CHAPTER XVI.

bfirst.Oneminute.That’sall.” Dorian’sarmsfelltohisside.Paralysedwithterror,hedidnotknowwhattodo.Suddenlyawildhopeflashedacrosshisbrain.“Stop,”hecried.“Howlongagoisitsinceyoursisterdied?Quick,tellme!” “Eighteenyears,”saidtheman.“Whydoyouaskme?Whatdoyearsmatter?” “Eighteenyears,”laughedDorianGray,withatouchoftriumphinhisvoice.“Eighteenyears!Setmeunderthelampandlookatmyface!” JamesVanehesitatedforamoment,notunderstandingwhatwasmeant.ThenheseizedDorianGrayanddraggedhimfromthearchway. Dimandwaveringaswasthewind-blownlight,yetitservedtoshowhimthehideouserror,asitseemed,intowhichhehadfallen,forthefaceofthemanhehadsoughttokillhadallthebloomofboyhood,alltheunstainedpurityofyouth.Heseemedlittlemorethanaladoftwentysummers,hardlyolder,ifolderindeedatall,thanhissisterhadbeenwhentheyhadpartedsomanyyearsago.Itwasobviousthatthiswasnotthemanwhohaddestroyedherlife. Heloosenedhisholdandreeledback.“MyGod!myGod!”hecried,“andIwouldhavemurderedyou!” DorianGraydrewalongbreath.“Youhavebeenonthebrinkofcommittingaterriblecrime,myman,”hesaid,lookingathimsternly.“Letthisbeawarningtoyounottotakevengeanceintoyourownhands.” “Forgiveme,sir,”mutteredJamesVane.“Iwasdeceived.AchancewordIheardinthatdamneddensetmeonthewrongtrack.” “Youhadbettergohomeandputthatpistolaway,oryoumaygetintotrouble,”saidDorian,turningonhisheelandgoingslowlydownthestreet. JamesVanestoodonthepavementinhorror.Hewastremblingfromheadtofoot.Afteralittlewhile,ablackshadowthathadbeencreepingalongthedrippingwallmovedoutintothelightandcameclosetohimwithstealthyfootsteps.Hefeltahandlaidonhisarmandlookedroundwithastart.Itwasoneofthewomenwhohadbeendrinkingatthebar. “Whydidn’tyoukillhim?”shehissedout,puttinghaggardfacequiteclosetohis.“IknewyouwerefollowinghimwhenyourushedoutfromDaly’s.Youfool!Youshouldhavekilledhim.Hehaslotsofmoney,andhe’sasbadasbad.” “HeisnotthemanIamlookingfor,”heanswered,“andIwantnoman’smoney.Iwantaman’slife.ThemanwhoselifeIwantmustbenearlyfortynow.Thisoneislittlemorethanaboy.ThankGod,Ihavenotgothisblooduponmyhands.” Thewomangaveabitterlaugh.“Littlemorethanaboy!”shesneered.“Why,man,it’snighoneighteenyearssincePrinceCharmingmademewhatIam.” “Youlie!”criedJamesVane. Sheraisedherhanduptoheaven.“BeforeGodIamtellingthetruth,”shecried. “BeforeGod?” “Strikemedumbifitain’tso.Heistheworstonethatcomeshere.Theysayhehassoldhimselftothedevilforaprettyface.It’snighoneighteenyearssinceImethim.Hehasn’tchangedmuchsincethen.Ihave,though,”sheadded,withasicklyleer. “Youswearthis?” “Iswearit,”cameinhoarseechofromherflatmouth.“Butdon’tgivemeawaytohim,”shewhined“Iamafraidofhim.Letmehavesomemoneyformynight’slodging.” Hebrokefromherwithanoathandrushedtothecornerofthestreet,butDorianGrayhaddisappeared.Whenhelookedback,thewomanhadvanishedalso.