CHAPTER XII.

eshapeofhisfingersthatIhated.IknownowthatIwasquiterightinwhatIfanciedabouthim.Hislifeisdreadful.Butyou,Dorian,withyourpure,bright,innocentface,andyourmarvellousuntroubledyouth—Ican’tbelieveanythingagainstyou.AndyetIseeyouveryseldom,andyounevercomedowntothestudionow,andwhenIamawayfromyou,andIhearallthesehideousthingsthatpeoplearewhisperingaboutyou,Idon’tknowwhattosay.Whyisit,Dorian,thatamanliketheDukeofBerwickleavestheroomofaclubwhenyouenterit?WhyisitthatsomanygentlemeninLondonwillneithergotoyourhouseorinviteyoutotheirs?YouusedtobeafriendofLordStaveley.Imethimatdinnerlastweek.Yournamehappenedtocomeupinconversation,inconnectionwiththeminiaturesyouhavelenttotheexhibitionattheDudley.Staveleycurledhislipandsaidthatyoumighthavethemostartistictastes,butthatyouwereamanwhomnopure-mindedgirlshouldbeallowedtoknow,andwhomnochastewomanshouldsitinthesameroomwith.IremindedhimthatIwasafriendofyours,andaskedhimwhathemeant.Hetoldme.Hetoldmerightoutbeforeeverybody.Itwashorrible!Whyisyourfriendshipsofataltoyoungmen?TherewasthatwretchedboyintheGuardswhocommittedsuicide.Youwerehisgreatfriend.TherewasSirHenryAshton,whohadtoleaveEnglandwithatarnishedname.Youandhewereinseparable.WhataboutAdrianSingletonandhisdreadfulend?WhataboutLordKent’sonlysonandhiscareer?ImethisfatheryesterdayinSt.James’sStreet.Heseemedbrokenwithshameandsorrow.WhatabouttheyoungDukeofPerth?Whatsortoflifehashegotnow?Whatgentlemanwouldassociatewithhim?” “Stop,Basil.Youaretalkingaboutthingsofwhichyouknownothing,”saidDorianGray,bitinghislip,andwithanoteofinfinitecontemptinhisvoice.“YouaskmewhyBerwickleavesaroomwhenIenterit.ItisbecauseIknoweverythingabouthislife,notbecauseheknowsanythingaboutmine.Withsuchbloodashehasinhisveins,howcouldhisrecordbeclean?YouaskmeaboutHenryAshtonandyoungPerth.DidIteachtheonehisvices,andtheotherhisdebauchery?IfKent’ssillysontakeshiswifefromthestreets,whatisthattome?IfAdrianSingletonwriteshisfriend’snameacrossabill,amIhiskeeper?IknowhowpeoplechatterinEngland.Themiddleclassesairtheirmoralprejudicesovertheirgrossdinner-tables,andwhisperaboutwhattheycalltheprofligaciesoftheirbettersinordertotryandpretendthattheyareinsmartsocietyandonintimatetermswiththepeopletheyslander.Inthiscountry,itisenoughforamantohavedistinctionandbrainsforeverycommontonguetowagagainsthim.Andwhatsortoflivesdothesepeople,whoposeasbeingmoral,leadthemselves?Mydearfellow,youforgetthatweareinthe