CHAPTER XIII.
關燈
小
中
大
iteundisturbedandashehadleftit.Itwasfromwithin,apparently,thatthefoulnessandhorrorhadcome.Throughsomestrangequickeningofinnerlifetheleprosiesofsinwereslowlyeatingthethingaway.Therottingofacorpseinawaterygravewasnotsofearful.
Hishandshook,andthecandlefellfromitssocketonthefloorandlaytheresputtering.Heplacedhisfootonitandputitout.Thenheflunghimselfintothericketychairthatwasstandingbythetableandburiedhisfaceinhishands.
“GoodGod,Dorian,whatalesson!Whatanawfullesson!”Therewasnoanswer,buthecouldheartheyoungmansobbingatthewindow.“Pray,Dorian,pray,”hemurmured.“Whatisitthatonewastaughttosayinone’sboyhood?‘Leadusnotintotemptation.Forgiveusoursins.Washawayouriniquities.’Letussaythattogether.Theprayerofyourpridehasbeenanswered.Theprayerofyourrepentancewillbeansweredalso.Iworshippedyoutoomuch.Iampunishedforit.Youworshippedyourselftoomuch.Wearebothpunished.”
DorianGrayturnedslowlyaroundandlookedathimwithtear-dimmedeyes.“Itistoolate,Basil,”hefaltered.
“Itisnevertoolate,Dorian.Letuskneeldownandtryifwecannotrememberaprayer.Isn’tthereaversesomewhere,‘Thoughyoursinsbeasscarlet,yetIwillmakethemaswhiteassnow’?”
“Thosewordsmeannothingtomenow.”
“Hush!Don’tsaythat.Youhavedoneenoughevilinyourlife.MyGod!Don’tyouseethataccursedthingleeringatus?”
DorianGrayglancedatthepicture,andsuddenlyanuncontrollablefeelingofhatredforBasilHallwardcameoverhim,asthoughithadbeensuggestedtohimbytheimageonthecanvas,whisperedintohisearbythosegrinninglips.Themadpassionsofahuntedanimalstirredwithinhim,andheloathedthemanwhowasseatedatthetable,morethaninhiswholelifehehadeverloathedanything.Heglancedwildlyaround.Somethingglimmeredonthetopofthepaintedchestthatfacedhim.Hiseyefellonit.Heknewwhatitwas.Itwasaknifethathehadbroughtup,somedaysbefore,tocutapieceofcord,andhadforgottentotakeawaywithhim.Hemovedslowlytowardsit,passingHallwardashedidso.Assoonashegotbehindhim,heseizeditandturnedround.Hallwardstirredinhischairasifhewasgoingtorise.Herushedathimanddugtheknifeintothegreatveinthatisbehindtheear,crushingtheman’sheaddownonthetableandstabbingagainandagain.
Therewasastifledgroanandthehorriblesoundofsomeonechokingwithblood.Threetimestheoutstretchedarmsshotupconvulsively,wavinggrotesque,stiff-fingeredhandsintheair
