CHAPTER XIII.

Hepassedoutoftheroomandbegantheascent,BasilHallwardfollowingclosebehind.Theywalkedsoftly,asmendoinstinctivelyatnight.Thelampcastfantasticshadowsonthewallandstaircase.Arisingwindmadesomeofthewindowsrattle. Whentheyreachedthetoplanding,Doriansetthelampdownonthefloor,andtakingoutthekey,turneditinthelock.“Youinsistonknowing,Basil?”heaskedinalowvoice. “Yes.” “Iamdelighted,”heanswered,smiling.Thenheadded,somewhatharshly,“Youaretheonemanintheworldwhoisentitledtoknoweverythingaboutme.Youhavehadmoretodowithmylifethanyouthink”and,takingupthelamp,heopenedthedoorandwentin.Acoldcurrentofairpassedthem,andthelightshotupforamomentinaflameofmurkyorange.Heshuddered.“Shutthedoorbehindyou,”hewhispered,asheplacedthelamponthetable. Hallwardglancedroundhimwithapuzzledexpression.Theroomlookedasifithadnotbeenlivedinforyears.AfadedFlemishtapestry,acurtainedpicture,anoldItaliancassone,andanalmostemptybook-case—thatwasallthatitseemedtocontain,besidesachairandatable.AsDorianGraywaslightingahalf-burnedcandlethatwasstandingonthemantelshelf,hesawthatthewholeplacewascoveredwithdustandthatthecarpetwasinholes.Amouseranscufflingbehindthewainscoting.Therewasadampodourofmildew. “SoyouthinkthatitisonlyGodwhoseesthesoul,Basil?Drawthatcurtainback,andyouwillseemine.” Thevoicethatspokewascoldandcruel.“Youaremad,Dorian,orplayingapart,”mutteredHallward,frowning. “Youwon’t?ThenImustdoitmyself,”saidtheyoungman,andhetorethecurtainfromitsrodandflungitontheground. Anexclamationofhorrorbrokefromthepainter’slipsashesawinthedimlightthehideousfaceonthecanvasgrinningathim.Therewassomethinginitsexpressionthatfilledhimwithdisgustandloathing.Goodheavens!itwasDorianGray’sownfacethathewaslookingat!Thehorror,whateveritwas,hadnotyetentirelyspoiledthatmarvellousbeauty.Therewasstillsomegoldinthethinninghairandsomescarletonthesensualmouth.Thesoddeneyeshadkeptsomethingofthelovelinessoftheirblue,thenoblecurveshadnotyetcompletelypassedawayfromchisellednostrilsandfromplasticthroat.Yes,itwasDorianhimself.Butwhohaddoneit?Heseemedtorecognizehisownbrushwork,andtheframewashisowndesign.Theideawasmonstrous,yethefeltafraid.Heseizedthelightedcandle,andheldittothepicture.Intheleft-handcornerwashisownname,tracedinlongletters