Портрет Дориана Грея

           Andwhatsortoflivesdothesepeople,whoposeasbeingmoral,leadthemselves? Mydearfellow,youforgetthatweareinthenativelandofthehypocrite." 

           "Dorian,"criedHallward,"thatisnotthequestion. Englandisbadenough,Iknow,andEnglishsocietyisallwrong. ThatisthereasonwhyIwantyoutobefine. Youhavenotbeenfine. Onehasarighttojudgeofamanbytheeffecthehasoverhisfriends. Yoursseemtoloseallsenseofhonour,ofgoodness,ofpurity. Youhavefilledthemwithamadnessforpleasure. Theyhavegonedownintothedepths. Youledthemthere. Yes:youledthemthere,andyetyoucansmile,asyouaresmilingnow. Andthereisworsebehind. IknowyouandHarryareinseparable. Surelyforthatreason,iffornoneother,youshouldnothavemadehissister’snameaby-word." 

           "Takecare,Basil. Yougotoofar." 

           "Imustspeak,andyoumustlisten. Youshalllisten. WhenyoumetLadyGwendolen,notabreathofscandalhadevertouchedher. IsthereasingledecentwomaninLondonnowwhowoulddrivewithherinthePark? Why,evenherchildrenarenotallowedtolivewithher. Thenthereareotherstories—storiesthatyouhavebeenseencreepingatdawnoutofdreadfulhouses andslinkingindisguiseintothefoulestdensinLondon. Aretheytrue? Cantheybetrue? WhenIfirstheardthem,Ilaughed. Ihearthemnow,andtheymakemeshudder. Whataboutyourcountryhouse,andthelifethatisledthere? Dorian,youdon’tknowwhatissaidaboutyou. Iwon’ttellyouthatIdon’twanttopreachtoyou. IrememberHarrysayingoncethateverymanwhoturnedhimselfintoanamateurcurateforthemomentalwaysbeganbysayingthat,andthenproceededtobreakhisword.