Chapter 12

           Hepassedoutoftheroom,andbegantheascent,BasilHallwardfollowingclosebehind. Theywalkedsoftly,asmendoinstinctivelyatnight. Thelampcastfantasticshadowsonthewallandstaircase. Arisingwindmadesomeofthewindowsrattle. 

           Whentheyreachedthetoplanding,Doriansetthelampdownonthefloor,andtakingoutthekeyturneditinthelock. "Youinsistonknowing,Basil? "heasked,inalowvoice. 

           "Yes." 

           "Iamdelighted,"heanswered,smiling. Thenheadded,somewhatharshly,"Youaretheonemanintheworldwhoisentitledtoknoweverythingaboutme. Youhavehadmoretodowithmylifethanyouthink:" and,takingupthelamp,heopenedthedoorandwentin. Acoldcurrentofairpassedthem,andthelightshotupforamomentinaflameofmurkyorange. Heshuddered. "Shutthedoorbehindyou,"hewhispered,asheplacedthelamponthetable. 

           Hallwardglancedroundhim,withapuzzledexpression. Theroomlookedasifithadnotbeenlivedinforyears. AfadedFlemishtapestry,acurtainedpicture,anoldItaliancassone,andanalmostemptybookcase—thatwasallthatitseemedtocontain,besidesachairandatable. AsDorianGraywaslightingahalf-burnedcandlethatwasstandingonthemantel-shelf,hesawthatthewholeplacewascoveredwithdust,andthatthecarpetwasinholes. Amouseranscufflingbehindthewainscoting. Therewasadampodourofmildew.