Chapter 15

           Acoldrainbegantofall,andtheblurredstreet-lampslookedghastlyinthedrippingmist. Thepublic-houseswerejustclosing,anddimmenandwomenwereclusteringinbrokengroupsroundtheirdoors. Fromsomeofthebarscamethesoundofhorriblelaughter. Inothers,drunkardsbrawledandscreamed. 

           Lyingbackinthehansom,withhishatpulledoverhisforehead,DorianGraywatchedwithlistlesseyesthesordidshameofthegreatcity, andnowandthenherepeatedtohimselfthewordsthatLordHenryhadsaidtohimonthefirstdaytheyhadmet, "Tocurethesoulbymeansofthesenses,andthesensesbymeansofthesoul. "Yes,thatwasthesecret. Hehadoftentriedit,andwouldtryitagainnow. Therewereopium-dens,whereonecouldbuyoblivion, densofhorrorwherethememoryofoldsinscouldbedestroyedbythemadnessofsinsthatwerenew. 

           Themoonhunglowintheskylikeayellowskull. Fromtimetotimeahugemisshapencloudstretchedalongarmacrossandhidit. Thegas-lampsgrewfewer,andthestreetsmorenarrowandgloomy. Oncethemanlosthisway,andhadtodrivebackhalfamile. Asteamrosefromthehorseasitsplashedupthepuddles. Theside-windowsofthehansomwerecloggedwithagrey-flannelmist. 

           "Tocurethesoulbymeansofthesenses,andthesensesbymeansofthesoul! "Howthewordsranginhisears! Hissoul,certainly,wassicktodeath. Wasittruethatthesensescouldcureit? Innocentbloodhadbeenspilt. Whatcouldatoneforthat? Ah!forthattherewasnoatonement; butthoughforgivenesswasimpossible,forgetfulnesswaspossiblestill, andhewasdeterminedtoforget,tostampthethingout,tocrushitasonewouldcrushtheadderthathadstungone.