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Dorian Gray smiled. There was a curl of contempt in his lips.

"Come upstairs, Basil," he said quietly. "I keep a diary of my

life from day to day, and it never leaves the room in which it is

written. I shall show it to you if you come with me."

"I shall come with you, Dorian, if you wish it. I see I have

missed my train. That makes no matter. I can go to-morrow. But

don't ask me to read anything to-night. All I want is a plain

answer to my question."

"That shall be given to you upstairs. I could not give it here.

You will not have to read long."

CHAPTER XIII.

He passed out of the room and began the ascent, Basil Hallward

following close behind. They walked softly, as men do

instinctively at night. The lamp cast fantastic shadows on the

wall and staircase. A rising wind made some of the windows

rattle.

When they reached the top landing, Dorian set the lamp down on

the floor, and taking out the key, turned it in the lock. "You

insist on knowing, Basil?" he asked in a low voice.

"Yes."