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"Safe from what, Dorian? You are in some trouble. Why not tell me

what it is? You know I would help you."

"I can't tell you, Harry," he answered sadly. "And I dare say it

is only a fancy of mine. This unfortunate accident has upset me.

I have a horrible presentiment that something of the kind may

happen to me."

"What nonsense!"

"I hope it is, but I can't help feeling it. Ah! here is the

duchess, looking like Artemis in a tailor-made gown. You see we

have come back, Duchess."

"I have heard all about it, Mr. Gray," she answered. "Poor

Geoffrey is terribly upset. And it seems that you asked him not

to shoot the hare. How curious!"

"Yes, it was very curious. I don't know what made me say it. Some

whim, I suppose. It looked the loveliest of little live things.

But I am sorry they told you about the man. It is a hideous

subject."