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"What is it all about?" cried Dorian in his petulant way,

flinging himself down on the sofa. "I hope it is not about

myself. I am tired of myself to-night. I should like to be

somebody else."

"It is about yourself," answered Hallward in his grave deep

voice, "and I must say it to you. I shall only keep you half an

hour."

Dorian sighed and lit a cigarette. "Half an hour!" he murmured.

"It is not much to ask of you, Dorian, and it is entirely for

your own sake that I am speaking. I think it right that you

should know that the most dreadful things are being said against

you in London."

"I don't wish to know anything about them. I love scandals about

other people, but scandals about myself don't interest me. They

have not got the charm of novelty."