Портрет Дориана Грея

           Besides,howdoyouknowthatHettyisn’tfloatingatthepresentmomentinsomestar-litmill-pond,withlovelywater-liliesroundher,likeOphelia?" 

           "Ican’tbearthis,Harry! Youmockateverything,andthensuggestthemostserioustragedies. IamsorryItoldyounow. Idon’tcarewhatyousaytome. IknowIwasrightinactingasIdid. PoorHetty! AsIrodepastthefarmthismorning,Isawherwhitefaceatthewindow,likeasprayofjasmine. Don’tletustalkaboutitanymore,anddon’ttrytopersuademethatthefirstgoodactionIhavedoneforyears,thefirstlittlebitofself-sacrificeIhaveeverknown,isreallyasortofsin. Iwanttobebetter. Iamgoingtobebetter. Tellmesomethingaboutyourself. Whatisgoingonintown? Ihavenotbeentotheclubfordays." 

           "ThepeoplearestilldiscussingpoorBasil’sdisappearance." 

           "Ishouldhavethoughttheyhadgottiredofthatbythistime,"saidDorian,pouringhimselfoutsomewine,andfrowningslightly. 

           "Mydearboy,theyhaveonlybeentalkingaboutitforsixweeks,andtheBritishpublicarereallynotequaltothementalstrainofhavingmorethanonetopiceverythreemonths. Theyhavebeenveryfortunatelately,however. Theyhavehadmyowndivorce-case,andAlanCampbell’ssuicide. Nowtheyhavegotthemysteriousdisappearanceofanartist. ScotlandYardstillinsiststhatthemaninthegreyulsterwholeftforParisbythemidnighttrainontheninthofNovemberwaspoorBasil,andtheFrenchpolicedeclarethatBasilneverarrivedinParisatall. IsupposeinaboutafortnightweshallbetoldthathehasbeenseeninSanFrancisco. Itisanoddthing,buteveryonewhodisappearsissaidtobeseenatSanFrancisco. Itmustbeadelightfulcity,andpossessalltheattractionsofthenextworld."