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He drew the screen back into its former place in front of the

picture, smiling as he did so, and passed into his bedroom, where

his valet was already waiting for him. An hour later he was at

the opera, and Lord Henry was leaning over his chair.

CHAPTER IX.

As he was sitting at breakfast next morning, Basil Hallward was

shown into the room.

"I am so glad I have found you, Dorian," he said gravely. "I

called last night, and they told me you were at the opera. Of

course, I knew that was impossible. But I wish you had left word

where you had really gone to. I passed a dreadful evening, half

afraid that one tragedy might be followed by another. I think you

might have telegraphed for me when you heard of it first. I read

of it quite by chance in a late edition of The Globe that I

picked up at the club. I came here at once and was miserable at

not finding you. I can't tell you how heart-broken I am about the

whole thing. I know what you must suffer. But where were you? Did

you go down and see the girl's mother? For a moment I thought of

following you there. They gave the address in the paper.

Somewhere in the Euston Road, isn't it? But I was afraid of

intruding upon a sorrow that I could not lighten. Poor woman!

What a state she must be in! And her only child, too! What did

she say about it all?"