第34页 / 共490页

Lord Henry looked at him. Yes, he was certainly wonderfully

handsome, with his finely curved scarlet lips, his frank blue

eyes, his crisp gold hair. There was something in his face that

made one trust him at once. All the candour of youth was there,

as well as all youth's passionate purity. One felt that he had

kept himself unspotted from the world. No wonder Basil Hallward

worshipped him.

"You are too charming to go in for philanthropy, Mr. Gray-far too

charming." And Lord Henry flung himself down on the divan and

opened his cigarette-case.

The painter had been busy mixing his colours and getting his

brushes ready. He was looking worried, and when he heard Lord

Henry's last remark, he glanced at him, hesitated for a moment,

and then said, "Harry, I want to finish this picture to-day.

Would you think it awfully rude of me if I asked you to go away?"

Lord Henry smiled and looked at Dorian Gray. "Am I to go, Mr.

Gray?" he asked.