youanymorenow.Iammuchobligedforyourkindnessininground."

    "Notatall,notatall,Mr.Gray.Everreadytodoanythingforyou,sir."AndMr.Hubbardtrampeddownstairs,followedbytheassistant,whoglancedbackatDorianwithalookofshywonderinhisroughunelyface.Hehadneverseenanyonesomarvellous.

    Whenthesoundoftheirfootstepshaddiedaway,Dorianlockedthedoorandputthekeyinhispocket.Hefeltsafenow.Noonewouldeverlookuponthehorriblething.hiswouldeverseehisshame.

    Onreagthelibrary,hefoundthatitwasjustafterfiveoclodthattheteahadbeenalreadybroughtup.Onalittletableofdarkperfumedwoodthicklyincrustedwithnacre,apresentfromLadyRadley,hisguardianswife,aprettyprofessionalinvalidentthepregwinterinCairo,waslyinganotefromLordHenry,andbesideitwasabookboundinyelloer,thechtlytornandtheedgessoiled.AcopyofthethirdeditionofTheSt.JamessGazettehadbeenplathetea-tray.ItwasevidentthatVictorhadreturned.Hewonderedifhehadmetthemeninthehallastheywereleavingthehouseandhadwormedoutofthemwhattheyhadbeendoing.Hewouldbesuretomissthepicture--hadnodoubtmisseditalready,whilehehadbeenlayiea-things.Theshadnotbeebadablankspacewasvisibleontheerhapssomenighthemightfindhimcreepingupstairsandtryingtoforcethedooroftheroom.Itwasahorriblethingtohaveaspyinoneshouse.Hehadheardofriwhohadbeenblackmailedalltheirlivesbysomeservantwhohadreadaletter,oroverheardaversation,orpickedupacardwithanaddress,orfouhapillowawitheredflowerorashredofcrumpledlace.

    Hesighed,andhavingpouredhimselfoutsometea,openedLordHenryswassimplytosaythath