THE REPAIRER OF REPUTATIONS – Horror Storytelling Podcast

The King in Yellow is a collection of short stories written by Robert W. Chambers and originally published in 1895.

This stories could be categorized as early horror fiction, but it also touches on mythology, fantasy, mystery, science fiction and romance.

The theme oscillates between the mythical and the macabre. Set in mysterious forests, inhospitable villages that do not welcome visitors, sinister wastelands… and even New York City itself!

A book called “The King in Yellow” appears in several stories. Anyone reading this book will fall completely into madness, which leads to spooky events.

Other stories deal with curses, sorcerers and even parallel universes.

This work has often been associated with H. P. Lovecraft. It exerted a great influence and served as an inspiration for the Providence writer. Mind you, when The King in Yellow was published, Lovecraft was only five years old.

In each episode, a narrator will bring to life a story from The King in Yellow. The narrator will use their voice to create a suspenseful and atmospheric experience.

The King in Yellow is a podcast that is perfect for fans of classic horror. The podcast is also perfect for those who want to listen to stories that are thought-provoking and unsettling.

Don’t forget to subscribe, like, and share this podcast so that more people can enjoy it!

Thank you for listening!

The King in Yellow is a collection of short  stories written by Robert W Chambers and   originally published in 1895 this story is  could be categorized as early horror fiction   but it also touches on mythology fantasy  mystery science fiction and romance the  

Theme oscillates between the mythical and the  maab set in mysterious forests inhospitable   Villages that do not welcome visitors Sinister  wastelands and even New York City itself a book   called The King in Yellow appears in several  stories anyone reading this book will fall  

Completely into madness which leads to Spooky  events other stories deal with curses Sorcerers   and even parallel universes this work has often  been associated with HP Lovecraft it exerted a   great influence and served as an inspiration  for the Providence writer mind you when the  

King in Yellow was published Lovecraft was  only 5 years old in each episode a narrator   will bring to life a story from the King in  Yellow the narrator will use their voice to   create a suspenseful and Atmospheric experience  the King in Yellow is a podcast that is perfect  

For fans of classic horror the podcast is also  perfect for those who want to listen to stories   that are thought-provoking and unsettling don’t  forget to subscribe like and share this podcast   so that more people can enjoy it thank you for  listening the repairer of reputations chapter

One longra Vance toward the end of the year  1920 the government of the United States   had practically completed the program adopted  during the last months of President winthrop’s   Administration the country was apparently tranquil  everybody knows how the Tariff and labor questions  

Were settled the war with Germany incident on  that country’s seizure of the Samoan Islands   had left no visible scars upon the Republic and  the temporary occupation of noruk by the invading   Army had been forgotten in the joy over repeated  Naval victories and the subsequent ridiculous  

Plight of General fonon laba forces in the state  of New Jersey the Cuban and Hawaiian Investments   had paid 100% And the territory of Samoa was well  worth its cost as a coing station the country was   in a superb state defense every coast city had  been well supplied with land fortifications the  

Army under the parental eye of the general staff  organized according to the Prussian system had   been increased to 300,000 men with a territorial  reserve of a million and six magnificent squadrons   of Cruisers and battleships patrolled the six  Stations of the navigable Seas leaving a steam  

Reserve amply fitted to control home Waters  the gentleman from the West had at last been   constrained to acknowledge that a college for  the training of diplomats was as necessary as   law schools are for the training of barristers  consequently we were no longer represented abroad  

By incompetent Patriots the nation was prosperous  Chicago for a moment paralyzed after a second   great fire had risen from its ruins white and  Imperial and more beautiful than the White City   which had been built for its play thing in 1893  everywhere good architecture was replacing bad  

And even in New York a s Den craving for decency  had Swept Away a great portion of the existing   Horrors streets had been widened properly  paved and lighted trees had been planted   squares laid out elevated structures demolished  and underground roads built to replace them the  

New government buildings and Barracks were fine  bits of architecture and the long system of stone   Keys which completely surrounded rounded the  island had been turned into Parks which proved   a godsend to the population the subsidizing of  the State Theater and state Opera brought its  

Own reward the United States National Academy  of Design was much like European institutions   of the same kind nobody envied the Secretary  of Fine Arts either his cabinet position or   his portfolio the Secretary of Forestry and game  preservation had a much easier time thanks to the  

New system of national Mounted Police we had  profited well by the lat treaties with France   and England the exclusion of foreign born Jews  as a measure of self-preservation the settlement   of the new independent negro state of suani the  checking of immigration the new laws concerning  

Naturalization and the gradual centralization of  power in the executive all contributed to National   calm and prosperity when the government solved  the Indian problem and squadrons of Indian Cavalry   Scouts in Native costume were substituted for the  pitiable organization s tacked onto the tale of  

Skeletonized regiments by a former Secretary  of War the nation drew a long sigh of relief   when after the Colossal Congress of religions  bigotry and intolerance were laid in their   graves and kindness and charity began to draw  Waring sex together many thought the Millennium  

Had arrived at least in the new world which after  all is a world by itself but self-preservation is   the first law and the United States had to look  on in helpless sorrow as Germany Italy Spain and   Belgium writhed in the throws of Anarchy while  Russia watching from the Caucasus stooped and  

Bound them one by one in the city of New York the  summer of 1899 was signalized by the dismantling   of the elevated railroads the summer of 1900 will  live in the memories of New York people for many a  

Cycle the Dodge statue was removed in that year in  the following winter began that agitation for the   repeal of the laws prohibiting suicide which bore  its final fruit in the month of April 1920 when   the first government lethal chamber was opened  on Washington Square I had walked down that day  

From Dr Archer’s house on Madison Avenue where  I had been as a mere formality ever since that   fall from my horse 4 years before I had been  troubled at times with pains in the back of  

My head and neck but now now for months they had  been absent and the doctor sent me away that day   saying there was nothing more to be cured in me it  was hardly worth his fee to be told that I knew it  

Myself still I did not Grudge him the money what  I minded was the mistake which he made at first   when they picked me up from the pavement where I  lay unconscious and somebody had mercifully sent a  

Bullet through my horse’s head I was carried to Dr  Archer and he pronouncing my brain affected placed   me in his private Asylum where I was obliged to  endure treatment for Insanity at last he decided  

That I was well and I knowing that my mind had  always been as sound as his if not Sounder paid   my tuition as he jokingly called it and left I  told him smiling that I would get even with him  

For his mistake and he laughed heartily and asked  me to call once in a while I did so hoping for a   chance to even up accounts but he gave me none and  I told him I would wait the fall from my horse had  

Fortunately left no evil results on the contrary  it had changed my whole character for the better   from a lazy young man about town I had become  active energetic temperate and above all oh   Above All Else ambitious there was only one thing  which troubled me I laughed at my own uneasiness  

And yet it troubled me during my convalescence I  had bought and read For the First Time The King   in Yellow I remember after finishing the First  Act that it occurred to me that I had better   stop I started up and flung the book into the  fireplace the volume struck the bar grate and  

Fell open on the Heth in the Fire Light if I had  not caught a glimpse of the opening words in the   second act I should never have finished it but as  I stooped to pick it up my eyes became riveted to  

The open page and with a cry of Terror or perhaps  it was of Joy so poignant that I suffered in every   nerve I snatched the thing out of the coals and  crept shaking to my bedroom where I read it and  

Reread it and wept and laughed and trembled with  a horror which at times assails me yet this is   the thing that troubles me for I cannot forget  carosa where black stars hang in the heavens   where the shadows of men’s thoughts lengthen in  the afternoon when the Twin Suns sink into the  

Lake of Harley and my mind will bear forever the  memory of the palid Mask I pray God will curse the   writer as the writer has cursed the world with  this beautiful stupendous creation terrible in   its Simplicity irresistible in its truth a world  which now trembles before the King in Yellow when  

The French government seized the translated copies  which had just arrived in Paris London of course   became eager to read it it is well known how the  book spread like an infectious disease from City   to City from continent to continent barred out  here confiscated there denounced by press and  

Pulpit censured even by the most advanced of  literary anarchists no definite principles had   been violated in those Wicked Pages no Doctrine  promulgated no convictions outraged it could not   be judged by any known standard yet although it  was acknowledged that the Supreme note of art had  

Been struck in the King in Yellow all felt that  human nature could not bear The Strain nor thrive   on words in which the essence of purest poison  lurked the very banality and innocence of the   First Act only allowed the blow to fall afterward  with more awful effect it was I remember the  

13th day of April 1920 that the first government  lethal chamber was established on the south side   of Washington Square between Worcester Street and  South Fifth Avenue the block which had formerly   consisted of a lot of shabby old buildings used  as cafes and restaurants for foreigners had been  

Acquired by the government in the winter of 1898  the French and Italian cafes and restaurants   were torn down the whole block was enclosed by a  gilded iron railing and converted into a lovely   garden with Lawns flowers and fountains in the  center of the garden stood a small white building  

Severely classical in architecture and surrounded  by thickets of flowers six ionic columns supported   the roof and the single door was of bronze a  splendid marble group of the Fates stood before   the door the work of a young American sculptor  Boris Ivan who had died in Paris when only 23  

Years old the inauguration ceremonies were in  progress as I crossed University Place and entered   the square I threaded my way through the silent  throng of Spectators but was stopped at Fourth   Street by a cordon of police a regiment of United  States Lancers were drawn up in a hollow square  

Around the lethal chamber on a raised Tribune  facing Washington Park stood the governor of   New York and behind him were grouped the mayor  of New York and Brooklyn the Inspector General   of police the commandant of the state troops  Colonel Livingston military a to the president  

Of the United States General Blount commanding  at Governor’s Island Major General Hamilton   commanding The Garrison of New York and Brooklyn  Admiral Buffy of the fleet in the North River   Surgeon General Lansford the staff of the national  free hospital Senators wise and Franklin of New  

York and the commissioner of Public Works the  Tribune was surrounded by a squadron of huzar of   the National Guard the governor was finishing his  reply to the short speech of the Surgeon General   I heard him say the laws prohibiting suicide  and providing punishment for any attempt at  

Self-destruction have been repealed the government  has seen fit to acknowledge the right of man to   end an existence which may have become intolerable  to him through physical suffering or mental   despair It is believed that the community will be  benefited by the removal of such people from their  

Midst since the passage of this law the number of  suicides in the United States has not increased   now the government has determined to establish a  lethal chamber in every city town and Village in   the country it remains to be seen when whether  or not that class of human creatures from whose  

Desponding ranks new victims of self-destruction  fall daily will accept the relief thus provided   he paused and turned to the white lethal chamber  the silence in the street was absolute there a   painless death awaits him who can no longer bear  the Sorrows of this life if death is welcome let  

Him seek it there then quickly turning to the  military aid of the president’s household he said   I declare the lethal chamber open and again facing  the vast crowd he cried in a clear voice citizens   of New York and of the United States of America  through me the government declares the lethal  

Chamber to be open the solemn hush was broken by a  sharp Cry of command the Squadron of hassar filed   after the governor’s Carriage the Lancers wheeled  and formed along Fifth Avenue to wait for the   commandant of the Garrison and the Mounted Police  followed them I left the crowd to gape and stare  

At the white marble death chamber and Crossing  South Fifth Avenue walked along the western side   of that thoroughfare to bleer Street then I turned  to the right and stopped before a dingy shop which   bore the sign horber armor I glanced in at the  doorway and saw horber busy in his little shop  

At the end of the hall he looked up and catching  sight of me cried in his deep hearty Voice come   in Mr castain constant his daughter Rose to meet  me as I crossed the threshold and held out her  

Pretty hand but I saw the blush of disappointment  on her cheeks and knew that it was another castain   she had expected my cousin Louie I smiled at her  confusion and complimented her on the banner she   was embroidering from a colored plate old horber  SAT riveting the worn Greaves of some ancient suit  

Of armor and The Ting Ting Ting of his little  Hammer sounded pleasantly in the quaint shop   presently L he dropped his hammer and fussed about  for a moment with a tiny wrench the soft clash of  

The maale sent a thrill of pleasure through me I  love to hear the music of Steel brushing against   steel the Mellow shock of the Mallet on thigh  pieces and the jingle of chain armor that was   the only reason I went to see horber he had never  interested me personally nor did constant except  

For the fact of her being in love with Louie this  did occupy my tension and sometimes even kept me   awake at night but I knew in my heart that all  would come right and that I should arrange their  

Future as I expected to arrange that of my kind  Doctor John Archer however I should never have   troubled myself about visiting them just then  had it not been as I say that the music of the   tinkling Hammer had for me this strong Fascination  I would sit for hours listening and listening and  

When a stray Sunbeam struck the inlay steel  the sensation it gave me was almost too Keen   to endure my eyes would become fixed dilating  with a pleasure that stretched every nerve almost   to Breaking until some movement of the old armor  cut off the ray of sunlight then still thrilling  

Secretly I leaned back and listened again to the  sound of the polishing rag swish swish rubbing   rust from the rivets constant worked with the  embroidery over her knees now and then pausing   to to examine more closely the pattern in the  colored plate from the Metropolitan Museum who is  

This for I asked huk explained that in addition  to the treasures of armor in the Metropolitan   Museum of which he had been appointed armorer he  also had charge of several collections belonging   to Rich amateurs this was the missing grieve of  a famous suit which a client of his had traced to  

A little shop in Paris on the K do he harber had  negotiated for and secured the grieve and now the   suit was complete he laid down his hammer and read  me the history of the suit traced since 1450 from  

Owner to owner until it was acquired by Thomas  stain brbd when his superb collection was sold   this client of horber bought the suit and since  then the search for the missing grieve had been   pushed until it was almost by accident located in  Paris did you continue the search so persistently  

Without any certainty of the grieve being still  in existence I demanded of course he replied   cooly then for the first time I took a personal  interest in hobber it was worth something to you   I ventured no he replied laughing my pleasure in  finding it was my reward have you no ambition to  

Be rich I asked smiling my one ambition is to be  the best armorer in the world he answered Gravely   Constance asked me if I had seen the ceremonies  at the lethal chamber she herself had noticed   Cavalry passing up Broadway that morning and had  wished to see the inauguration but her father  

Wanted the banner finished and she had stayed at  his request did you see your cousin Mr castain   there she asked with the slightest Tremor of her  soft eyelashes no I replied carelessly Lewis’s   regiment is maneuvering out in Westchester County  I Rose and picked up my hat and Cane are you going  

Upstairs to see the lunatic again laughed old  horberg if horberg knew how I loathe that word   lunatic he would never use it in my presence it  Rouses certain feelings within me which I do not  

Care to explain however I answered him quietly I  think I shall drop in and see Mr wild for a moment   or two poor fellow said constant with a shake  of the the head it must be hard to live alone  

Year after year poor crippled and almost demented  it is very good of you Mr castain to visit him as   often as you do I think he is vicious observed  huk beginning again with his hammer I listen to  

The golden tinkle on the grieve plates when he had  finished I replied no he is not vicious nor is he   in the least demented his mind is a Wonder Chamber  from which he can extract Treasures that you and  

And I would give years of our life to acquire  hbook laughed I continued a little impatiently   he knows history as no one else could know it  nothing however trivial escapes his search and   his memory is so absolute so precise in details  that were it known in New York that such a man  

Existed the people could not honor him enough  nonsense muttered horber searching on the floor   for a fallen rivet is it not nonsense I asked  managing to suppress what I felt is it nonsense   when he says that the tassets and quisas of the  enameled suit of armor commonly known as the  

Prince is emblazened can be found among a mass  of Rusty theatrical properties broken stoves   and rager refu in a Garrett in pel Street hur’s  Hammer fell to the ground but he picked it up   and asked with a great deal of calm how I knew  that the tassets and left quizard were missing  

From the princes emblazened I did not know and  until Mr wild mentioned it to me the other day   he said they were in the Garrett of 998 pel Street  nonsense he cried but I noticed his hand trembling  

Under his leathern apron is this nonsense too  I asked pleasantly is it nonsense when Mr wild   continually speaks of you as the Marquis of  Aventure and of Miss constant I did not finish   for Constance had started to her feet with Terror  written on every feature horber looked looked at  

Me and slowly smoothed his leathern apron that  is impossible he observed Mr wild may know a   great many things about armor for instance and the  prince is emblazoned I interposed smiling yes he   continued slowly about armor also maybe but he  is wrong in regard to the Marquis of avenshire  

Who as you know killed his wife’s traducer years  ago and went to Australia where he did not long   survive his wife Mr wild is wrong murmured  constant her lips were blanched but her voice   was sweet and calm let us agree if you please  that in this one circumstance Mr wild is wrong I

Said chapter 2 I climbed the three dilapidated  flights of stairs which I had so often climbed   before and knocked at a small door at the end of  the corridor Mr Wild opened the door and I walked  

In when he had double locked the door and pushed a  heavy chest against it he came and sat down beside   me peering up into my face with his little light  colored eyes half a dozen new scratches covered   his nose and cheeks and the silver wires which  supported his artificial ears had become displaced  

I thought I had never seen him so hideously  fascinating he had no ears the artificial ones   which now stood out at an angle from the fine wire  were his one weakness they were made of wax and  

Painted a shell pink but the rest of his face was  yellow he might better have reveled in the luxury   of some artificial fingers for his left hand which  was absolutely fingerless but it seemed to cause   him no inconvenience and he was satisfied with  his wax ears he was very small scarcely higher  

Than a child of 10 but his arms were magnificently  developed and his thighs as thick as any athletes   still the most remarkable thing about Mr wild  was that a man of his marvelous intelligence and   knowledge should have such a head it was flat  and pointed like the heads of many of those  

Unfortunates whom people imprison in asylums for  the weak-minded many called him insane but I knew   him to be as sane as I was I do not deny that he  was Ecentric the Mania he had for keeping that  

Cat and teasing her until she flew at his face  like a demon was certainly eccentric I never   could understand why he kept the creature nor what  pleasure he found in shutting himself up in his   room with this Surly vicious Beast I remember once  glancing up from the manuscript I was studying by  

The light of some Tallow dips and seeing Mr wild  squatting motionless on his high chair his eyes   fairly blazing with excitement while the cat  which had risen from her place before the stove   came creeping across the floor right at him before  I could move she flattened her belly to the ground  

Crouched trembled and sprang into his face howling  and foaming they rolled over and over on the floor   scratching and clawing until the cat screamed and  fled under the cabinet and Mr wild turned over on   his back his limbs Contracting and curling up like  the legs of a Dying spider he was eccentric Mr  

Wild had climbed into his high chair and after  studying my face picked up a dogzer ledger and   opened it Henry B Matthews he read bookkeeper  with weot weot and Company dealers in church   ornaments called April 3rd reputation damaged  on the racetrack known as a welcher reputation  

To be repaired by August 1st retainer $5 he turned  the page and ran his fingerless Knuckles down the   closely written columns P Green dusenbury minister  of the Gospel Fair Beach New Jersey reputation   damaged in the the Bowery to be repaired as  soon as possible retainer $100 he coughed and  

Added called April 6th then you are not in need  of money Mr wild I inquired listen he coughed   again Mrs C Hamilton Chester of Chester Park New  York City called April 7th reputation damaged at   Deep France to be repaired by October 1st retainer  $500 note see Hamilton chest Captain USS Avalanche  

Ordered home from south sea Squadron October  1st well I said the profession of a repairer   of reputations is lucrative his colorless eyes  sought mine I only wanted to demonstrate that I   was correct you said it was impossible to succeed  as a repairer of reputations that even if I did  

Succeed in certain cases it would cost me more  than I would gain by it today I have 500 men in   my employee who are poorly paid but who pursue  the work with an enthusiasm which possibly may  

Be born of fear these men enter every shade and  grade of society some even are pillars of the   most exclusive social temples others are the prop  and pride of the financial world still others hold   Undisputed sway among the fancy and the talent I  choose them at my leisure from those who reply to  

My advertisements it is easy enough they are all  cowards I could treble the number in 20 days if I   wished so you see those who have in their keeping  the reputations of their fellow citizens I have  

In my pay they may turn on you I suggested  he rubbed his thumb over his cropped ears   and adjusted the wax substitutes I think not he  murmured thoughtfully I seldom have to apply the   Whip and then only once besides they like their  wages how do you apply the whip I demanded his  

Face for a moment was awful to look upon his eyes  dwindled to a pair of green Sparks I invite them   to come and have a little chat with me he said  in a soft voice a knock at the door interrupted  

Him and his face resumed its amiable expression  who is it he inquired Mr stylet was the answer   come tomorrow replied Mr wild impossible began the  other but was silenced by a sort of bark from Mr  

Wild come tomorrow he repeated we heard somebody  move away from the door and turn the corner by the   stairway who is that I asked Arnold stylet owner  and editor and chief of the great New York daily  

He drummed on The Ledger with his fingerless hand  adding I pay him very badly but he thinks it a   good bargain Arnold stylet I repeated amazed yes  said Mr wild with a self-satisfied cough the cat  

Which had entered the room as he spoke hesitated  looked up at him and snarled he climbed down from   the chair and squatting on the floor took the  creature into his arms and caressed her the cat   ceased snarling and presently began a loud purring  which seemed to increase in Tambour as he stroked  

Her where are the notes I asked he pointed to the  table and for the h hundredth time I picked up the   bundle of manuscript entitled The Imperial Dynasty  of America one by one I studied the well-worn  

Pages worn only by my own handling and although  I knew all by heart from the beginning when from   kosa the hyades hastor and alabaran to Casten L de  Calvados born December 19th 1877 I read it with an   eager wrapped attention pausing to repeat parts  of it aloud and dwelling especially on hildred De  

Calvados only son of hildred castania and aditha  landez castan first in succession etc etc when I   finished Mr wild nodded and coughed speaking of  your legitimate ambition he said how do constant   and Louie get along she loves him I replied simply  the cat on his knee suddenly turned and struck at  

His eyes and he flung her off and climbed onto  the chair opposite me and Dr Archer but that’s a   matter you can settle anytime you wish he added  yes I replied Dr Archer can wait but it is time  

I saw my cousin Louie it is time he repeated then  he took another Ledger from the table and ran over   the leaves rapidly we are now in communication  with 10,000 men he muttered we can count on  

100,000 within the first 28 hours and in 48 hours  the state will rise on mass the country follows   the state and the portion that will not I mean  California and the Northwest might better never  

Have been inhabited I shall not send them the  yellow sign the blood rushed to my head but I only   answered a new New Broom sweeps clean the ambition  of Caesar and of Napoleon pales before that which  

Could not rest until it had seized the minds of  men and controlled even their unborn thoughts said   Mr wild you are speaking of the King in Yellow I  groaned with a shudder he is a king whom Emperors  

Have served I am content to serve him I replied Mr  wild sat rubbing his ears with his crippled hand   perhaps constant does not love him he suggested  I started to reply but a sudden burst of military   music from the street below drowned my voice the  20th Dragon regiment formerly in Garrison at Mount  

St Vincent was returning from the Maneuvers in  Westchester County to its new barracks on East   Washington Square it was my cousin’s regiment  they were a fine lot of fellows in their pale   blue tight fitting jackets jaunty busies and white  riding britches with the double yellow stripe into  

Which their limbs seemed molded every other  Squadron was armed with lances from the metal   points of which fluttered yellow and white pennons  the band passed playing the regimental March then   came the colonel and staff the horses crowding  and trampling while their heads bobbed in unison  

And the penin fluttered from their Lance points  the Troopers who rode with the beautiful English   seat looked Brown as berries from their bloodless  campaign among the Farms of Westchester and the   music of their Sabers against the stups and the  jingle of Spurs and carbines was delightful to  

Me I saw Louie riding with his Squadron he was  as handsome an officer as I’ve ever seen Mr wild   who had mounted a chair by the window saw him too  but said nothing Louie turned and looked straight  

At haber’s shop as he passed and I could see the  flush on his brown cheeks I think Constance must   have been at the window when the last Troopers had  clattered by and the last last pennant vanished   into South Fifth Avenue Mr wild clambered out  of his chair and dragged the chest away from  

The door yes he said it is time that you saw your  cousin Louie he unlocked the door and I picked up   my hat and stick and stepped into the corridor  the stairs were dark groping about I set my foot  

On something soft which snarled and spit and I  aimed a murderous blow at the cat but my cane   shivered to splinters against the ballustrade and  the Beast scurried back into m Wild’s room passing  

Hallberg’s door again I saw him still at work on  the armor but I did not stop and stepping out into   bleer Street I followed it to Worcester skirted  the grounds of the lethal chamber and Crossing   Washington Park went straight to my rooms in  the Benedict here I lunched comfortably read  

The Herald and the meteor and finally went to  the steel safe in my bedroom and set the time   combination the 3 and 3/4 minutes which had is  necessary to wait while the time lock is opening  

Are to me golden moments from the instant I set  the combination to the moment when I grasp the   knobs and swing back the solid steel doors I live  in an ecstasy of expectation those moments must  

Be like moments past in Paradise I know what I  am to find at the end of the time limit I know   what the massive safe holds secure for me for me  alone and the Exquisite pleasure of waiting is  

Hardly enhanced when the safe open and I lift from  its velvet Crown a diadem of purest gold blazing   with diamonds I do this every day and yet the joy  of waiting and at last touching again the diadem  

Only seems to increase as the days pass it is a  diadem fit for a king among Kings an emperor among   Emperors the King in Yellow might scorn it but it  shall be worn by his Royal servant I held it in my  

Arms until the alarm in the safe rang harshly  and then tenderly proudly I replaced it and   shut the steel doors I walked slowly back into my  study which faces Washington Square and leaned on   the window sill the afternoon sun poured into my  windows and a gentle breeze stirred the branches  

Of the Elms and Maples in the park now covered  with Buds and tender foliage a flock of pigeons   circled about the Tower of the Memorial Church  sometimes a lighting on the purple tiled roof   sometimes Wheeling downward to the lotos fountain  in front of the Marble Arch the gardeners were  

Busy with the flower beds around the fountain  and the freshly turned Earth smelled sweet   and spicy a lawn mower drawn by a fat white horse  clinked across the green sword and watering carts   poured Showers of spray over the asphalt drives  around the statue of Peter stent which in 1897  

Had replaced the monstrosity supposed to represent  garabaldi children played in the spring sunshine   and nurse girls wielded a at baby carriages  with a reckless disregard for the pasty-faced   occupants which could probably be explained by  the presence of half a dozen trim draon troopers  

Languidly lulling on the benches through the  trees the Washington Memorial Arch glistened like   silver in the sunshine and Beyond on the Eastern  extremity of the square the gray stone Barracks   of the drons and the white granite artillery  Stables were alive with color and motion I looked  

At the lethal chamber on the corner of the square  opposite a few curious people still lingered about   the Gilded iron railing but inside the grounds the  paths were deserted I watched The Fountains Ripple   and Sparkle The Sparrows had already found this  new bathing Nook and the basins were covered with  

The dusty feathered little things two or three  white peacocks picked their way across the Lawns   and a drabc colored pigeon sat so motionless on  the arm of one of the Fates that that it seemed   to be a part of the sculptured Stone as I was  turning carelessly away a slight commotion in  

The group of curious loiterers around the gates  attracted my attention a young man had entered   and was advancing with nervous strides along the  gravel path which leads to the bronze doors of   the lethal chamber he paused a moment before  the fates and as he raised his head to those  

Three mysterious faces the pigeon Rose from its  sculptured perch circled about for a moment and   wheeled to the east the young man pressed his hand  to his face and then with an undefinable gesture   sprang up the marble steps the bronze doors closed  behind him and half an hour later the loiterers  

Slouched away and the frightened pigeon returned  to its perch in the arms of Fate I put on my hat   and went out into the park for a little walk  before dinner as I crossed the central driveway  

A group of officers passed and one of them called  out hello hildred and came back to shake hands   with me it was my cousin Louie who stood smiling  and tapping his spurred heels with his riding whip   just back from Westchester he said been doing  the bucolic milk and Kurds you know Dairy maids  

In sunbonnets who say hayow and I don’t think  when you tell them they are pretty I’m nearly   dead for a square meal at Del Monaco’s what’s the  news there is none I replied pleasantly I saw your  

Regiment coming in this morning did you I didn’t  see you where were you in Mr Wild’s window oh hell   he began impatiently that man is Stark mad I don’t  understand why you he saw how annoyed I felt by  

This outburst and begged my pardon really old chap  he said I don’t mean to run down a man you like   but for the life of me I can’t see what the juice  you find in common with Mr wild he’s not well bred  

To put it generously he is hideously deformed his  head is the head of a criminally insane person you   know yourself he’s been in an asylum so have I  I interrupted calmly Louie looked startled and   Confused for a moment but recovered and slapped  me heartily on the shoulder you were completely  

Cured he began but I stopped him again I suppose  you mean that I was simply acknowledged never to   have been insane of course that that’s what I  meant he laughed I disliked his laugh because I  

Knew it was forced but I nodded gay and asked him  where he was going Louie looked after his brother   officers who had now almost reached Broadway we  had intended to sample a Brunswick cocktail but  

To tell you the truth I was anxious for an excuse  to go and see horber instead come along I’ll make   you my excuse we found old horberg neatly attired  in a fresh spring suit standing at the door of his  

Shop and sniffing the air I had just decided to  take Constance from for a little stroll before   dinner he replied to the impetuous volley of  questions from Louie we thought of walking on   the Park Terrace along the North River at that  moment constant appeared and grew pale and Rosy  

By turns as Lou bent over her small gloved fingers  I tried to excuse myself alleging an engagement up   toown but Louie and Constance would not listen  and I saw I was expected to remain and engage  

Old hur’s attention after all it would be just as  well if I kept my eye on Louie I thought and when   they hailed a Spring Street horse car I got in  after them and took my seat beside the armorer  

The beautiful line of parks and granite Terraces  overlooking the Wares along the north river which   were built in 1910 and finished in the Autumn of  1917 had become one of the most popular promenades   in the Metropolis they extended from the battery  to 190th Street overlooking the noble River and  

Affording a fine view of the Jersey Shore and  the highlands opposite cafes and restaurants   were scattered here and there among the trees  and twice a week military bands from The Garrison   played in the kiosks on the parapets we sat down  in the sunshine on the bench at the foot of the  

Equestrian statue of General Sheridan Constance  tipped her sun shade to Shield her eyes and she   and Louie began a murmuring conversation which  was impossible to catch old horber leaning on   his Ivory headed cane lighted an excellent cigar  the mate to which I politely refused and smiled  

At vacancy the sun hung low above the Staten  Island woods and the bay was dyed with golden   Hues reflected from the sun-warmed sails of the  shipping in the harbor Briggs Schooners Yachts   clumsy ferry boats their decks swarming with  people railroad TR transports carrying lines  

Of brown blue and white Freight cars stately sound  Steamers declass [ __ ] Steamers coasters dredgers   scows and everywhere pervading the entire Bay  impudent little tugs puffing and whistling   officiously these were the craft which churned the  sunlight Waters as far as the eye could reach in  

Calm contrast to the hurry of sailing vessel  and steamer a silent Fleet of white warships   lay Motionless In midstream constant’s merry  laugh aroused me from my revery what are you   staring at she inquired nothing the fleet I smiled  then Louie told us what the vessels were pointing  

Out each by its relative position to the old red  fort on Governor’s Island that little cigar-shaped   thing is a torpedo boat he explained there are  four more lying close together they are the   tarpon the Falcon the Sea Fox and the octopus the  gunboats just above are the prince the Champlain  

The Still Water and the Eerie next to them lie  the Cruisers faragut and Los Angeles and above   them the battleships California and Dakota and  the Washington which is the flagship those two   squatty looking chunks of metal which are anchored  there off Castle William are the double turreted  

Monitors terrible and magnificent behind them  lies the ram Oola constant looked at him with   deep approval in her beautiful eyes what loads of  things you know for a soldier she said and we all   joined in the laugh which followed presently  Louie rose with a nod to us and offered his  

Arm to constant and they strolled away Along the  river wall horuk watched them for a moment and   then turned to me Mr wild was right he said I have  found the missing tassets and left quizard of the  

Princes emblazened in a vile old junk Garrett in  pel Street 9 198 I inquired with a smile yes Mr   wild is a very intelligent man I observed I want  to give him the credit of this most important  

Discovery continued hbook and I intend it shall  be known that he is entitled to the fame of it he   won’t thank you for that I answered sharply please  say nothing about it do you know what it is worth  

Said horber no $50 Perhaps it is valued at 500  but the owner of the prince is emblazened will   give $2,000 to the person who completes his suit  that reward also belongs to Mr wild he doesn’t  

Want it he refuses it I answered angrily what do  you know about Mr wild he doesn’t need the money   he is Rich or will be richer than any living  man except myself what will we care for money  

Then what will we care he and I when when when  what demanded horber astonished you will see I   replied on my guard again he looked at me narrowly  much as Dr Archer used to and I knew he thought I  

Was mentally unsound perhaps it was fortunate for  him that he did not use the word lunatic just then   no I replied to his unspoken thought I am not  mentally weak my mind is as healthy as Mr Wilds  

I do not care to explain just yet what I have on  hand but it is an investment which will pay more   than mere Gold Silver and precious stones it will  secure the happiness and prosperity of a continent   yes a hemisphere oh said huk and eventually  I continued more quietly it will secure the  

Happiness of the whole world and incidentally your  own happiness and prosperity as well as Mr Wild’s   exactly I smiled but I could have throttled him  for taking that tone he looked looked at me in  

Silence for a while and then said very gently why  don’t you give up your books and studies Mr Casten   and take a [ __ ] among the mountains somewhere or  other you used to be fond of fishing take a cast  

Or two at the trout in the rang Le I don’t care  for fishing anymore I answered without a shade   of annoyance in my voice you used to be fond of  everything he continued Athletics yting shooting  

Riding I have never cared to ride since my fall I  said quietly uh yes your fall he repeated looking   away from me I thought this nonsense had gone far  enough so I brought the conversation back to Mr  

Wild but he was scanning my face again in a manner  highly offensive to me Mr wild he repeated do you   know what he did this afternoon he came downstairs  and nailed a sign over the hall door next to mine  

It read Mr wild repairer of reputations third Bell  do you know what a repairer of reputations can be   I do I replied suppressing the rage within oh he  said again Louie and constant came strolling by  

And stopped to ask if we would join them horber  looked at his watch at the same moment a puff of   smoke shot from the casemates of Castle William  and the boom of the sunset gun rolled across   the water and was re-echoed from the highlands  opposite the flag came running down from the flag  

Pole the bugles sounded on the white decks of the  warships and the first electric light sparkled out   from the Jersey Shore as I turned into the city  with horber I heard Constance murmur something   to Louie which I did not understand but Louie  whispered my darling in reply and again walking  

Ahead with horberg through the square I heard  a murmur of sweetheart and my own Constance and   I knew the time had nearly arrived when I should  speak of important matters with my cousin [Music]   Louie chapter 3 one morning early in May I stood  before the steel safe in my bedroom trying on the  

Golden jeweled Crown the diamonds flashed fire as  I turned to the mirror and the heavy beaten gold   burned like a Halo about my head I remembered  Camila’s agonized scream and the awful words   echoing through the dim streets of K hoser they  were the last lines in the First Act and I dared  

Not think of what followed dared not even in the  spring Sunshine there in my own room surrounded   with familiar objects reassured by the bustle  from the street and the voices of the servants   in the hallway outside for those poisoned words  had dropped slowly into my heart as death sweat  

Drops upon a bed sheet and is absorbed trembling I  put the diadem from my head and wiped my forehead   but I thought of hastur and of my own rightful  ambition and I remembered Mr wild as I had last  

Left him his face all torn and bloody from the  claws of that Devil’s creature and what he said ah   what he said the alarm Bell in the safe began to  were harshly and I knew my time was up but I would  

Not heed it and replacing the flashing circlet  upon my head I turned defiantly to the mirror   I stood for a long time absorbed in the changing  expression of my own eyes the mirror reflected a   face which was like my own but whiter and so  thin that I hardly recognized it and all the  

Time I kept repeating between my clenched teeth  the day has come the day has come while the alarm   in the safe worred and clamored and the diamond  sparkled and flamed above my brow I heard a door  

Open but did not heed it it was only when I saw  two faces in the mirror it was only when another   another face rose over my shoulder and two other  eyes met mine I wheeled like a Flash and seized a  

Long knife from my dressing table and my cousin  sprang back very pale crying hildred for God’s   sake then as my hand fell he said it is I Louie  don’t you know me I stood silent I could not have  

Spoken for my life he walked up to me and took the  knife from my hand what is all this he inquired   in a gentle voice are you ill no I replied but  I doubt if he heard me come come old fellow he  

Cried take off that brass crown and toddle into  the study are you going to a masquerade what’s   all this theatrical tinsel anyway I was glad he  thought the crown was made of brass and paste  

Yet I didn’t like him any the better for thinking  so I let him take it from my hand knowing it was   best to humor him he tossed The Splendid diadem  in the air and catching it turned to me smiling  

It’s dear at 50 cents he said what’s it for I did  not answer but took the circlet from his hands   and placing it in the safe shut the massive steel  door the alarm ceased its infernal din at once he  

Watched me curiously but did not seem to notice  the sudden ceasing of the alarm he did however   speak of the safe as a biscuit box fearing lest he  might examine the combination I led the way into  

My study Louie threw himself on the and flicked  at flies with his eternal riding whip he wore   his fatigue uniform with the braided jacket and  jaunty cap and I noticed that his riding boots   were all splashed with red mud where have you been  I inquired jumping mud creeks in Jersey he said I  

Haven’t had time to change yet I was rather in  a hurry to see you haven’t you got a glass of   something I’m dead tired been in the saddle 24  hours I gave him some Brandy from my medicinal  

Store which he drank with a Grimace damned bad  stuff he observed I’ll give you an address where   they sell Brandy that is Brandy it’s good enough  for my needs I said indifferently I use it to rub  

My chest with he stared and flicked at another fly  see here old fellow he began I’ve got something to   suggest to you it’s 4 years now that you’ve shut  yourself up here like an owl never going anywhere  

Never taking any healthy exercise never doing a  damn thing but pouring over those books up there   on the mantle piece he glanced along the row of  shelves Napoleon Napoleon Napoleon he read For   Heaven’s Sake have you nothing but napoleons there  I wish they were Bound in Gold I said but wait yes  

There is another book The King in Yellow I looked  him steadily in the eye have you never read it I   asked I no thank God I don’t want to be driven  crazy I saw he regretted his speech as soon as  

He had uttered it there is only one word which  I loathe more than I do lunatic and that word   is crazy but I controlled myself and asked him  why he thought the King in Yellow dangerous oh   I don’t know he said hastily I only remember the  excitement it created and the denunciations from  

Pulpit and press I believe the author shot himself  after bringing forth this monstrosity didn’t he I   understand he is still alive I answered that’s  probably true he muttered bullets couldn’t kill   a fiend like that it is a book of great truths  I said yes he replied of truths which send men  

Frantic and blast their lives I don’t care if the  thing is as they say the very Supreme essence of   art it’s a crime to have written it and I for  one shall never open its pages is that what you  

Have come to tell me I asked no he said I came to  tell you that I am going to be married I believe   for a moment my heart ceased to beat but I kept my  eyes on his face yes he continued smiling happily  

Married to the sweetest girl on earth Constance  huk I said mechanically how did you know he cried   astonished I didn’t know it myself until that  evening last April when we strolled down to the  

Embankment before dinner when is it to be I asked  it was to have been next SE setember but an hour   ago a dispatch came ordering our regiment to the  precidio San Francisco we leave at noon tomorrow   tomorrow he repeated just think hildred tomorrow I  shall be the happiest fellow that ever Drew breath  

In this Jolly world for Constance will go with  me I offered him my hand in congratulation and   he seized and shook it like the good-natured fool  he was or pretended to be I am going to get my  

Squadron as a wedding wedding present he rattled  on Captain and Mrs Louie castain eh hildred then   he told me where it was to be and who were to be  there and made me promise to come and be best man  

I set my teeth and listened to his boyish chatter  without showing what I felt but I was getting to   the limit of my endurance and when he jumped up  and switching his Spurs till they jingled said  

He must go I did not detain him there’s one thing  I want to ask of you I said quietly out with it   it’s promised he laughed I want you to meet me for  a quarter of an hour’s talk tonight of course if  

You wish he said somewhat puzzled where anywhere  in the park there what time hildred midnight what   in the name of he began but checked himself  and laughingly ascented I watched him go down   the stairs and hurry away his saber banging at  every stride he turned into bleer Street and I  

Knew he was going to see Constance I gave him  10 minutes to disa appear and Then followed in   his footsteps taking with me the jeweled crown  and the silken robe embroidered with the yellow   sign when I turned into bleer Street and entered  the doorway which bore the sign Mr wild repairer  

Of reputations third Bell I saw old horberg  moving about in his shop and imagined I heard   constant’s voice in The Parlor but I avoided them  both and hurried up the trembling stairways to Mr   Wild’s apartment I knocked and entered without  ceremony Mr wild lay groaning on the floor his  

Face covered with blood his clothes torn to  shreds drops of blood were scattered about   over the carpet which had also been ripped and  frayed in the evidently recent struggle it’s   that cursed cat he said ceasing his groans and  turning his colorless eyes to me she attacked me  

While I was asleep I believe she will kill me yet  this was too much so I went into the kitchen and   seizing a hatchet from the pantry started to find  the infernal beast and settle her then and there  

My search was fruitless and after a while I gave  it up and came back to find Mr wild squatting on   his high chair by the table he had washed his  face and changed his clothes the great furrows  

Which the cat’s claws had plowed up in his face he  had filled with codeon and a rag hid the wound in   his throat I told him I should kill the cat when  I came across her but he only shook his head and  

Turned to the open Ledger before him he read name  after name of the people who had come to him in   regard to their reputation and the sums he had  amassed were startling I put on the screws now  

And then he explained one day or other some of  these people will assassinate you I insisted do   you think so he said rubbing his mutilated ears it  was useless to argue with him so I took down the   manuscript entitled Imperial Dynasty of America  for the last time I should ever take it down  

In Mr Wild’s study I read it through thrilling  and trembling with pleasure when I had finished   Mr wild took the manuscript and turning to the  dark passage which leads from his study to his   bed chamber called out in a loud voice Vance then  for the first time I noticed a man crouching there  

In the shadow how I had overlooked him during my  search for the cat I cannot imagine Vance come in   cried Mr Wild the figure Rose and crept towards us  and I shall never forget the face that he raised  

To mine as the light from the window illuminated  it Vance this is Mr castain said Mr wild before he   had finished speaking the man threw himself on the  ground before the table crying and grasping oh God  

Oh my God help me forgive me oh Mr castain keep  that man away you cannot you cannot mean it you   are different save me I am broken down I was in  a mad house and now when all was coming com right  

When I’d forgotten The King The King in Yellow and  but I shall go mad again I shall go mad his voice   died into a choking rattle for Mr wild had leapt  on him and his right hand encircled the man’s  

Throat when Vance fell in a heap on the floor Mr  wild clambered nimbly into his chair again and   rubbing his mangled ears with the stump of his  hand turned to me and asked me for The Ledger  

I reached it down from the shelf and he opened it  after a moment’s searching among the beautifully   written Pages he coughed complacently and pointed  to the name Vance Vance he read aloud OSG good   Oswald Vance at the sound of his name the man on  the floor raised his head and turned a convulsed  

Face to Mr wild his eyes were injected with blood  his lips toried called April 28th continued Mr   wild occupation cashier in in the se4 nut tyel  bank has served a term of forgery at Sing Sing   from whence he was transferred to the Asylum for  the criminal insane pardoned by the governor of  

New York and discharged from the Asylum January  19th 1918 reputation damaged at sheep’s head Bay   rumors that he lives beyond his income reputation  to be repaired at once retainer $1,500 note has   embez sums amounting to $30,000 since March 20th  1919 excellent family and secured present position  

Through uncle’s influence father president of  se4th bank I looked at the man on the floor get   up Vance said Mr wild in a gentle voice Vance  Rose as if hypnotized he will do as we suggest   now observed Mr wild and opening the manuscript he  read the entire history of the Imperial Dynasty of  

America then in a kind and soothing murmur he  ran over the important points with Vance who   stood like one stunned his eyes were so blank and  vacant that I imagined he had become half-witted   and remarked it to Mr wild who replied that it  was of no consequence anyway very patiently we  

Pointed out to Vance what his share in the affair  would be and he seemed to understand after a while   Mr wild explained the manuscript using several  volumes on Herald to substantiate the result   of his researches he mentioned the establishment  of the Dynasty in kosa The Lakes which connected  

Hastor old debran and the Mystery of the hiades  he spoke of cassilda and Camila and sounded the   Cloudy depths of dami and the lake of Harley the  scalloped tatters of the King in Yellow must hide   youtil forever he muttered but I do not believe  Vance heard him then by degrees he led Vance  

Along the ram ifications of the Imperial family  to uot and thy from notala and Phantom Of Truth   to aldonis and then tossing aside his manuscript  and notes he began the wonderful story of the last   king fascinated and thrilled I watched him he  threw up his head his long arms were stretched  

Out in a magnificent gesture of Pride and power  and his eyes blazed deep in their sockets like   two emeralds Vance listened stupified as for me  when at last Mr wild had finished and pointing to   me cried the cousin of the king my head swam with  excitement controlling myself with a superhuman  

Effort I explained to Vance why I alone was  worthy of the crown and why my cousin must be   exiled or die I made him understand that my cousin  must never marry even after renouncing all his  

Claims and how that least of all he should marry  the daughter of the Marque of Aventure and bring   England into the question I showed him a list  of thousands of names which Mr wild had drawn   up every man whose name was there had received  the yellow sign which no living human being  

Dared disregard the city the state the whole land  were ready to rise and tremble before the palid   mask the time had come the people should know  the son of hastor and the whole world bowed to  

The black stars which hang in the sky over carosa  Vance leaned on the table his head buried in his   hands Mr w drew a rough sketch on the margin of  yesterday’s Herald with a bit of lead pencil it  

Was a plan of hbu’s rooms then he wrote out the  order and AIX the seal and shaking like a ped man   I signed my first RIT of execution with my name  hildred Rex Mr wild clambered to the floor and  

Unlocking the cabinet took a long square box from  the first shelf this he brought to the table and   opened a new knife lay in the tissue paper inside  and I picked it up and handed it it to Vance along  

With the order and the plan of hallberg’s  apartment then Mr wild told Vance he could   go and he went shambling like an outcast of the  slums I sat for a while watching the daylight fade   behind the square Tower of the Judson Memorial  Church and finally Gathering up the manuscript  

And notes took my hat and started for the door  Mr wild watched me in silence when I had stepped   into the hall I looked back Mr Wild’s small eyes  eyes were still fixed on me behind him the Shadows  

Gathered in the fading light then I closed the  door behind me and went out into the darkening   streets I had eaten nothing since breakfast but  I was not hungry a wretched half starved creature   who stood looking across the street at the lethal  chamber noticed me and came up to tell me a tale  

Of misery I gave him money I don’t know why and  he went away without without thanking me an hour   later another Outcast approached and whined his  story I had a blank bit of paper in my pocket on  

Which was traced the yellow sign and I handed it  to him he looked at it stupidly for a moment and   then with an uncertain glance at me folded it with  what seemed to me exaggerated care and placed it  

In his bosom the electric lights were sparkling  among the trees and the new moon Shone in the sky   above the lethal chamber it was tiresome waiting  in the Square I wandered from The Marble Arch to   the artillery stables and back again to the lotos  Fountain the flowers and grass exhaled a fragrance  

Which troubled me the jet of the fountain played  in the Moonlight and the musical splash of falling   drops reminded me of the tinkle of chained maale  in hur’s shop but it was not so fascinating and   the dull Sparkle of The Moonlight on the water  brought brought no such sensations of Exquisite  

Pleasure as when the sunshine played over the  polished steel of a corselet on hur’s knee   I watched the bats darting and turning above the  water plants in the fountain Basin but their rapid   jerky flight set my nerves on edge and I went away  again to walk aimlessly to and fro among the trees  

The artillery Stables were dark but in the Cavalry  Barracks the officer windows were brilliantly   lighted and the sally port was constantly filled  with with Troopers in fatigue carrying straw and   harness and baskets filled with tin dishes twice  the mounted Sentry at the gates was changed while  

I wandered up and down the asphalt walk I looked  at my watch it was nearly time the lights in the   barracks went out one by one the bar gate was  closed and every minute or two an officer passed  

In through the side Wicket leaving a rattle of  accoutrements and a jingle of Spurs on the night   air the square had become very silent the last  homeless loiterer had been driven Away by the   gray coated Park policeman the car tracks along  Worcester Street were deserted and the only sound  

Which broke the Stillness was the stamping of the  Cent’s horse and the Ring of his saber against   the saddle pommel in the barracks the officer  quarters were still lighted and Military servants   passed and rep passed before the bay windows 12:00  sounded from the new Spire of St Francis xavia and  

At the last stroke of the sad toned Bell a figure  passed through the Wicket beside the port Callis   returned the salute of the centry and crossing the  street entered the square and advanced toward the   Benedict apartment house Lewis I called the man  pivoted on his spurred heels and came straight  

Toward me is that you hildred yes you are on time  I took his offered hand and we strolled toward the   lethal chamber he rattled on about his wedding and  The Graces of constance and their future prospects   calling my attention to his Captain’s shoulder  straps and the triple gold Arabesque on his sleeve  

And fatigue cap I believe I listened as much to  the music of his Spurs and saber as I did to his   boyish Babble and at last we stood under the Elms  on the fourth street corner of the square opposite  

The lethal chamber then he laughed and asked me  what I wanted with him I motioned him to a seat   on a bench under the electric light and sat down  beside IDE him he looked at me curiously with that  

Same searching glance which I hate and fear so in  doctors I felt the insult of his look but he did   not know it and I carefully concealed my feelings  well old chap he inquired what can I do for you  

I drew from my pocket the manuscript and notes  of the Imperial Dynasty of America and looking   him in the eye said I will tell you on your word  as a soldier promise me to read this manuscript  

From beginning to end without asking me a question  promise me to read these notes in the same way and   promise me to listen to what I have to tell later  I promise if you wish it he said pleasantly give  

Me the paper hildred he began to read raising his  eyebrows with a puzzled Whimsical air which made   me tremble with suppressed anger as he Advanced  his eyebrows contracted and his lips seemed to   form the word rubbish then he looked slightly  bored but apparently for my sake read with an  

Attempt at interest which presently ceased to be  an effort he started when in the closely written   Pages he came to his own name and when he came to  mine he lowered the paper and looked sharply at me  

For a moment but he kept his word and resumed his  reading and I let the half-formed question die on   his lips unanswered when he came to the end and  read the signature of Mr wild he folded the paper  

Carefully and returned it to me I handed him the  notes and he settled back pushing his fatigue cap   up to his forehead with a boyish gesture which I  remembered so well in school I watched his face  

As he read and when he finished I took the notes  with the manuscript and placed them in my pocket   then I unfolded a scroll marked with the yellow  sign he saw the sign but he did not see seemed  

To recognize it and I called his attention to it  somewhat sharply well he said I see it what is it   it is the yellow sign I said angrily oh that’s  it is it said Louie in that flattering voice  

Which Dr Archer used to employ with me and would  probably have employed again had I not settled his   affair for him I kept my rage down and answered as  steadily as possible listen you have engaged your  

Word I am listening old chap he replied soothingly  I began to speak very calmly Dr Archer having by   some means become possessed of the secret of the  Imperial succession attempted to deprive me of   my right alleging that because of a fall from  my horse four years ago I had become mentally  

Deficient he presumed to place me under restraint  in his own house in hopes of either driving me   insane or poisoning me I have not forgotten it  I visited him last night and the interview was   finally Louie turned quite pale but did not move  I resumed triumphantly there are yet three people  

To be interviewed in the interests of Mr wild and  myself they are my cousin Louis Mr horber and his   daughter Constance Lou sprang to his feet and I  arose also and flung The Paper marked with the  

Yellow sign to the ground oh I don’t need that to  tell you what I have to say I cried with a laugh   of Triumph you must renounce the crown to me me do  you hear to me Louie looked at me with a startled  

Air but recovering himself said kindly of course I  renounce the what is it I must renounce the crown   I said angrily of course he answered I renounce  it come old chap I’ll walk back to your rooms  

With you don’t try any of your doctor’s tricks  on me I cried trembling with Fury don’t act as   if you think I’m insane what nonsense he replied  come it’s getting late hildred no I shouted you  

Must listen you cannot marry I forbid it do you  hear I forbid it you shall renounce the crown and   in reward I grant you Exile but if you refuse you  shall die he tried to calm me but I was roused at  

Last and drawing my long knife barred his way then  I told him how they would find Dr archer in the   cellar with his throat open and I laughed in his  face when I thought of Vance and his knife and the  

Order signed by me ah you are the king I cried but  I shall be king who are you to keep me from Empire   over all the habitable Earth I was born the cousin  of a king but I shall be King Louie stood white  

And rigid before me suddenly a man came running  up Fourth Street entered the Gate of the lethal   Temple traversed the path to the bronze doors at  full speed and plunged into the death chamber with   the Cry of one demented and I laughed until I  wept tears for I had recognized Vance and knew  

That horuk and his daughter were no longer in my  way go I cried to Louie you have ceased to be a   menace you will never marry Constance now and if  you marry anyone else in your Exile I will visit  

You as I did my doctor last night Mr wild takes  charge of you tomorrow then I turned and darted   into South Fifth Avenue and with a cry of Terror  Lewis dropped his belt and saber and followed me  

Like the wind I heard him close behind me at  the corner of bleer Street and I dashed into   the doorway under hur’s sign he cried halt or I  fire but when he saw that I flew up the stairs  

Leaving Hook’s shop below he left me and I heard  him hammering and shouting at their door as though   it were possible to arouse the dead Mr Wild’s  door was open and I entered crying it is done it  

Is done let the nations rise and look upon their  King but I could not find Mr Wild so I went to the   cabinet and took the splendid diadem from its case  then I drew on The White Silk robe embroidered  

With the yellow sign and placed the crown upon my  head at last I was King King by my right in hastor   King because I knew the mystery of the hiades and  my mind had sounded the depths of the lake of h  

I was King the first gray penciling of Dawn would  raise a tempest which would Shake two hemispheres   then as I stood my every nerve pitched to the  highest tension faint with the joy and Splendor  

Of my thought without in the dark passage a man  groaned I seized the Tallow dip and sprang to the   door the cat passed me like a demon and the Tallow  dip went out but my long knife flew swifter than  

She and I heard her Screech and I knew that my  knife had found her for a moment I listened to her   tumbling and thumping about in the darkness and  then when her frenzy ceased I lighted a lamp and  

Raised it over my head Mr wild lay on the floor  with his throat torn open at first I thought he   was dead but as I looked a green Sparkle came into  his sunken eyes his mutilated hand trembled and  

Then a spasm stretched his mouth from ear to ear  for a moment my Terror and despair gave place to   hope but as I bent over him his eyeballs rolled  clean around in his head and he died then while  

I stood transfixed with rage and despair seeing  my crown my Empire every hope and every ambition   my very life lying prostrate there with the Dead  Master they came seized me from behind and bound   me until my veins stood out like cords and my  voice failed with the paroxysms of my frenzied  

Screams but I still raged bleeding and infuriated  among them and more than one policeman felt my   sharp teeth then when I could no longer move they  came nearer I saw old horberg and behind him my   cousin Lou’s ghastly face and farther away in the  corner a woman constant weeping Softly ah I see  

It now I shrieked you have seized the throne and  the Empire wo woe to you who are crowned with the   crown of the King in Yellow editor note Mr castain  died yesterday in the Asylum for criminal insane