Портрет Дориана Грея

           Staveleycurledhislip,andsaidthatyoumighthavethemostartistictastes,butthatyouwereamanwhomnopure-mindedgirlshouldbeallowedtoknow,andwhomnochastewomanshouldsitinthesameroomwith. IremindedhimthatIwasafriendofyours,andaskedhimwhathemeant. Hetoldme. Hetoldmerightoutbeforeeverybody. Itwashorrible! Whyisyourfriendshipsofataltoyoungmen? TherewasthatwretchedboyintheGuardswhocommittedsuicide. Youwerehisgreatfriend. TherewasSirHenryAshton,whohadtoleaveEngland,withatarnishedname. Youandhewereinseparable. WhataboutAdrianSingleton,andhisdreadfulend? WhataboutLordKent’sonlyson,andhiscareer? ImethisfatheryesterdayinSt.James’sStreet. Heseemedbrokenwithshameandsorrow. WhatabouttheyoungDukeofPerth? Whatsortoflifehashegotnow? Whatgentlemanwouldassociatewithhim?" 

           "Stop,Basil. Youaretalkingaboutthingsofwhichyouknownothing,"saidDorianGray,bitinghislip,andwithanoteofinfinitecontemptinhisvoice. "YouaskmewhyBerwickleavesaroomwhenIenterit. ItisbecauseIknoweverythingabouthislife,notbecauseheknowsanythingaboutmine. Withsuchbloodashehasinhisveins,howcouldhisrecordbeclean? YouaskmeaboutHenryAshtonandyoungPerth. DidIteachtheonehisvices,andtheotherhisdebauchery? IfKent’ssillysontakeshiswifefromthestreetswhatisthattome? IfAdrianSingletonwriteshisfriend’snameacrossabill,amIhiskeeper? IknowhowpeoplechatterinEngland. Themiddleclassesairtheirmoralprejudicesovertheirgrossdinner-tables,andwhisperaboutwhattheycalltheprofligaciesoftheirbettersinordertotry andpretendthattheyareinsmartsociety,andonintimatetermswiththepeopletheyslander. Inthiscountryitisenoughforamantohavedistinctionandbrainsforeverycommontonguetowagagainsthim.