Pagina 247 de 490

The painter stared at him. "My dear boy, what nonsense!" he

cried. "Do you mean to say you don't like what I did of you?

Where is it? Why have you pulled the screen in front of it? Let

me look at it. It is the best thing I have ever done. Do take the

screen away, Dorian. It is simply disgraceful of your servant

hiding my work like that. I felt the room looked different as I

came in."

"My servant has nothing to do with it, Basil. You don't imagine I

let him arrange my room for me? He settles my flowers for me

sometimes-that is all. No; I did it myself. The light was too

strong on the portrait."

"Too strong! Surely not, my dear fellow? It is an admirable place

for it. Let me see it." And Hallward walked towards the corner of

the room.

A cry of terror broke from Dorian Gray's lips, and he rushed

between the painter and the screen. "Basil," he said, looking

very pale, "you must not look at it. I don't wish you to."