道林格雷的画像_奥斯卡·王尔德-第41节

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ce　its　charm。　for　all　sins；　as　theologians　weary　not　of　reminding　us；　are　sins　of　disobedience。　when　that　high　spirit；　that　morning　star　of　evil；　fell　from　heaven；　it　was　as　a　rebel　that　he　fell。

callous；　concentrated　on　evil；　with　stained　mind；　and　soul　hungry　for　rebellion；　dorian　gray　hastened　on；　quickening　his　step　as　he　went；　but　as　he　darted　aside　into　a　dim　archway；　that　had　served　him　often　as　a　short　cut　to　the　ill…famed　place　where　he　was　going；　he　felt　himself　suddenly　seized　from　behind；　and　before　be　had　time　to　defend　himself；　he　was　thrust　back　against　the　wall；　with　a　brutal　hand　round　his　throat。

he　struggled　madly　for　life；　and　by　a　terrible　effort　wrenched　the　tightening　fingers　away。　in　a　second　he　heard　the　click　of　a　revolver；　and　saw　the　gleam　of　a　polished　barrel；　pointing　straight　at　his　head；　and　the　dusky　form　of　a　short；　thick…set　man　facing　him。

〃what　do　you　want？〃　he　gasped。

〃keep　quiet；〃　said　the　man。　〃if　you　stir；　i　shoot　you。〃

〃you　are　mad。　what　have　i　done　to　you？〃

〃you　wrecked　the　life　of　sibyl　vane；〃　was　the　answer；　〃and　sibyl　vane　was　my　sister。　she　killed　herself。　i　know　it。　her　death　is　at　your　door。　i　swore　i　would　kill　you　in　return。　for　years　i　have　sought　you。　i　had　no　clue；　no　trace。　the　two　people　who　could　have　described　you　were　dead。　i　knew　nothing　of　you　but　the　pet　name　she　used　to　call　you。　i　heard　it　to…night　by　chance。　make　your　peace　with　god；　for　to…night　you　are　going　to　die。〃

dorian　gray　grew　sick　with　fear。　〃i　never　knew　her；〃　he　stammered。　〃i　never　heard　of　her。　you　are　mad。〃

〃you　had　better　confess　your　sin；　for　as　sure　as　i　am　james　vane；　you　are　going　to　die。〃　there　was　a　horrible　moment。　dorian　did　not　know　what　to　say　or　do。　〃down　on　your　knees！〃　growled　the　man。　〃i　give　you　one　minute　to　make　your　peaceno　more。　i　go　on　board　to…night　for　india；　and　i　must　do　my　job　first。　one　minute。　thats　all。〃

dorians　arms　fell　to　his　side。　paralysed　with　terror；　he　did　not　know　what　to　do。　suddenly　a　wild　hope　flashed　across　his　brain。　〃stop；〃　he　cried。　〃how　long　ago　is　it　since　your　sister　died？　quick；　tell　me！〃

〃eighteen　years；〃　said　the　man。　〃why　do　you　ask　me？　what　do　years　matter？〃

〃eighteen　years；〃　laughed　dorian　gray；　with　a　touch　of　triumph　in　his　voice。　〃eighteen　years！　set　me　under　the　lamp　and　look　at　my　face！〃

james　vane　hesitated　for　a　moment；　not　understanding　what　was　meant。　then　he　seized　dorian　gray　and　dragged　him　from　the　archway。

dim　and　wavering　as　was　the　wind…blown　light；　yet　it　served　to　show　him　the　hideous　error；　as　it　seemed；　into　which　he　had　fallen；　for　the　face　of　the　man　he　had　sought　to　kill　had　all　the　bloom　of　boyhood；　all　the　unstained　purity　of　youth。　he　seemed　little　more　than　a　lad　of　twenty　summers；　hardly　older；　if　older　indeed　at　all；　than　his　sister　had　been　when　they　had　parted　so　many　years　ago。　it　was　obvious　that　this　was　not　the　man　who　had　destroyed　her　life。

he　loosened　his　hold　and　reeled　back。　〃my　god！　my　god！〃　he　cried；　〃and　i　would　have　murdered　you！〃

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