Judgement Day Pale Fire Journal Judgement Day Pale Fire Journal | Page 26
poster boards.)
The first thing the defense will try to convince you of is Kinbote’s identity
as the exiled king of Zembla. He will use what ap-
pears to be the most concrete piece of evidence de-
claring this identity - a letter from Kinbote supposedly
addressed to Disa, King Charles’ wife, in which he
blends his name with the king’s.
(He holds up a poster board reading the following:)
Page 257: "I send this by air and urgently repeat the address Sylvia gave
you: Dr. C. Kinbote, KINBOTE (not "Charles X.
Kingbot, Esq.," as you, or Sylvia, wrote; please, be
more careful - and more intelligent), Wordsmith Uni-
versity, New Wye, Appalachia, USA."
In the context of the commentary, Kinbote seems to be implying that this
letter is the very same one intercepted by Gradus on
its way to Queen Disa.
However, this letter - this incomprehensible mess - as described in Pale
Fire, is not actually directly addressed to Queen
Disa. This is merely an assumption, extended from
the idea of a "correspondent living in southern
France," and you know what they say about assum-
ing things.
ZEMBLAN LAWYER
I object, due to implied vulgarity!
JUDGE
Overruled. Carry on.
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