Портрет Дориана Грея

           "Peoplelikeyou—thewilfulsunbeamsoflife—don’tcommitcrimes,Dorian. ButIammuchobligedforthecompliment,allthesame. Andnowtellme—reachmethematches,likeagoodboy:thanks: —whatareyouractualrelationswithSibylVane?" 

           DorianGrayleapedtohisfeet,withflushedcheeksandburningeyes. "Harry!SibylVaneissacred!" 

           "Itisonlythesacredthingsthatareworthtouching,Dorian,"saidLordHenry,withastrangetouchofpathosinhisvoice. "Butwhyshouldyoubeannoyed?Isupposeshewillbelongtoyousomeday. Whenoneisinlove,onealwaysbeginsbydeceivingone’sself,andonealwaysendsbydeceivingothers. Thatiswhattheworldcallsaromance.Youknowher,atanyrate,Isuppose?" 

           "OfcourseIknowher.OnthefirstnightIwasatthetheatre,thehorridoldJewcameroundtotheboxaftertheperformancewasover,andofferedtotakemebehindthescenesandintroducemetoher. Iwasfuriouswithhim,andtoldhimthatJuliethadbeendeadforhundredsofyears,andthatherbodywaslyinginamarbletombinVerona. Ithink,fromhisblanklookofamazement,thathewasundertheimpressionthatIhadtakentoomuchchampagne,orsomething." 

           "Iamnotsurprised." 

           "ThenheaskedmeifIwroteforanyofthenewspapers. ItoldhimIneverevenreadthem.Heseemedterriblydisappointedatthat,andconfidedtome thatallthedramaticcriticswereinaconspiracyagainsthim,andthattheywereeveryoneofthemtobebought." 

           "Ishouldnotwonderifhewasquiterightthere.