Strona 338 z 490

In this country, it is enough for a man to have distinction and

brains for every common tongue to wag against him. And what sort

of lives do these people, who pose as being moral, lead

themselves? My dear fellow, you forget that we are in the native

land of the hypocrite."

"Dorian," cried Hallward, "that is not the question. England is

bad enough I know, and English society is all wrong. That is the

reason why I want you to be fine. You have not been fine. One has

a right to judge of a man by the effect he has over his friends.

Yours seem to lose all sense of honour, of goodness, of purity.

You have filled them with a madness for pleasure. They have gone

down into the depths. You led them there. Yes: you led them

there, and yet you can smile, as you are smiling now. And there

is worse behind. I know you and Harry are inseparable. Surely for

that reason, if for none other, you should not have made his

sister's name a by-word."

"Take care, Basil. You go too far."