Pagina 455 van 490

"The Home Farm! Go there at once and meet me. Tell one of the

grooms to bring my horse round. No. Never mind. I'll go to the

stables myself. It will save time."

In less than a quarter of an hour, Dorian Gray was galloping down

the long avenue as hard as he could go. The trees seemed to sweep

past him in spectral procession, and wild shadows to fling

themselves across his path. Once the mare swerved at a white

gate-post and nearly threw him. He lashed her across the neck

with his crop. She cleft the dusky air like an arrow. The stones

flew from her hoofs.

At last he reached the Home Farm. Two men were loitering in the

yard. He leaped from the saddle and threw the reins to one of

them. In the farthest stable a light was glimmering. Something

seemed to tell him that the body was there, and he hurried to the

door and put his hand upon the latch.