CHAPTER XV.

evidenceonthesubject,youcanaskhim.” LordHenryshruggedhisshoulders.“Mydearfellow,asifIcared!Letusgouptothedrawing-room.Nosherry,thankyou,Mr.Chapman.Somethinghashappenedtoyou,Dorian.Tellmewhatitis.Youarenotyourselfto-night.” “Don’tmindme,Harry.Iamirritable,andoutoftemper.Ishallcomeroundandseeyouto-morrow,ornextday.MakemyexcusestoLadyNarborough.Ishan’tgoupstairs.Ishallgohome.Imustgohome.” “Allright,Dorian.IdaresayIshallseeyouto-morrowattea-time.Theduchessiscoming.” “Iwilltrytobethere,Harry,”hesaid,leavingtheroom.Ashedrovebacktohisownhouse,hewasconsciousthatthesenseofterrorhethoughthehadstrangledhadcomebacktohim.LordHenry’scasualquestioninghadmadehimlosehisnerveforthemoment,andhewantedhisnervestill.Thingsthatweredangeroushadtobedestroyed.Hewinced.Hehatedtheideaofeventouchingthem. Yetithadtobedone.Herealizedthat,andwhenhehadlockedthedoorofhislibrary,heopenedthesecretpressintowhichhehadthrustBasilHallward’scoatandbag.Ahugefirewasblazing.Hepiledanotherlogonit.Thesmellofthesingeingclothesandburningleatherwashorrible.Ittookhimthree-quartersofanhourtoconsumeeverything.Attheendhefeltfaintandsick,andhavinglitsomeAlgerianpastillesinapiercedcopperbrazier,hebathedhishandsandforeheadwithacoolmusk-scentedvinegar. Suddenlyhestarted.Hiseyesgrewstrangelybright,andhegnawednervouslyathisunderlip.BetweentwoofthewindowsstoodalargeFlorentinecabinet,madeoutofebonyandinlaidwithivoryandbluelapis.Hewatcheditasthoughitwereathingthatcouldfascinateandmakeafraid,asthoughitheldsomethingthathelongedforandyetalmostloathed.Hisbreathquickened.Amadcravingcameoverhim.Helitacigaretteandthenthrewitaway.Hiseyelidsdroopedtillthelongfringedlashesalmosttouchedhischeek.Buthestillwatchedthecabinet.Atlasthegotupfromthesofaonwhichhehadbeenlying,wentovertoit,andhavingunlockedit,touchedsomehiddenspring.Atriangulardrawerpassedslowlyout.Hisfingersmovedinstinctivelytowardsit,dippedin,andclosedonsomething.ItwasasmallChineseboxofblackandgold-dustlacquer,elaboratelywrought,thesidespatternedwithcurvedwaves,andthesilkencordshungwithroundcrystalsandtasselledinplaitedmetalthreads.Heopenedit.Insidewasagreenpaste,waxyinlustre,theodourcuriouslyheavyandpersistent. Hehesitatedforsomemoments,withastrangelyimmobilesmileuponhisface.Thenshivering,thoughtheatmosphereoftheroomwasterriblyhot,hedrewhimselfupandglancedattheclock.Itwastwentyminutestotwelve.Heputtheboxback,shuttingthecabinetdoorsashedidso,andwentintohisbedroom. Asmidnightwasstrikingbronzeblowsupontheduskyair,DorianGray,dressedcommonly,andwithamufflerwrappedroundhisthroat,creptquietlyoutofhishouse.InBondStreethefoundahansomwithagoodhorse.Hehaileditandinalowvoicegavethedriveranaddress. Themanshookhishead.“Itistoofarforme,”hemuttered. “Hereisasovereignforyou,”saidDorian.“Youshallhaveanotherifyoudrivefast.” “Allright,sir,”answeredtheman,“youwillbethereinanhour,”andafterhisfarehadgotinheturnedhishorseroundanddroverapidlytowardstheriver.