道林格雷的画像_奥斯卡·王尔德-第34章

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dorian　gray　drew　a　long　breath。　〃you　have　been　on　the　brink　of　mitting　a　terrible　crime；　my　man；〃　he　said；　looking　at　him　sternly。　〃let　this　be　a　warning　to　you　not　to　take　vengeance　into　your　own　hands。〃

〃forgive　me；　sir；〃　muttered　james　vane。　〃i　was　deceived。　a　chance　word　i　heard　in　that　damned　den　set　me　on　the　wrong　track。〃

〃you　had　better　go　home　and　put　that　pistol　away；　or　you　may　get　into　trouble；〃　said　dorian；　turning　on　his　heel　and　going　slowly　down　the　street。

james　vane　stood　on　the　pavement　in　horror。　he　was　trembling　from　head　to　foot。　after　a　little　while；　a　black　shadow　that　had　been　creeping　along　the　dripping　wall　moved　out　into　the　light　and　came　close　to　him　with　stealthy　footsteps。　he　felt　a　hand　laid　on　his　arm　and　looked　round　with　a　start。　it　was　one　of　the　women　who　had　been　drinking　at　the　bar。

〃why　didnt　you　kill　him？〃　she　hissed　out；　putting　haggard　face　quite　close　to　his。　〃i　knew　you　were　following　him　when　you　rushed　out　from　dalys。　you　fool！　you　should　have　killed　him。　he　has　lots　of　money；　and　hes　as　bad　as　bad。〃

〃he　is　not　the　man　i　am　looking　for；〃　he　answered；　〃and　i　want　no　mans　money。　i　want　a　mans　life。　the　man　whose　life　i　want　must　be　nearly　forty　now。　this　one　is　little　more　than　a　boy。　thank　god；　i　have　not　got　his　blood　upon　my　hands。〃

the　woman　gave　a　bitter　laugh。　〃little　more　than　a　boy！〃　she　sneered。　〃why；　man；　its　nigh　on　eighteen　years　since　prince　charming　made　me　what　i　am。〃

〃you　lie！〃　cried　james　vane。

she　raised　her　hand　up　to　heaven。　〃before　god　i　am　telling　the　truth；〃　she　cried。

〃before　god？〃

〃strike　me　dumb　if　it　aint　so。　he　is　the　worst　one　that　es　here。　they　say　he　has　sold　himself　to　the　devil　for　a　pretty　face。　its　nigh　on　eighteen　years　since　i　met　him。　he　hasnt　changed　much　since　then。　i　have；　though；〃　she　added；　with　a　sickly　leer。

〃you　swear　this？〃

〃i　swear　it；〃　came　in　hoarse　echo　from　her　flat　mouth。　〃but　dont　give　me　away　to　him；〃　she　whined；　〃i　am　afraid　of　him。　let　me　have　some　money　for　my　nights　lodging。〃

he　broke　from　her　with　an　oath　and　rushed　to　the　corner　of　the　street；　but　dorian　gray　had　disappeared。　when　he　looked　back；　the　woman　had　vanished　also。　

銆�



Chapter　17

锛堝皬锛忥紡璇达紡锛弔锛忥紡xt锝�//澶�//鍫傦級
chapter　17

a　week　later　dorian　gray　was　sitting　in　the　conservatory　at　selby　royal；　talking　to　the　pretty　duchess　of　monmouth；　who　with　her　husband；　a　jaded…looking　man　of　sixty；　was　amongst　his　guests。　it　was　tea…time；　and　the　mellow　light　of　the　huge；　lace…covered　lamp　that　stood　on　the　table　lit　up　the　delicate　china　and　hammered　silver　of　the　service　at　which　the　duchess　was　presiding。　her　white　hands　were　moving　daintily　among　the　cups；　and　her　full　red　lips　were　smiling　at　something　that　dorian　had　whispered　to　her。　lord　henry　was　lying　back　in　a　silk…draped　wicker　chair；　looking　at　them。　on　a　peach…coloured　divan　sat　lady　narborough；　pretending　to　listen　to　the　dukes　description　of　the　last　brazilian　beetle　that　he　had　added　to　his　collection。　three　young　men　in　elaborate　smoking…suits　were　handing　tea…cakes　to　some　of　the　women。　the　house…party　consisted　of　twelve　people；　and　there　were　more　expected　to　arrive　on　the　next　day。

〃what　are　you　two　talking　about？〃　said　lord　henry；　strolling　over　to　the　table　and　putting　his　cup　down。　〃i　hope　dorian　has　told　you　about　my　plan　for　rechristening　everything；　gladys。　it　is　a　delightful　idea。〃

〃but　i　dont　want　to　be　rechristened；　harry；〃　rejoined　the　duchess；　looking　up　at　him　with　her　wonderful　eyes。　〃i　am　quite　satisfied　with　my　own　name；　and　i　am　sure　mr。　gray　should　be　satisfied　with　his。〃

〃my　dear　gladys；　i　would　not　alter　either　name　for　the　world。　they　are　both　perfect。　i　was　thinking　chiefly　of　flowers。　yesterday　i　cut　an　orchid；　for　my　button…hole。　it　was　a　marvellous　spotted　thing；　as　effective　as　the　seven　deadly　sins。　in　a　thoughtless　moment　i　asked　one　of　the　gardeners　what　it　was　called。　he　told　me　it　was　a　fine　specimen　of　robinsoniana；　or　something　dreadful　of　that　kind。　it　is　a　sad　truth；　but　we　have　lost　the　faculty　of　giving　lovely　names　to　things。　names　are　everything。　i　never　quarrel　with　actions。　my　one　quarrel　is　with　words。　that　is　the　reason　i　hate　vulgar　realism　in　literature。　the　man　who　could　call　a　spade　a　spade　should　be　pelled　to　use　one。　it　is　the　only　thing　he　is　fit　for。〃

〃then　what　should　we　call　you；　harry？〃　she　asked。

〃his　name　is　prince　paradox；〃　said　dorian。

〃i　recognize　him　in　a　flash；〃　exclaimed　the　duchess。

〃i　wont　hear　of　it；〃　laughed　lord　henry；　sinking　into　a　chair。　〃from　a　label　there　is　no　escape！　i　refuse　the　title。〃

〃royalties　may　not　abdicate；〃　fell　as　a　warning　from　pretty　lips。

〃you　wish　me　to　defend　my　throne；　then？〃

〃yes。

〃i　give　the　truths　of　to…morrow。〃

〃i　prefer　the　mistakes　of　to…day；〃　she　answered。

〃you　disarm　me；　gladys；〃　he　cried；　catching　the　wilfulness　of　her　mood。

〃of　your　shield；　harry；　not　of　your　spear。〃

〃i　never　tilt　against　beauty；〃　he　said；　with　a　wave　of　his　hand。

〃that　is　your　error；　harry；　believe　me。　you　value　beauty　far　too　much。〃

〃how　can　you　say　that？　i　admit　that　i　think　that　it　is　better　to　be　beautiful　than　to　be　good。　but　on　the　other　hand；　no　one　is　more　ready　than　i　am　to　acknowledge　that　it　is　better　to　be　good　than　to　be　ugly。〃

〃ugliness　is　one　of　the　seven　deadly　sins；　then？〃　cried　the　duchess。　〃what　bees　of　your　simile　about　the　orchid？〃

〃ugliness　is　one　of　the　seven　deadly　virtues；　gladys。　you；　as　a　good　tory；　must　not　underrate　them。　beer；　the　bible；　and　the　seven　deadly　virtues　have　made　our　england　what　she　is。〃

〃you　dont　like　your　country；　then？〃　she　asked。

〃i　live　in　it。〃

〃that　you　may　censure　it　the　better。〃

〃would　you　have　me　take　the　verdict　of　europe　on　it？〃　he　inquired。

〃what　do　they　say　of　us？〃

〃that　tartuffe　has　emigrated　to　england　and　opened　a　shop。〃

〃is　that　yours；　harry？〃

〃i　give　it　to　you。〃

〃i　could　not　use　it。　it　is　too　true。〃

〃you　need　not　be　afraid。　our　countrymen　never　recognize　a　description。〃

〃they　are　practical。〃

〃they　are　more　cunning　than　practical。　when　they　make　up　their　ledger；　they　balance　stupidity　by　wealth；　and　vice　by　hypocrisy。〃

〃still；　we　have　done　great　things。〃

〃great　things　have　been　thrust　on　us；　gladys。〃

〃we　have　carried　their　burden。〃

〃only　as　far　as　the　stock　exchange。〃

she　shook　her　head。　〃i　believe　in　the　race；〃　she　cried。

〃it　represents　the　survival　of　the　pushing。〃

〃it　has　development。〃

〃decay　fascinates　me　more。〃

〃what　of　art？〃　she　asked。

〃it　is　a　malady。〃

〃love？〃

〃an　illusion。〃

〃religion？〃

〃the　fashionable　substitute　for　belief。〃

〃you　are　a　sceptic。〃

〃never！　scepticism　is　the　beginning　of　faith。〃

〃what　are　you？〃

〃to　define　is　to　limit。〃

〃give　me　a　clue。〃

〃threads　snap。　you　would　lose　your　way　in　the　labyrinth。〃

〃you　bewilder　me。　let　us　talk　of　some　one　else。〃

〃our　host　is　a　delightful　topic。　years　ago　he　was　christened　prince　charming。〃

〃ah！　dont　remind　me　of　that；〃　cried　dorian　gray。

〃our　host　is　rather　horrid　this　evening；〃　answered　the　duchess；　colouring。　〃i　believe　he　thinks　that　monmouth　married　me　on　purely　scientific　principles　as　the　best　specimen　he　could　find　of　a　modern　butterfly。〃

〃well；　i　hope　he　wont　stick　pins　into　you；　duchess；〃　laughed　dorian。

〃oh！　my　maid　does　that　already；　mr。　gray；　when　she　is　annoyed　with　me。〃

〃and　what　does　she　get　annoyed　with　you　about；　duchess？〃

〃for　the　most　trivial　things；　mr。　gray；　i　assure　you。　usually　because　i　e　in　at　ten　minutes　to　nine　and　tell　her　that　i　must　be　dressed　by　half…past　eight。〃

〃how　unreasonable　of　her！　you　should　give　her　warning。〃

〃i　darent；　mr。　gray。　why；　she　invents　hats　for　me。　you　remember　the　one　i　wore　at　lady　hilstones　garden…party？　you　dont；　but　it　is　nice　of　you　to　pretend　that　you　do。　well；　she　made　if　out　of　nothing。　all　good　hats　are　made　out　of　nothing。〃

〃like　all　good　reputations；　gladys；〃　interrupted　lord　henry。　〃every　effect　that　one　produces　gives　one　an　enemy。　to　be　popular　one　must　be　a　mediocrity。〃

〃not　with　women；〃　said　the　duchess；　shaking　her　head；　〃and　women　rule　the　world。　i　assure　you　we　cant　bear　mediocrities。　we　women；　as　some　one　says；　love　with　our　ears；　just　as　you　men　love　with　your　eyes；　if　you　ever　love　at　all。〃

〃it　seems　to　me　that　we　never　do　anything　else；〃　murmured　dorian。

〃ah！　then；　you　never　really　love；　mr。　gray；〃　answered　the　duchess　with　mock　sadness。

〃my　dear　gladys！〃　cried　lord　henry。　〃how　can　you　say　that？　romance　lives　by　repetition；　and　repetition　converts　an　appetite　into　an　art。　besides；　each　time　that　one　loves　is　the　only　time　one　has　ever　loved。　difference　of　object　does　not　alter　singleness　of　passion。　it　merely　intensifies　it。　we　can　have　in　life　but　one　great　experience　at　best；　and　the　secret　of　life　is　to　reproduce　that　experience　as　often　as　possible。〃

〃even　when　one　has　been　wounded　by　it；　harry？〃　asked　the　duchess　after　a　pause。

〃especially　when　one　has　been　wounded　by　it；〃　answered　lord　henry。

the　duchess　turned　and　looked　at　dorian　gray　with　a　curious　expression　in　her　eyes。　〃what　do　you　say　to　that；　mr。　gray？〃　she　inquired。

dorian　hesitated　for　a　moment。　then　he　threw　his　head　back　and　laughed。　〃i　always　agree　with　harry；　duchess。〃

〃even　when　he　is　wrong？〃

〃harry　is　never　wrong；　duchess。〃

〃and　does　his　philosophy　make　you　happy？〃

〃i　have　never　searched　for　happiness。　who　wants　happiness？　i　have　searched　for　pleasure。〃

〃and　found　it；　mr。　gray？〃

〃often。　too　often。〃

the　duchess　sighed。　〃i　am　searching　for　peace；〃　she　said；　〃and　if　i　dont　go　and　dress；　i　shall　have　none　this　evening。〃

〃let　me　get　you　some　orchids；　duchess；〃　cried　dorian；　starting　to　his　feet　and　walking　down　the　conservatory。

〃you　are　flirting　disgracefully　with　him；〃　said　lord　henry　to　his　cousin。　〃you　had　better　take　care。　he　is　very　fascinating。〃

〃if　he　were　not；　there　would　be　no　battle。〃

〃greek　meets　greek；　then？〃

〃i　am　on　the　side　of　the　trojans。　they　fought　for　a　woman。〃

〃they　were　defeated。〃

〃there　are　worse　things　than　capture；〃　she　answered。

〃you　gallop　with　a　loose　rein。〃

〃pace　gives　life；〃　was　the　riposte。

〃i　shall　write　it　in　my　diary　to…night。〃

〃what？〃

〃that　a　burnt　child　loves　the　fire。〃

〃i　am　not　even　singed。　my　wings　are　untouched。〃

〃you　use　them　for　everything；　except　flight。〃

〃courage　has　passed　from　men　to　women。　it　is　a　new　experience　for　us。〃

〃you　have　a　rival。〃

〃who？〃

he　laughed。　〃lady　narborough；〃　he　whispered。　〃she　perfectly　adores　him。〃

〃you　fill　me　with　apprehension。　the　appeal　to　antiquity　is　fatal　to　us　who　are　romanticists。〃

〃romanticists！　you　have　all　the　methods　of　science。〃

〃men　have　educated　us。〃

〃but　not　explained　you。〃

〃describe　us　as　a　sex；〃　was　her　challenge。

〃sphinxes　without　secrets。〃

she　looked　at　him；　smiling。　〃how　long　mr。　gray　is！〃　she　said。　〃let　us　go　and　help　him。　i　have　not　yet　told　him　the　colour　of　my　frock。〃

〃ah！　you　must　suit　your　frock　to　his　flowers；　gladys。〃

〃that　would　be　a　premature　surrender。〃

〃romantic　art　begins　with　its　climax。〃

〃i　must　keep　an　opportunity　for　retreat。〃

〃in　the　parthian　manner？〃

〃they　found　safety　in　the　desert。　i　could　not　do　that。〃