipswereblanched,
nhưng
buthervoicewassweetvà
andcalm.Letusagree,
nếu
ifyouplease,thatinnày
thisonecircumstanceMr.Wildeiswrong,"Isaid.II
Iclimbedthe
ba
threedilapidatedflightsofstairs,mà
whichIhadsooftenclimbedtrước
before,andknockedatanhỏ
smalldoorattheendofthehành lang
corridor.Mr.Wildeopenedthe
cửa
doorandIwalkedin.Khi
Whenhehaddouble-lockedthecửa
doorandpushedaheavychestchống lại
againstit,hecameandsatxuống
downbesideme,peeringupintomyfacevới
withhislittlelight-colouredeyes.Nửa
Halfadozennewscratchescoveredhismũi
noseandcheeks,andthebạc
silverwireswhichsupportedhisartificialearshadtrở nên
becomedisplaced.IthoughtIhad
chưa bao giờ
neverseenhimsohideouslyhấp dẫn
fascinating.Hehadnoears.
Những
Theartificialones,whichnowstoodra
outatananglefromnhững
thefinewire,werehisoneyếu
weakness.Theyweremadeof
sáp
waxandpaintedashellhồng
pink,buttherestofhisfacewasyellow.Hemightbetterhaverevelledinthe
xa xỉ
luxuryofsomeartificialfingersforhislefthand,mà
whichwasabsolutelyfingerless,butitseemedtogây
causehimnoinconvenience,andhewashài lòng
satisfiedwithhiswaxears.Hewas
rất
verysmall,scarcelyhigherthanmột
achildoften,buthisarmsweremagnificentlydeveloped,và
andhisthighsasthickasbất kỳ
anyathlete's.Still,themost
đáng chú ý
remarkablethingaboutMr.Wildewasthatmột
amanofhismarvellousthông minh
intelligenceandknowledgeshouldhavesuchmột
ahead.Itwasflat
và
andpointed,liketheheadsofnhiều
manyofthoseunfortunateswhomngười
peopleimprisoninasylumsfortheweak-minded.Nhiều
Manycalledhiminsane,butIknewhimtobeassaneasIwas.Idonotdeny
rằng
thathewaseccentric;themaniahehadforkeeping
đó
thatcatandteasingherđến
untilsheflewathismặt
facelikeademon,waschắc chắn
certainlyeccentric.Inevercould
hiểu
understandwhyhekeptthecreature,cũng
norwhatpleasurehefoundinshuttinghimselfupinhisphòng
roomwiththissurly,viciousbeast.I
nhớ
rememberonce,glancingupfromthemanuscriptIwasstudyingbythelightofmột
sometallowdips,andseeingMr.Wildesquattingmotionlessonhiscao
highchair,hiseyesfairlyblazingvới
withexcitement,whilethecat,whichhadrisenfromherchỗ
placebeforethestove,camecreepingacrossthesàn
floorrightathim.BeforeIcouldmovesheflattenedherbellytothe
đất
ground,crouched,trembled,andsprangintohisface.Howlingandfoamingtheyrolledoverandoveronthefloor,scratchingandclawing,untilthecatscreamedandfledunderthecabinet,andMr.Wildeturnedoveronhisback,hislimbscontractingandcurlinguplikethelegsofadyingspider.
Hewaseccentric.
Mr.
Wildehadclimbedintohis
cao
highchair,and,afterstudyingmyface,pickedlên
upadog's-earedledgerandopenednó
it.HenryB.
Matthews,"he
đọc
read,"book-keeperwithWhysotWhysotvà
andCompany,dealersinchurchornaments.CalledApril3rd.
Reputationdamagedontherace-track.
Knownas
một
awelcher.ReputationtoberepairedbyAugust1st.
Retainer
Năm
FiveDollars."