atisfied.Yourfriendshipisdearertomethananyfameorreputation."

    "No,Basil,youmusttellme,"insistedDray."IthinkIhavearighttoknow."Hisfeelingofterrorhadpassedaway,andcuriosityhadtakenitsplace.HewasdetermiofindoutBasilHallwardsmystery.

    "Letussitdown,Dorian,"saidthepainter,lookingtroubled."Letussitdown.Andjustanswermeoion.Haveyounotithepicturesomethingcurious?--somethingthatprobablyatfirstdidnotstrikeyou,butthatrevealeditselftoyousuddenly?"

    "Basil!"criedthelad,clutgthearmsofhischairwithtremblinghandsandgazingathimwithwildstartledeyes.

    "Iseeyoudid.Dontspeak.WaittillyouhearwhatIhavetosay.Dorian,fromthemomeyou,yourpersonalityhadthemostextraordinaryinfluene.Iwasdominated,soul,brain,andpower,byyou.Youbecametomethevisibleinationofthatunseenidealwhosememoryhauntsusartistslikeanexquisitedream.Iworshippedyou.Igrewjealousofeveryoowhomyouspoke.Iwaohaveyoualltomyself.IwasonlyhappywhenIwaswithyou.Whenyouwereawayfromme,youwerestillpresentinmyart....Ofcourse,Iyouknowanythingaboutthis.Itwouldhavebeenimpossible.Youwouldnothaveuoodit.Ihardlyuooditmyself.IonlykhatIhadseenperfefacetofadthattheworldhadbeewonderfultomyeyes--toowonderful,perhaps,forinsuchmadworshipsthereisperil,theperiloflosingthem,hantheperilofkeepingthem....Weeksandweekswenton,andIgrewmoreandmoreabsorbedinyou.Thencameanewdevelopment.IhaddrawnyouasParisindaintyarmour,andasAdoniswithhuntsmanscloakandpolishedboar-spear.edwithheavylotus-blossomsyouhadsato