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"Oh! she is audacious enough for anything, my dear. And what is

Ferrol like? I don't know him."

"The husbands of very beautiful women belong to the criminal

classes," said Lord Henry, sipping his wine.

Lady Narborough hit him with her fan. "Lord Henry, I am not at

all surprised that the world says that you are extremely wicked."

"But what world says that?" asked Lord Henry, elevating his

eyebrows. "It can only be the next world. This world and I are on

excellent terms."

"Everybody I know says you are very wicked," cried the old lady,

shaking her head.

Lord Henry looked serious for some moments. "It is perfectly

monstrous," he said, at last, "the way people go about nowadays

saying things against one behind one's back that are absolutely

and entirely true."

"Isn't he incorrigible?" cried Dorian, leaning forward in his

chair.

"I hope so," said his hostess, laughing. "But really, if you all

worship Madame de Ferrol in this ridiculous way, I shall have to

marry again so as to be in the fashion."