Портрет Доріана Грея

           "Adangeroustheory!"camefromSirThomas’stightlips. LadyAgathashookherhead,butcouldnothelpbeingamused.Mr.Erskinelistened. 

           "Yes,"hecontinued,"thatisoneofthegreatsecretsoflife. Nowadaysmostpeopledieofasortofcreepingcommonsense,anddiscoverwhenitistoolate thattheonlythingsoneneverregretsareone’smistakes." 

           Alaughranroundthetable. 

           Heplayedwiththeidea,andgrewwilful;tosseditintotheairandtransformedit; letitescapeandrecapturedit;madeitiridescentwithfancy,andwingeditwithparadox. Thepraiseoffolly,ashewenton,soaredintoaphilosophy,andPhilosophyherselfbecameyoung, andcatchingthemadmusicofPleasure,wearing,onemightfancy,herwine-stainedrobeandwreathofivy, dancedlikeaBacchanteoverthehillsoflife,andmockedtheslowSilenusforbeingsober. Factsfledbeforeherlikefrightenedforestthings. HerwhitefeettrodthehugepressatwhichwiseOmarsits,tilltheseethinggrape-juiceroseroundherbarelimbsinwavesofpurplebubbles, orcrawledinredfoamoverthevat’sblack,dripping,slopingsides. Itwasanextraordinaryimprovisation. HefeltthattheeyesofDorianGraywerefixedonhim,andtheconsciousnessthatamongsthisaudiencetherewasonewhosetemperamenthewishedtofascinate, seemedtogivehiswitkeenness,andtolendcolourtohisimagination. Hewasbrilliant,fantastic,irresponsible.Hecharmedhislistenersoutofthemselves,andtheyfollowedhispipelaughing. DorianGraynevertookhisgazeoffhim,butsatlikeoneunderaspell, smileschasingeachotheroverhislips,andwondergrowinggraveinhisdarkeningeyes. 

           Atlast,liveriedinthecostumeoftheage,Realityenteredtheroomintheshapeofaservant totelltheDuchessthathercarriagewaswaiting.