Портрет Дориана Грея

           Upstairs,inhisownroom,DorianGraywaslyingonasofa,withterrorineverytinglingfibreofhisbody. Lifehadsuddenlybecometoohideousaburdenforhimtobear. Thedreadfuldeathoftheunluckybeater,shotinthethicketlikeawildanimal,hadseemedtohimtoprefiguredeathforhimselfalso. HehadnearlyswoonedatwhatLordHenryhadsaidinachancemoodofcynicaljesting. 

           Atfiveo’clockheranghisbellforhisservantandgavehimorderstopackhisthingsforthenight-expresstotown,andtohavethebroughamatthedoorbyeight-thirty. HewasdeterminednottosleepanothernightatSelbyRoyal. Itwasanill-omenedplace. Deathwalkedthereinthesunlight. Thegrassoftheforesthadbeenspottedwithblood. 

           ThenhewroteanotetoLordHenry,tellinghimthathewasgoinguptotowntoconsulthisdoctor,andaskinghimtoentertainhisguestsinhisabsence. Ashewasputtingitintotheenvelope,aknockcametothedoor,andhisvaletinformedhimthatthehead-keeperwishedtoseehim. Hefrowned,andbithislip. "Sendhimin,"hemuttered,aftersomemoments’hesitation. 

           AssoonasthemanenteredDorianpulledhischequebookoutofadrawer,andspreaditoutbeforehim. 

           "Isupposeyouhavecomeabouttheunfortunateaccidentofthismorning,Thornton? "hesaid,takingupapen.