CHAPTER XVI.

adarkenedchamber.AsDorianhurriedupitsthreericketysteps,theheavyodourofopiummethim.Heheavedadeepbreath,andhisnostrilsquiveredwithpleasure.Whenheentered,ayoungmanwithsmoothyellowhair,whowasbendingoveralamplightingalongthinpipe,lookedupathimandnoddedinahesitatingmanner. “Youhere,Adrian?”mutteredDorian. “WhereelseshouldIbe?”heanswered,listlessly.“Noneofthechapswillspeaktomenow.” “IthoughtyouhadleftEngland.” “Darlingtonisnotgoingtodoanything.Mybrotherpaidthebillatlast.Georgedoesn’tspeaktomeeither....Idon’tcare,”headdedwithasigh.“Aslongasonehasthisstuff,onedoesn’twantfriends.IthinkIhavehadtoomanyfriends.” Dorianwincedandlookedroundatthegrotesquethingsthatlayinsuchfantasticposturesontheraggedmattresses.Thetwistedlimbs,thegapingmouths,thestaringlustrelesseyes,fascinatedhim.Heknewinwhatstrangeheavenstheyweresuffering,andwhatdullhellswereteachingthemthesecretofsomenewjoy.Theywerebetteroffthanhewas.Hewasprisonedinthought.Memory,likeahorriblemalady,waseatinghissoulaway.FromtimetotimeheseemedtoseetheeyesofBasilHallwardlookingathim.Yethefelthecouldnotstay.ThepresenceofAdrianSingletontroubledhim.Hewantedtobewherenoonewouldknowwhohewas.Hewantedtoescapefromhimself. “Iamgoingontotheotherplace,”hesaidafterapause. “Onthewharf?” “Yes.” “Thatmad-catissuretobethere.Theywon’thaveherinthisplacenow.” Dorianshruggedhisshoulders.“Iamsickofwomenwholoveone.Womenwhohateonearemuchmoreinteresting.Besides,thestuffisbetter.” “Muchthesame.” “Ilikeitbetter.Comeandhavesomethingtodrink.Imusthavesomething.” “Idon’twantanything,”murmuredtheyoungman. “Nevermind.” AdrianSingletonroseupwearilyandfollowedDoriantothebar.Ahalf-caste,inaraggedturbanandashabbyulster,grinnedahideousgreetingashethrustabottleofbrandyandtwotumblersinfrontofthem.Thewomensidledupandbegantochatter.DorianturnedhisbackonthemandsaidsomethinginalowvoicetoAdrianSingleton. Acrookedsmile,likeaMalaycrease,writhedacrossthefaceofoneofthewomen.“Weareveryproudto-night,”shesneered. “ForGod’ssakedon’ttalktome,”criedDorian,stampinghisfootontheground.“Whatdoyouwant?Money?Hereitis.Don’tevertalktomeagain.” Tworedsparksflashedforamomentinthewoman’ssoddeneyes,thenflickeredoutandleftthemdullandglazed.Shetossedherheadandrakedthecoinsoffthecounterwithgreedyfingers.Hercompanionwatchedherenviously. “It’snouse,”sighedAdrianSingleton.“Idon’tcaretogoback.Whatdoesitmatter?Iamquitehappyhere.” “Youwillwritetomeifyouwantanything,won’tyou?”saidDorian,afterapause. “Perhaps.” “Goodnight,then.” “Goodnight,”answeredtheyoungman,passingupthestepsandwipinghisparchedmouthwithahandkerchief. Dorianwalkedtothedoorwithalookofpaininhisface.Ashedrewthecurtainaside,ahideouslaughbrokefromthepaintedlipsofthewomanwhohadtakenhismoney.“Theregoesthedevil’sbargain!”shehiccoughed,