The Picture Of Dorian Gray - Chapter 15

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Episode Transcript

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Chapter fifteen of the Picture of Dorryand Gray by Oscar Wilde read by Bob
Neufeld, that evening at eight thirty, exquisitely dressed and wearing a large button
hole of Parma violets, Dorry andGray was ushered into Lady Narborough's drawing room

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by bowing servants. His forehead wasthrobbing with maddened nerves, and he felt
wildly excited. But his manner ashe bent over his hostess's hand, was
as easy and graceful as ever.Perhaps one never seems so much at one's
ease as when one has to playa part. Certainly, no one looking

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at Dorry and Gray that knight couldhave believed that he had passed through a
tragedy as horrible as any tragedy ofour age. Those finely shaped fingers could
never have clutched a knife for sin, nor those smiling lips have cried out
on God and goodness. He himselfcould not help wondering at the calm of

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his demeanor, and for a momentfelt keenly the terrible pleasure of a double
life. It was a small partygot up rather in a hurry by Lady
Narborough, who was a very cleverwoman, with what Lord Henry used to
describe as the remains of really remarkableugliness. She had proved an excellent wife

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to one of our most tedious ambassadors, and having buried her husband properly in
a marble mausoleum which she had herselfdesigned, and married off her daughters to
some rich, rather elderly men,she devoted herself now to the pleasures of
French fiction, French cookery, andFrench esprie when she could get it.

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Dorian was one of her especial favorites, and she always told them that she
was extremely glad she had not methim in early life. I know,
my dear, I should have fallenmadly in love with you, used to
say, and thrown my bonnet rightover the mills. For your sake.
It is most fortunate that you werenot thought of at the time. As

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it was, our bonnets were sounbecoming, and the mills were so occupied
in trying to raise the wind,that I never had even a flirtation with
anybody. However, that was allNarborough's fault. He was dreadfully short sighted,
and there is no pleasure in takingin a husband who never sees anything.

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Her guests this evening were rather tedious. The fact was, as she
explained to Dorian, behind a veryshabby fan, one of her married daughters
had come up quite suddenly to staywith her, and to make matters worse,
had actually brought her husband with her. I think it is most unkind

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of her, my dear, shewhispered. Of course I go and stay
with them every summer after I comefrom Hamburg. But then an old woman
like me must have fresh air sometimes, And besides, I really wake them
up. You don't know what anexistence they lead down there. It is
pure unadulterated country life. They getup early because they have so much to

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do, and go to bed earlybecause they have so little to think about.
There has not been a scandal inthe neighborhood since the time of Queen
Elizabeth, and consequently they all fallasleep after dinner. You shan't sit next
either of them. You shall sitby me and amuse me. Dorrian murmured

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a graceful compliments and looked round theroom. Yes, it was certainly a
tedious party. Two of the peoplehe had never seen before, and the
others consisted of earnest Herodan, oneof those middle aged mediocrities so common in
London clubs, who have no enemiesbut are thoroughly disliked by their friends.

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Lady Ruxton, an overdressed woman offorty seven with a hooked nose, who
was always trying to get herself compromised, but was so peculiarly plain that,
to her great disappointments, no onewould ever believe anything against her. Missus
Irline, a pushing nobody with adelightful lisp and Venetian red hair. Lady

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Alice Chapman, his hostess's daughter,a dowdy, dull girl with one of
those characteristic British faces that, onceseen, are never remembered, and her
husband, a red cheeked, whitewhiskered creature, who, like so many
of his class, was under theimpression that inordinate joviality can atone for an

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entire lack of ideas. He wasrather sorry he had come till Lady Narborough,
looking at the great ormolou guilt clockthat sprawled in gaudy curves in the
moved raped mantelshelf, exclaimed, howhorrid of Henry Wotton to be so late?
I sent round word to him thismorning on chance, and he promised

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faithfully not to disappoint me. Itwas some consolation that Harry was to be
there. And when the door openedand he heard his slow musical voice lending
charm to some insincere apology, heceased to be bored. But at dinner
he could not eat anything. Platesafter plate went away untasted. Lady Narborough

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kept scolding him for what she calledan insult to poor Adolph, who invented
the menu specially for you. Andnow and then Lord Henry looked across at
him, wondering at his silence andabstracted manner. From time to time the
butler filled his glass with champagne.He drank eagerly, and his thirst seemed

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to increase turn said Lord Henry.At last asked, as the CHAUFFROI was
being handed round. What is thematter with you to night? You are
quite out of sorts. I believehe is in love, cried Lady Narborough,
and that he is afraid to tellme for fear I shall be jealous.
He is quite right, I certainlyshould, dear Lady Narborough, murmured

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Dorian, smiling, I have notbeen in love for a whole week,
not in fact, since Madame deFerro left town. How you men can
fall in love with that woman,exclaimed the old lady. I really cannot
understand it. It is simply becauseshe remembers you when you were a little

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girl, Lady Narborough, said,Lord Henry. She is the one link
between us and your short frocks.She does not remember my short frocks at
all, Lord Henry, But Iremember her very well at Vienna thirty years
ago, and how decolletage she was. She is still deconnete, he answered,

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taking an olive in his long fingers. And when she is in a
very smart gown she looks like anaddition deluxe of a bad French novel.
She is really wonderful and the fullof surprises. Her capacity for family affection
is extraordinary. When her third husbanddied, her hair turned quite gold from

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grief. How can you, harry, cried Dorian. It is a most
romantic explanation, laughed the hostess.But her third husband, Lord Henry,
you don't mean to say faroll isthe fourth? Certainly, Lady Narborough,
I don't believe a word of it, well, asked mister Gray. He

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is one of her most intimate friends. Is it true, mister Gray,
She assures me so, Lady Narborough, said, Dorian. I asked her
why, like Marguerite de Navarre,she had her hearts emboumed and hung at
her girdle. She told me shedidn't because none of them had any hearts

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at all. Four husbands upon byword, that is, trowed his head
throw the thus, I tell her, said Dorian. Oh, she is
audacious enough for anything, my dear. And what is Pharaoh like? I
don't know him. The husbands ofvery beautiful women belong to the criminal classes,

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said Lord Henry, sipping his wine. Lady Narborough hit him with her
fan. Lord Henry, I amnot at all surprised that the world says
that you are extremely wicked. Butwhat world says that? Asked Lord Henry,
elevating his eyebrows. It can onlybe the next world. This world

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and I are on excellent terms.Everybody I know says you are very wicked,
cried the old lady, shaking herhead. Lord Henry looked serious for
some moments. It is perfectly monstrous, he said, at last, the
way people go about nowadays saying thingsagainst one behind one's back, that are

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absolutely and entirely true. Isn't heincorrigible? Cried Dorian, leaning forward in
his chair. I hope, so, said his hostess, laughing. But
really, if you all worship Madamede Ferul in this ridiculous way, I
shall have to marry again so asto be in the fashion. You will

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never marry again, lady in Arboroughbroke in, Lord Henry, you were
far too happy. When a womanmarries again, it is because she detested
her first husband. When a manmarries again, it is because he adored
his first wife. Women try theirluck. Men risk there. Now.

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Borough wasn't perfect, cried the oldlady. If he had been, you
would not have loved him, Mydear lady, was the rejoinder. Women
love us for our defects. Ifwe have enough of them, they will
forgive us everything, even our intellects. You will never ask me to dinner
again. After saying this, Iam afraid, Lady Narborough, But it

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is quite true. Of course itis true, Lord Henry. If we
women did not love you for yourdefects, where would you all be?
Not one of you would ever bemarried. You would be a set of
unfortunate bachelors, not, however,that that would alter you much. Nowadays

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all the married men live like bachelors, and all the bachelors like married men.
Fan de Siackel murmured Lord Henry.Fan de Globe answered his hostess.
I wish it were Fandiglobe said Dorianwith a sigh. Life is a great
disappointment. Ah my dear, criedLady Narborough, putting on her gloves.

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Don't tell me that you have exhaustedlife. When a man says that,
one knows that life has exhausted him. Lord Henry is very wicked, and
I sometimes wish that I had been. But you are made to be good.
You look so good. I mustfind you a nice wife, Lord

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Henry, don't you think that misterGray should get married? I'm always telling
him so, Lady Narborough said LordHenry with a bow. Well, we
must look out for a suitable matchfor him. I shall go through Debrett
carefully to night and draw out alist of all the eligible young ladies,

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with their ages, Lady Narborough askedDorian. Of course, with their ages
slightly edited. But nothing must bedone in a hurry. I want it
to be what the morning Post callsa suitable alliance, and I want you
both to be happy. What nonsensepeople talk about happy marriages, exclaimed Lord

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Henry. A man can be happywith any woman as long as he does
not love her. Ah, whata cynic you are, cried the old
lady, pushing back her chair andnodding to Lady Ruxton, you must come
and dine with me soon again.You are really an admirable tonic, much

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better than what Sir Andrew prescribes forme. You must tell me what people
you would like to meet, though. I want it to be a delightful
gathering. I like men who havea future and women who have a past,
he answered. Or do you thinkthat would make it a petticoat party?
I fears, oh, she said, laughing as she stood up A

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thousand pardons, My dear Lady Ruxton, she added, I didn't see you
hadn't finished your cigarette. Never mind, Lady Narborough, I smoke a great
deal too much. I am goingto limit myself for the future. Pray
don't to Lady Roxton, said LordHenry. Moderation is a fatal thing.

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Enough is as bad as a meal, more than enough is as good as
a feast. Lady Ruxton glanced athim curiously. You must come and explain
that to me some afternoon, LordHenry. It sounds a fascinating theory,
she murmured as she swept out ofthe room. Now mind, you don't

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stay too long over your politics andscandal, cried Lady Narborough from the door.
If you do, we are sureto squabble upstairs. The man laughed,
and mister Chapman got up solemnly fromthe foot of the table and came
over to the top. Dorian Graychanged his seat and went and sat by
Lord Henry. Mister Chapman began totalk in a loud voice about the situation

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in the House of Commons, agaffard at his adversaries. The word doctrinaire,
word full of terror to the Britishmind, reappeared from time to time
between his explosions, and alliterative prefectsserved as an ornament of oratory. He
hoisted the union jack on the pinnaclesof thought, the inherited stupidity of the

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race sound English common sense, hejovially termed. It was shown to be
the proper bulwark for society. Asmile curved Lord Henry's lips, and he
turned round and looked at Dorian.Are you better, my dear fellow,
he asked, you seemed rather outof sorts at dinner. I am quite

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well, Harry, I am tired. That is all. You were charming
last night. The little duchess isquite devoted to you, she tells me.
She is going down to sell me. She has promised to come on
the twentieth. Is Monmouth to bethere too? Oh? Yes, Harry,
He bores made readfully, almost asmuch as he bores her. She

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is very clever, too clever fora woman. She lacks the indefinable charm
of weakness. It is the feetof clay that make the goal of the
image precious. Her feet are verypretty, but they are not feet of
clay, white porcelain feet, ifyou like. They have been through the

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fire, and what fire does notdestroy, it hardens. She has had
experiences. How long has she beenmarried, asked Dorian. An eternity,
she tells me. I believe accordingto the peerage it is ten years.
But ten years with Monmouth must havebeen like eternity with time thrown in.

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Who else is coming? Oh?The Willoughbys, Lord Rugby and his wife,
our hostess Jeffrey Closton. The usualset, I have asked Lord Grotrian.
I like him, said Lord HenryA great many people don't, but
I find him charming. He atonesfor being occasionally somewhat overdressed by being always

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absolutely over educated. He is avery modern type. I don't know if
he will be able to come,Harry. He may have to go to
Monte Carlo with his father. Ah, what a nuisance people's people are.
Try and make him come. Bythe way, Dorian, you ran off
very early last night. You leftbefore eleven. What did you do afterwards?

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Did you go straight home? Dorrianglanced at him hurriedly and frowned.
No, Harry, he said atlast, I did not get home till
nearly three. Did you go tothe club, yes, he answered,
Then he bit his lip. No, I don't mean that I didn't go
to the club. I walked about. I forget what I did. How

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inquisitive you are, Harry. Youalways want to know what one has been
doing. I always want to forgetwhat I have been doing. I came
in at half past two. Ifyou wish to know the exact time I
had left My latch key at home, and my servant had to let me
in. If you want any corroborativeevidence on the subject, you can ask
him. Lord Henry shrugged his shoulders. My dear fellow, as if I

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cared, let us go up tothe drawing room. No, Sherry,
thank you, mister Chapman. Somethinghas happened to you, Dorian. Tell
me what it is. You arenot yourself to night. Don't mind me,
Harry. I am irritable and outof temper. I shall come round
and see you to morrow, oldnext day. Make my excuses to Lady

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Marborough. I shan't go upstairs.I shall go home. I must go
home, all right, Dorian,I dare say I shall see you to
morrow at tea time. The Duchessis coming. I will try to be
there, Harry, he said,leaving the room. As he drove back
to his own house, he wasconscious that the sense of terror he thought

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he had strangled had come back tohim. Lord Henry's casual questioning had made
him lose his nerve for the moment, and he wanted his nerve still.
Things that were dangerous had to bedestroyed, he winced. He hated the
idea of even touching them. Yetit had to be done, he realized

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that, And when he had lockedthe door of his library, he opened
the secret press into which he hadthrust Basil Holward's coat and bag. A
huge fire was blazing. He piledanother log on it. The smell of
the singing clothes and burning leather washorrible. It took him three quarters of
an hour to consume everything. Atthe end he felt faint and sick,

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and, having lit some Algerian pastillesin a pierced copper brazier, he bathed
his hands and forehead with a coolmusk scentered vinegar. Suddenly he started.
His eyes grew strangely bright, andhe gnawed nervously at his under lip.
Between two of the windows stood alarge Florentine cabinet, made out of ebony

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and inlaid with ivory and blue lappice. He watched it as though it were
a thing that could fasten and ateand make afraid, as though it held
something that he longed for and yetalmost loathed. His breath quickened, a
mad craving came over him. Helit a cigarette and then threw it away.

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His eyelids drooped till the long fringedlashes almost touched his cheek, but
he still watched the cabinet. Atlast, he got up from the sofa
on which he had been lying,went over to it, and, having
unlocked it, touched some hidden spring. A triangular drawer passed slowly out.

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His fingers moved instinctively towards it,dipped in and closed on something. It
was a small Chinese box of blackand gold dust lacquer, elaborately wrought,
the sides patterned with curved waves,and the silken cords hung with round crystals
and tasseled in plaited metal threads.He opened it. Inside was a green

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paste, waxy in luster, theodor curiously heavy and persistent. He hesitated
for some moments, with a strangelyimmobile smile upon his face, then shivering,
though the atmosphere of the room wasterribly hot. He drew himself up
and glanced at the clock. Itwas twenty minutes to twelve. He put

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the box back, shutting the cabinetdoors as he did so, and went
into his bedroom. As midnight wasstriking bronze blows upon the dusky air.
Dorry and gray, dressed commonly andwith a muffler wrapped round his throat,
crept quietly out of his house inBond Street. He found a hansom with

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a good horse. He hailed it, and in a low voice gave the
driver and a dress. The manshook his head. It's too far from
me, he muttered. Here isa sovereign for you, said Dorian.
You shall have another if you drivefast. All right, sir, answered
the man, You will be therein an hour, And after his fare

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had got in, he turned hishorse round and drove rapidly towards the river.
End of chapter fifteen.