Портрет Дориана Грея

           SometimeswhenhewasdownathisgreathouseinNottinghamshire,entertainingthefashionableyoungmenofhisownrank whowerehischiefcompanions,andastoundingthecountybythewantonluxuryandgorgeoussplendourofhismodeoflife,hewouldsuddenlyleavehisguests andrushbacktotowntoseethatthedoorhadnotbeentamperedwith,andthatthepicturewasstillthere. Whatifitshouldbestolen? Themerethoughtmadehimcoldwithhorror. Surelytheworldwouldknowhissecretthen. Perhapstheworldalreadysuspectedit. 

           For,whilehefascinatedmany,therewerenotafewwhodistrustedhim. HewasverynearlyblackballedataWestEndclubofwhichhisbirthandsocialpositionfullyentitledhimtobecomeamember, anditwassaidthatononeoccasionwhenhewasbroughtbyafriendintothesmoking-roomoftheChurchill, theDukeofBerwickandanothergentlemangotupinamarkedmannerandwentout. Curiousstoriesbecamecurrentabouthimafterhehadpassedhistwenty-fifthyear. ItwasrumouredthathehadbeenseenbrawlingwithforeignsailorsinalowdeninthedistantpartsofWhitechapel, andthatheconsortedwiththievesandcoinersandknewthemysteriesoftheirtrade. Hisextraordinaryabsencesbecamenotorious,and,whenheusedtoreappearagaininsociety,menwouldwhispertoeachotherincorners, orpasshimwithasneer,orlookathimwithcoldsearchingeyes,asthoughtheyweredeterminedtodiscoverhissecret. 

           Ofsuchinsolencesandattemptedslightshe,ofcourse,tooknonotice,andintheopinionofmostpeoplehisfrankdebonairmanner, hischarmingboyishsmile,andtheinfinitegraceofthatwonderfulyouththatseemednevertoleavehim, wereinthemselvesasufficientanswertothecalumnies,forsotheytermedthem,thatwerecirculatedabouthim.