CHAPTER XIII.
關燈
小
中
大
ofbrightvermilion.
Itwassomefoulparody,someinfamousignoblesatire.Hehadneverdonethat.Still,itwashisownpicture.Heknewit,andhefeltasifhisbloodhadchangedinamomentfromfiretosluggishice.Hisownpicture!Whatdiditmean?Whyhaditaltered?HeturnedandlookedatDorianGraywiththeeyesofasickman.Hismouthtwitched,andhisparchedtongueseemedunabletoarticulate.Hepassedhishandacrosshisforehead.Itwasdankwithclammysweat.
Theyoungmanwasleaningagainstthemantelshelf,watchinghimwiththatstrangeexpressionthatoneseesonthefacesofthosewhoareabsorbedinaplaywhensomegreatartistisacting.Therewasneitherrealsorrowinitnorrealjoy.Therewassimplythepassionofthespectator,withperhapsaflickeroftriumphinhiseyes.Hehadtakenthefloweroutofhiscoat,andwassmellingit,orpretendingtodoso.
“Whatdoesthismean?”criedHallward,atlast.Hisownvoicesoundedshrillandcuriousinhisears.
“Yearsago,whenIwasaboy,”saidDorianGray,crushingtheflowerinhishand,“youmetme,flatteredme,andtaughtmetobevainofmygoodlooks.Onedayyouintroducedmetoafriendofyours,whoexplainedtomethewonderofyouth,andyoufinishedaportraitofmethatrevealedtomethewonderofbeauty.Inamadmomentthat,evennow,Idon’tknowwhetherIregretornot,Imadeawish,perhapsyouwouldcallitaprayer....”
“Irememberit!Oh,howwellIrememberit!No!thethingisimpossible.Theroomisdamp.Mildewhasgotintothecanvas.ThepaintsIusedhadsomewretchedmineralpoisoninthem.Itellyouthethingisimpossible.”
“Ah,whatisimpossible?”murmuredtheyoungman,goingovertothewindowandleaninghisforeheadagainstthecold,mist-stainedglass.
“Youtoldmeyouhaddestroyedit.”
“Iwaswrong.Ithasdestroyedme.”
“Idon’tbelieveitismypicture.”
“Can’tyouseeyouridealinit?”saidDorianbitterly.
“Myideal,asyoucallit...”
“Asyoucalledit.”
“Therewasnothingevilinit,nothingshameful.YouweretomesuchanidealasIshallnevermeetagain.Thisisthefaceofasatyr.”
“Itisthefaceofmysoul.”
“Christ!whatathingImusthaveworshipped!Ithastheeyesofadevil.”
“Eachofushasheavenandhellinhim,Basil,”criedDorianwithawildgestureofdespair.
Hallwardturnedagaintotheportraitandgazedatit.“MyGod!Ifitistrue,”heexclaimed,“andthisiswhatyouhavedonewithyourlife,why,youmustbeworseeventhanthosewhotalkagainstyoufancyyoutobe!”Heheldthelightupagaintothecanvasandexaminedit.Thesurfaceseemedtobequ
