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"To see my soul!" muttered Dorian Gray, starting up from the sofa

and turning almost white from fear.

"Yes," answered Hallward gravely, and with deep-toned sorrow in

his voice, "to see your soul. But only God can do that."

A bitter laugh of mockery broke from the lips of the younger man.

"You shall see it yourself, to-night!" he cried, seizing a lamp

from the table. "Come: it is your own handiwork. Why shouldn't

you look at it? You can tell the world all about it afterwards,

if you choose. Nobody would believe you. If they did believe you,

they would like me all the better for it. I know the age better

than you do, though you will prate about it so tediously. Come, I

tell you. You have chattered enough about corruption. Now you

shall look on it face to face."