The King in Yellow Gradually Hardening Vietnamese B2 Books

THEREPAIREROFREPUTATIONS

Neraillonspaslesfous;

leurfoliedurepluslongtempsquelanôtre....

Voilatouteladifférence."

Towardtheendoftheyear1920theGovernmentoftheUnitedStateshadpracticallycompletedtheprogramme,adoptedduringthelastmonthsofPresidentWinthrop'sadministration.

Thecountrywasapparently

yên tĩnh

tranquil.

EverybodyknowshowtheTariffandLabourquestionsweresettled.

ThewarwithGermany,incidentonthatcountry'sseizureoftheSamoanIslands,hadleftno

nhìn thấy

visiblescarsupontherepublic,andthetemporary

chiếm đóng

occupationofNorfolkbytheinvadingarmyhadbeenforgotteninthejoyoverrepeated

hải

navalvictories,andthesubsequentridiculousplightofGeneralVonGartenlaube'sforcesintheStateofNewJersey.

TheCubanandHawaiianinvestmentshadpaidonehundredpercentandthe

lãnh thổ

territoryofSamoawaswellworthitscostasacoalingstation.

Thecountrywasinasuperbstateof

phòng

defence.

Everycoastcityhadbeenwellsuppliedwithlandfortifications;

thearmyundertheparentaleyeoftheGeneralStaff,organizedaccordingtothePrussiansystem,hadbeenincreasedto300,000men,witha

lãnh thổ

territorialreserveofamillion;

andsix

tuyệt vời

magnificentsquadronsofcruisersandbattle-shipspatrolledthesixstationsofthenavigableseas,leavinga

hơi

steamreserveamplyfittedtocontrolhomewaters.

ThegentlemenfromtheWesthadatlastbeenconstrainedto

thừa nhận

acknowledgethatacollegeforthetrainingofdiplomatswasasnecessaryaslawschoolsareforthetrainingofbarristers;

do đó

consequentlywewerenolongerrepresented

nước ngoài

abroadbyincompetentpatriots.

Thenationwas

thịnh vượng

prosperous;

Chicago,foramomentparalyzedafterasecondgreatfire,hadrisenfromitsruins,whiteand

hoàng

imperial,andmorebeautifulthanthewhitecitywhichhadbeenbuiltforitsplaythingin1893.

Everywheregood

kiến trúc

architecturewasreplacingbad,andeveninNewYork,asuddencravingfordecencyhadsweptawayagreat

phần

portionoftheexistinghorrors.

Streetshadbeenwidened,properlypavedandlighted,treeshadbeenplanted,squareslaidout,elevatedstructuresdemolishedand

ngầm

undergroundroadsbuilttoreplacethem.

Thenewgovernmentbuildingsandbarrackswerefinebitsof

kiến trúc

architecture,andthelongsystemofstonequayswhichcompletelysurroundedtheislandhadbeenturnedintoparkswhichprovedagod-sendtothe

dân số

population.

Thesubsidizingofthestate

nhà hát

theatreandstateoperabroughtitsownreward.

TheUnitedStatesNationalAcademyofDesignwasmuchlikeEuropeaninstitutionsofthesamekind.

NobodyenviedtheSecretaryofFineArts,eitherhis

nội

cabinetpositionorhisportfolio.

TheSecretaryofForestryandGame

Bảo tồn

Preservationhadamucheasiertime,thankstothenewsystemofNationalMountedPolice.

WehadprofitedwellbythelatesttreatieswithFranceandEngland;

theexclusionofforeign-bornJewsasa

biện pháp

measureofself-preservation,thesettlementofthenew

độc lập

independentnegrostateofSuanee,thecheckingof

nhập cư

immigration,thenewlawsconcerningnaturalization,andthegradualcentralizationofpowerintheexecutiveallcontributedtonationalcalmand

thịnh vượng

prosperity.

WhentheGovernmentsolvedtheIndianproblemandsquadronsofIndiancavalryscoutsin

bản

nativecostumeweresubstitutedforthepitiableorganizationstackedontothetailofskeletonizedregimentsbyaformerSecretaryofWar,thenationdrewalongsighofrelief.

When,afterthe

khổng lồ

colossalCongressofReligions,bigotryandintolerancewerelaidintheirgravesand

lòng

kindnessandcharitybegantodrawwarringsectstogether,manythoughtthe

thiên niên kỷ

millenniumhadarrived,atleastinthenewworldwhichafterallisaworldbyitself.

Butself-preservationisthefirstlaw,andtheUnitedStateshadtolookoninhelplesssorrowasGermany,Italy,SpainandBelgiumwrithedinthethroesofAnarchy,whileRussia,watchingfromtheCaucasus,stoopedandboundthemonebyone.

InthecityofNewYorkthesummerof1899wassignalizedbythedismantlingoftheElevatedRailroads.

Thesummerof1900willliveinthememoriesofNewYorkpeopleformanyacycle;

the

Dodge

DodgeStatuewasremovedinthatyear.

InthefollowingwinterbeganthatagitationfortherepealofthelawsprohibitingsuicidewhichboreitsfinalfruitinthemonthofApril,1920,whenthefirstGovernmentLethalChamberwasopenedonWashingtonSquare.

IhadwalkeddownthatdayfromDr.Archer'shouseonMadison

Đại lộ

Avenue,whereIhadbeenasamere

hình thức

formality.

Eversincethatfallfrommyhorse,fouryearsbefore,Ihadbeentroubledattimeswithpainsinthebackofmyheadandneck,butnowformonthstheyhadbeenabsent,andthedoctorsentmeawaythatdaysayingtherewasnothingmoretobecuredinme.

Itwashardlyworthhisfeetobetoldthat;

Iknewitmyself.

StillIdidnotgrudgehimthemoney.

WhatImindedwasthemistakewhichhemadeatfirst.

Whentheypickedmeupfromthe

vỉa hè

pavementwhereIlayunconscious,andsomebodyhadmercifullysentabulletthroughmyhorse'shead,IwascarriedtoDr.

Archer

Archer,andhe,pronouncingmybrainaffected,placedmeinhisprivateasylumwhereIwasobligedto

chịu đựng

enduretreatmentforinsanity.

AtlasthedecidedthatIwaswell,andI,knowingthatmymindhadalwaysbeenassoundashis,ifnotsounder,"paidmytuition"ashejokinglycalledit,andleft.

Itoldhim,smiling,thatIwouldgetevenwithhimforhismistake,andhelaughedheartily,andaskedmetocallonceinawhile.

Ididso,hopingforachancetoevenupaccounts,buthegavemenone,andItoldhimIwouldwait.

Thefallfrommyhorsehad

may mắn thay

fortunatelyleftnoevilresults;

onthe

ngược lại

contraryithadchangedmywholecharacterforthebetter.

Froma

lười

lazyyoungmanabouttown,Ihadbecome

tích cực

active,energetic,temperate,andaboveall—oh,aboveallelse—ambitious.

Therewasonlyonethingwhichtroubledme,Ilaughedatmyownuneasiness,andyetittroubledme.

DuringmyconvalescenceIhadboughtandreadforthefirsttime,TheKinginYellow.

IrememberafterfinishingthefirstactthatitoccurredtomethatIhadbetterstop.

Istartedupandflungthebookintothefireplace;

thevolumestruckthebarredgrateandfellopenonthehearthinthefirelight.

IfIhadnotcaughta

thoáng

glimpseoftheopeningwordsinthesecondactIshouldneverhavefinishedit,butasIstoopedtopickitup,myeyesbecamerivetedtotheopenpage,andwithacryofterror,orperhapsitwasofjoysopoignantthatIsufferedinevery

thần kinh

nerve,Isnatchedthethingoutofthecoalsandcreptshakingtomybedroom,whereIreaditandrereadit,andweptandlaughedandtrembledwithahorrorwhichattimesassailsmeyet.

Thisisthethingthattroublesme,forIcannotforgetCarcosawhereblackstarshangintheheavens;

wheretheshadowsofmen'sthoughtslengthenintheafternoon,whenthetwinsuns

chìm

sinkintothelakeofHali;

andmymindwillbearforeverthememoryofthePallidMask.

IprayGodwillcursethewriter,asthewriterhascursedtheworldwiththisbeautiful,stupendouscreation,terribleinits

đơn giản

simplicity,irresistibleinitstruth—aworldwhichnowtremblesbeforetheKinginYellow.

WhentheFrenchGovernmentseizedthetranslatedcopieswhichhadjustarrivedinParis,London,ofcourse,becameeagertoreadit.

Itiswellknownhowthebookspreadlikeaninfectiousdisease,fromcitytocity,from

lục địa

continenttocontinent,barredouthere,confiscatedthere,denouncedbyPressandpulpit,censuredevenbythemostadvancedofliteraryanarchists.

Nodefiniteprincipleshadbeenviolatedinthose

xấu xa

wickedpages,nodoctrinepromulgated,noconvictionsoutraged.

Itcouldnotbejudgedbyanyknownstandard,yet,althoughitwasacknowledgedthatthesupremenoteofarthadbeenstruckinTheKinginYellow,allfeltthathumannaturecouldnotbearthestrain,northriveonwordsinwhichthe

chất

essenceofpurestpoisonlurked.

Theverybanalityandinnocenceofthefirstactonlyallowedtheblowtofallafterwardwithmoreawfuleffect.

Itwas,Iremember,the13thdayofApril,1920,thatthefirstGovernmentLethalChamberwasestablishedonthesouthsideofWashingtonSquare,betweenWoosterStreetandSouthFifth

Đại lộ

Avenue.

Theblockwhichhadformerlyconsistedofalotofshabbyoldbuildings,usedascafésandrestaurantsforforeigners,hadbeenacquiredbytheGovernmentinthewinterof1898.

TheFrenchandItaliancafésandrestaurantsweretorndown;

thewholeblockwasenclosedbyagildedironrailing,andconvertedintoalovelygardenwithlawns,flowersandfountains.

Inthe

trung tâm

centreofthegardenstoodasmall,whitebuilding,

nghiêm

severelyclassicalinarchitecture,andsurroundedbythicketsofflowers.

SixIoniccolumnssupportedtheroof,andthesingledoorwasof

đồng

bronze.

Asplendidmarblegroupofthe"Fates"stoodbeforethedoor,theworkofayoungAmerican

điêu khắc

sculptor,BorisYvain,whohaddiedinPariswhenonlytwenty-threeyearsold.

TheinaugurationceremonieswereinprogressasIcrossedUniversityPlaceandenteredthesquare.

Ithreadedmywaythroughthesilentthrongofspectators,butwasstoppedatFourthStreetbyacordonofpolice.

AregimentofUnitedStateslancersweredrawnupina

rỗng

hollowsquareroundtheLethalChamber.

OnaraisedtribunefacingWashingtonParkstoodtheGovernorofNewYork,andbehindhimweregroupedtheMayorofNewYorkandBrooklyn,theInspector-GeneralofPolice,theCommandantofthestatetroops,ColonelLivingston,militaryaidtothePresidentoftheUnitedStates,GeneralBlount,commandingatGovernor'sIsland,Major-GeneralHamilton,commandingthegarrisonofNewYorkandBrooklyn,

Đô đốc

AdmiralBuffbyofthefleetintheNorthRiver,Surgeon-GeneralLanceford,thestaffoftheNationalFreeHospital,SenatorsWyseandFranklinofNewYork,andtheCommissionerofPublicWorks.

ThetribunewassurroundedbyasquadronofhussarsoftheNationalGuard.

TheGovernorwasfinishinghisreplytotheshortspeechoftheSurgeon-General.

Iheardhimsay:

"Thelawsprohibitingsuicideandprovidingpunishmentforanyattemptatself-destructionhavebeenrepealed.

TheGovernmenthasseenfitto

thừa nhận

acknowledgetherightofmantoendanexistencewhichmayhavebecomeintolerabletohim,throughphysicalsufferingormentaldespair.

Itisbelievedthatthecommunitywillbebenefitedbythe

loại bỏ

removalofsuchpeoplefromtheirmidst.

Sincethepassageofthislaw,thenumberofsuicidesintheUnitedStateshasnotincreased.

NowtheGovernmenthasdeterminedto

lập

establishaLethalChamberineverycity,townandvillageinthecountry,itremainstobeseenwhetherornotthatclassofhumancreaturesfromwhosedespondingranksnewvictimsofself-destructionfalldailywillacceptthereliefthusprovided."

Hepaused,andturnedtothewhiteLethalChamber.

Thesilenceinthestreetwasabsolute.

"Therea

đau

painlessdeathawaitshimwhocannolongerbearthesorrowsofthislife.

Ifdeathiswelcomelethimseekitthere."

ThenquicklyturningtothemilitaryaidofthePresident's

gia

household,hesaid,"IdeclaretheLethalChamberopen,"andagainfacingthe

khổng lồ

vastcrowdhecriedinaclearvoice:

"CitizensofNewYorkandoftheUnitedStatesofAmerica,throughmetheGovernmentdeclarestheLethalChambertobeopen."

Thesolemnhushwasbrokenbyasharpcryofcommand,thesquadronofhussarsfiledaftertheGovernor'scarriage,thelancerswheeledandformedalongFifth

Đại lộ

Avenuetowaitforthecommandantofthegarrison,andthemountedpolicefollowedthem.

IleftthecrowdtogapeandstareatthewhitemarbleDeathChamber,and,crossingSouthFifth

Đại lộ

Avenue,walkedalongthewesternsideofthatthoroughfaretoBleeckerStreet.

ThenIturnedtotherightandstoppedbeforeadingyshopwhichborethesign:.

HAWBERK,ARMOURER.

Iglancedinatthe

cửa

doorwayandsawHawberkbusyinhislittleshopattheendofthehall.

Helookedup,andcatchingsightofmecriedinhisdeep,heartyvoice,"Comein,Mr.Castaigne!"

Constance,hisdaughter,rosetomeetmeasIcrossedthe

ngưỡng

threshold,andheldoutherprettyhand,butIsawtheblushof

thất vọng

disappointmentonhercheeks,andknewthatitwasanotherCastaigneshehadexpected,mycousinLouis.

Ismiledatherconfusionandcomplimentedheronthe

biểu ngữ

bannershewasembroideringfromacolouredplate.

OldHawberksatrivetingtheworngreavesofsomeancientsuitof

giáp

armour,andtheting!

ting!

ofhislittle

búa

hammersoundedpleasantlyinthequaintshop.

Hiện

Presentlyhedroppedhishammer,andfussedaboutforamomentwithatinywrench.

Thesoftclashofthemailsentathrillofpleasurethroughme.

Ilovedtohearthemusicofsteelbrushingagainststeel,themellowshockofthemalleton

đùi

thighpieces,andthejingleofchainarmour.

ThatwastheonlyreasonIwenttoseeHawberk.

Hehadneverinterestedmepersonally,nordidConstance,exceptforthefactofherbeinginlovewithLouis.

Thisdidoccupymyattention,andsometimesevenkeptmeawakeatnight.

ButIknewinmyheartthatallwouldcomeright,andthatIshouldarrangetheirfutureasIexpectedtoarrangethatofmykinddoctor,John

Archer

Archer.

However,Ishouldneverhavetroubledmyselfaboutvisitingthemjustthen,haditnotbeen,asIsay,thatthemusicofthetinkling

búa

hammerhadformethisstrongfascination.

Iwouldsitforhours,listeningandlistening,andwhenastraysunbeamstrucktheinlaidsteel,the

cảm giác

sensationitgavemewasalmosttookeento

chịu đựng

endure.

Myeyeswouldbecomefixed,dilatingwithapleasurethatstretchedevery

thần kinh

nervealmosttobreaking,untilsomemovementoftheoldarmourercutofftherayof

ánh sáng mặt trời

sunlight,then,stillthrillingsecretly,Ileanedbackandlistenedagaintothesoundofthepolishingrag,swish!

swish!

rubbingrustfromtherivets.

Constanceworkedwiththe

thêu

embroideryoverherknees,nowandthenpausingto

kiểm tra

examinemorecloselythepatterninthecolouredplatefromthe

Metropolitan

MetropolitanMuseum.

Whoisthisfor?"

Iasked.

Hawberkexplained,thatinadditiontothetreasuresofarmourinthe

Metropolitan

MetropolitanMuseumofwhichhehadbeenappointedarmourer,healsohadchargeofseveralcollectionsbelongingtorichamateurs.

ThiswasthemissinggreaveofafamoussuitwhichaclientofhishadtracedtoalittleshopinParisontheQuaid'Orsay.

He,Hawberk,hadnegotiatedforandsecuredthegreave,andnowthesuitwascomplete.

Helaiddownhis

búa

hammerandreadmethehistoryofthesuit,tracedsince1450fromownertoowneruntilitwasacquiredbyThomasStainbridge.

Whenhissuperbcollectionwassold,thisclientofHawberk'sboughtthesuit,andsincethenthesearchforthemissinggreavehadbeenpusheduntilitwas,almostbyaccident,locatedinParis.

Didyoucontinuethesearchsopersistentlywithoutany

chắc chắn

certaintyofthegreavebeingstillinexistence?"

Idemanded.

Ofcourse,"herepliedcoolly.

ThenforthefirsttimeItookapersonalinterestinHawberk.

Itwasworthsomethingtoyou,"Iventured.

No,"hereplied,laughing,"mypleasureinfindingitwasmyreward."

Haveyounoambitiontoberich?"

Iasked,smiling.

Myoneambitionistobethebestarmourerintheworld,"heansweredgravely.

ConstanceaskedmeifIhadseentheceremoniesattheLethalChamber.

SheherselfhadnoticedcavalrypassingupBroadwaythatmorning,andhadwishedtoseetheinauguration,butherfatherwantedthe

biểu ngữ

bannerfinished,andshehadstayedathisrequest.

Didyouseeyourcousin,Mr.Castaigne,there?"

sheasked,withtheslightesttremorofhersofteyelashes.

No,"Irepliedcarelessly.

"Louis'regimentismanœuvringoutinWestchesterCounty."

Iroseandpickedupmyhatand

gậy

cane.

Areyougoingupstairstoseethelunaticagain?"

laughedoldHawberk.

IfHawberkknewhowIloathethatword"lunatic,"hewouldneveruseitinmypresence.

ItrousescertainfeelingswithinmewhichIdonotcaretoexplain.

However,Iansweredhimquietly:

"IthinkIshalldropinandseeMr.Wildeforamomentortwo."

Poorfellow,"saidConstance,withashakeofthehead,"itmustbehardtolivealoneyearafteryearpoor,crippledandalmostdemented.

Itisverygoodofyou,Mr.Castaigne,tovisithimasoftenasyoudo."

Ithinkheisvicious,"observedHawberk,beginningagainwithhis

búa

hammer.

Ilistenedtothegoldentinkleonthegreaveplates;

whenhehadfinishedIreplied:.

No,heisnot

xấu xa

vicious,norisheintheleastdemented.

Hismindisawonderchamber,fromwhichhecan

chiết

extracttreasuresthatyouandIwouldgiveyearsofourlifetoacquire."'.

Hawberklaughed.

Icontinuedalittleimpatiently:

"Heknowshistoryasnooneelsecouldknowit.

Nothing,however

nhỏ

trivial,escapeshissearch,andhismemoryissoabsolute,so

chính xác

preciseindetails,thatwereitknowninNewYorkthatsuchamanexisted,thepeoplecouldnothonourhimenough."

Nonsense,"mutteredHawberk,searchingonthefloorforafallenrivet.

Isitnonsense,"Iasked,managingtosuppresswhatIfelt,"isitnonsensewhenhesaysthatthetassetsandcuissardsoftheenamelledsuitof

giáp

armourcommonlyknownasthe'Prince'sEmblazoned'canbefoundamongamassofrusty

sân khấu

theatricalproperties,brokenstovesandragpicker'srefuseinagarretinPellStreet?"

Hawberk's

búa

hammerfelltotheground,buthepickeditupandasked,withagreatdealofcalm,howIknewthatthetassetsandleftcuissardweremissingfromthe"Prince'sEmblazoned."

IdidnotknowuntilMr.Wildementionedittometheotherday.

Hesaidtheywereinthegarretof998PellStreet."

Nonsense,"hecried,butInoticedhishandtremblingunderhisleathernapron.

Isthisnonsensetoo?"

Iaskedpleasantly,"isitnonsensewhenMr.Wilde

liên tục

continuallyspeaksofyouasthe

Marquis

MarquisofAvonshireandofMissConstance—".

Ididnotfinish,forConstancehadstartedtoherfeetwithterrorwrittenonevery

tính năng

feature.

Hawberklookedatmeandslowlysmoothedhisleathernapron.

Thatisimpossible,"heobserved,"Mr.

Wildemayknowagreatmanythings—".

Aboutarmour,forinstance,andthe'Prince'sEmblazoned,'"Iinterposed,smiling.

Yes,"hecontinued,slowly,"aboutarmouralso—maybe—butheiswronginregardtothe

Marquis

MarquisofAvonshire,who,asyouknow,killedhiswife'straduceryearsago,andwenttoAustraliawherehedidnotlongsurvivehiswife."

Mr.

Wildeiswrong,"murmuredConstance.

Herlipswereblanched,buthervoicewassweetandcalm.

Letusagree,ifyouplease,thatinthisone

trường hợp

circumstanceMr.Wildeiswrong,"Isaid.

Iclimbedthethreedilapidatedflightsofstairs,whichIhadsooftenclimbedbefore,andknockedatasmalldoorattheendofthe

hành lang

corridor.

Mr.WildeopenedthedoorandIwalkedin.

Whenhehaddouble-lockedthedoorandpushedaheavychestagainstit,hecameandsatdownbesideme,peeringupintomyfacewithhislittlelight-colouredeyes.

Halfa

chục

dozennewscratchescoveredhisnoseandcheeks,andthesilverwireswhichsupportedhisartificialearshadbecomedisplaced.

IthoughtIhadneverseenhimsohideously

hấp dẫn

fascinating.

Hehadnoears.

Theartificialones,whichnowstoodoutatan

góc

anglefromthefinewire,werehisone

yếu

weakness.

Theyweremadeof

sáp

waxandpaintedashellpink,buttherestofhisfacewasyellow.

Hemightbetterhaverevelledinthe

xa xỉ

luxuryofsomeartificialfingersforhislefthand,whichwasabsolutelyfingerless,butitseemedtocausehimnoinconvenience,andhewassatisfiedwithhis

sáp

waxears.

Hewasverysmall,scarcelyhigherthanachildoften,buthisarmsweremagnificentlydeveloped,andhisthighsasthickasanyathlete's.

Still,themost

đáng chú ý

remarkablethingaboutMr.Wildewasthatamanofhis

tuyệt vời

marvellousintelligenceandknowledgeshouldhavesuchahead.

Itwasflatandpointed,liketheheadsofmanyofthoseunfortunateswhompeopleimprisoninasylumsfortheweak-minded.

Manycalledhiminsane,butIknewhimtobeassaneasIwas.

Idonotdenythathewaseccentric;

themaniahehadforkeepingthatcatandteasingheruntilsheflewathisfacelikeademon,wascertainlyeccentric.

Inevercouldunderstandwhyhekeptthecreature,norwhatpleasurehefoundinshuttinghimselfupinhisroomwiththissurly,viciousbeast.

Irememberonce,glancingupfromthemanuscriptIwasstudyingbythelightofsometallowdips,andseeingMr.Wildesquattingmotionlessonhishighchair,hiseyes

khá

fairlyblazingwithexcitement,whilethecat,whichhadrisenfromherplacebeforethe

lò

stove,camecreepingacrossthefloorrightathim.

BeforeIcouldmovesheflattenedherbellytotheground,crouched,trembled,andsprangintohisface.

Howlingandfoamingtheyrolledoverandoveronthefloor,scratchingandclawing,untilthecatscreamedandfledunderthecabinet,andMr.Wildeturnedoveronhisback,hislimbscontractingandcurlinguplikethelegsofadyingspider.

Hewaseccentric.

Mr.

Wildehadclimbedintohishighchair,and,afterstudyingmyface,pickedupadog's-earedledgerandopenedit.

HenryB.

Matthews,"heread,"book-keeperwithWhysotWhysotandCompany,dealersinchurchornaments.

CalledApril3rd.

Reputationdamagedontherace-track.

Knownasawelcher.

ReputationtoberepairedbyAugust1st.

RetainerFiveDollars."

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