heronplacedébut."

    "Youwouldnotsaysoifyousawher,Harry."

    "Whoisshe?"

    "HernameisSibylVane."

    "Neverheardofher."

    "Noonehas.Peoplewillsomeday,however.Sheisagenius."

    "Mydearboy,nowomanisagenius.Womenareadecorativesex.Theyneverhaveanythingtosay,buttheysayitcharmingly.Womenrepreseriumphofmatterovermind,justasmenrepreseriumphofmindovermorals."

    "Harry,howyou?"

    "MydearDorian,itisquitetrue.Iamanalysingwomenatpresent,soIoughttoknow.ThesubjeotsoabstruseasIthoughtitwas.Ifindthat,ultimately,thereareonlytwokindsofwomen,theplainandthecoloured.Theplainwomenareveryuseful.Ifyouwanttogaiationforrespectability,youhavemerelytotakethemdowntosupper.Theotherwomenareverycharming.Theyitoake,however.Theypaintiryandlookyoung.randmotherspaintediryandtalkbrilliantly.Rougeandespritusedtogotogether.Thatisallovernow.Aslongasawomanlooktenyearsyouhanherowndaughter,sheisperfectlysatisfied.Asforversation,thereareonlyfivewomeninLondonworthtalkingto,andtwoofthesetbeadmittedisociety.However,tellmeaboutyenius.Howlonghaveyouknownher?"

    "Ah!Harry,yourviewsterrifyme.

    "Nevermindthat.Howlonghaveyouknownher?"

    "Aboutthreeweeks."

    "Andwheredidyoueacrossher?"

    "Iwilltellyou,Harry,butyoumustntbeunsympatheticaboutit.Afterall,itneverwouldhavehappenedifIhadyou.Youfilledmewithawilddesiretoknoweverythingaboutlife.Fordaysafter