Портрет Дориана Грея

           Oneshouldneverdoanythingthatonecannottalkaboutafterdinner. ButletuspassfrompoorBasil. IwishIcouldbelievethathehadcometosuchareallyromanticendasyousuggest; butIcan’t. IdaresayhefellintotheSeineoffanomnibus,andthattheconductorhushedupthescandal. Yes:Ishouldfancythatwashisend. Iseehimlyingnowonhisbackunderthosedull-greenwaterswiththeheavybargesfloatingoverhim,andlongweedscatchinginhishair. Doyouknow,Idon’tthinkhewouldhavedonemuchmoregoodwork. Duringthelasttenyearshispaintinghadgoneoffverymuch." 

           Dorianheavedasigh,andLordHenrystrolledacrosstheroomandbegantostroketheheadofacuriousJavaparrot,alargegrey-plumagedbird,withpinkcrestandtail,thatwasbalancingitselfuponabambooperch. Ashispointedfingerstouchedit,itdroppedthewhitescurfofcrinkledlidsoverblackglass-likeeyes,andbegantoswaybackwardsandforwards. 

           "Yes,"hecontinued,turninground,andtakinghishandkerchiefoutofhispocket; "hispaintinghadquitegoneoff. Itseemedtometohavelostsomething. Ithadlostanideal. Whenyouandheceasedtobegreatfriends,heceasedtobeagreatartist. Whatwasitseparatedyou? Isupposeheboredyou. Ifso,heneverforgaveyou. It’sahabitboreshave. Bytheway,whathasbecomeofthatwonderfulportraithedidofyou? Idon’tthinkIhaveeverseenitsincehefinishedit. Oh!IrememberyourtellingmeyearsagothatyouhadsentitdowntoSelby,andthatithadgotmislaidorstolenontheway. Younevergotitback? Whatapity! Itwasreallyamasterpiece. IrememberIwantedtobuyit. IwishIhadnow. ItbelongedtoBasil’sbestperiod.