Портрет Дориана Грея

           But,ontheotherhand,judgingfromtheirappearance,mostofthemcannotbeatallexpensive." 

           "Well,heseemedtothinktheywerebeyondhismeans,"laughedDorian. "Bythistime,however,thelightswerebeingputoutinthetheatre,andIhadtogo. Hewantedmetotrysomecigarsthathestronglyrecommended.Ideclined. Thenextnight,ofcourse,Iarrivedattheplaceagain. Whenhesawmehemademealowbow,andassuredmethatIwasamunificentpatronofart. Hewasamostoffensivebrute,thoughhehadanextraordinarypassionforShakespeare. Hetoldmeonce,withanairofpride,thathisfivebankruptcieswereentirelydueto‘TheBard,’asheinsistedoncallinghim. Heseemedtothinkitadistinction." 

           "Itwasadistinction,mydearDorian—agreatdistinction. Mostpeoplebecomebankruptthroughhavinginvestedtooheavilyintheproseoflife. Tohaveruinedone’sselfoverpoetryisanhonour.ButwhendidyoufirstspeaktoMissSibylVane?" 

           "Thethirdnight.ShehadbeenplayingRosalind.Icouldnothelpgoinground. Ihadthrownhersomeflowers,andshehadlookedatme;atleastIfanciedthatshehad. TheoldJewwaspersistent.Heseemeddeterminedtotakemebehind,soIconsented. Itwascuriousmynotwantingtoknowher,wasn’tit?" 

           "No;Idon’tthinkso." 

           "MydearHarry,why?" 

           "Iwilltellyousomeothertime.NowIwanttoknowaboutthegirl." 

           "Sibyl?Oh,shewassoshy,andsogentle.Thereissomethingofachildabouther.