The Repairer of Reputations

From The Yellow Site

This story is set in a 1920s that never was (the story was written in the 1890s), and is a tale told from the point of view of Hildred Castaigne who, with the help of the 'Repairer of Reputations', Mr. Wilde, seeks to be claimed as The Last King of The Imperial Dynasty of America, and that his cousin Louis Castaigne stands in his way. The story reveals, over time, that Hildred has both read The King in Yellow and suffered a nasty fall, both of which are, it is suggested, in part way responsible for his delusions of grandeur and his attempts to ensure his ascension to the throne.

Mr. Wilde shows Hildred that one can make a living as a "Repairer of Reputations" and has already employed many, especially in the newspapers to repair the reputations of those who have come to Mr. Wilde. After already amassing a small army under his employ and the rich and powerful in his pocket, he tells Hildred it is now time to confront Louis about giving up the throne to him. Louis is also falling in love with Constance Hawberk, daughter of an armorer (believed to be the Marquis of Avonshire) who's storefront is underneath Mr. Wilde.

Mr. Wilde finds a man named Vance, who sought to have his reputation repaired on account of embezzlement. Wilde and Hildred school him on the history of the Imperial Dynasty of America and the King in Yellow, and commission him to execute Constance (at this point, it is stated that Hildred is suppose to have already murdered his doctor) and that night Hildred confronts Louis and makes him read the Imperial Dynasty of America, and makes him concede the throne to Hildred. Louis agrees, just to entertain Hildred who gets offended and pulls a knife, underlining the point that Constance is dead just as his Dr. Archer and threatens to kill him if he marries anyone else. Hildred hurries back to Mr. Wilde, on the way seeing Vance run into the lethal chamber, ensuring his writ of execution has been carried out. He storms up the steps to Mr. Wilde, killing his cat along the way only to find Mr. Wilde on the floor, throat torn open. Hildred is carried out of the apartment kicking and screaming, seeing a very disturbed Louis and Constance as he's carried out.

According to the editor, he dies in the asylum