Chapter16

    Acoldraiofall,andtheblurredstreet-lampslookedghastlyinthedrippingmist.Thepublic-houseswerejustclosing,anddimmenandwomenwereclusteringinbrokengroupsroundtheirdoors.Fromsomeofthebarscamethesoundofhorriblelaughter.Inothers,drunkardsbrawledandscreamed.

    Lyingbathehansom,withhishatpulledoverhisforehead,Draywatchedwithlistlesseyesthesordidshameofthegreatcity,andnowandtheedtohimselfthewordsthatLordHenryhadsaidtohimonthefirstdaytheyhadmet,"Tocurethesoulbymeansofthesenses,andthesensesbymeansofthesoul."Yes,thatwasthesecret.Hehadofte,andwouldtryitagainnow.Therewereopiumdenswhereonecouldbuyoblivion,densofhorrorwherethememoryofoldsinscouldbedestroyedbythemadnessofsinsthatwerenew.

    Themoonhunglowintheskylikeayellowskull.Fromtimetotimeahugemisshapencloudstretchedalongarmacrossandhidit.Thegas-lampsgrewfewer,areetsmorenarrowandgloomy.Ohemanlosthiswayandhadtodrivebackhalfamile.Asteamrosefromthehorseasitsplashedupthepuddles.Thesidewindowsofthehansomwerecloggedwithagrey-flannelmist.

    "Tocurethesoulbymeansofthesenses,andthesensesbymeansofthesoul!"Howthewinhisears!Hissoul,certainly,wassicktodeath.Wasittruethatthesensescouldcureit?Ibloodhadbeenspilled.Whatcouldatohat?Ah!forthattherewasnoato;butthoughfivenessossible,fetfulnessossiblestill,andhewasdetermiet,tostampthethingout,tocrushitasonewouldcrushtheadderthathadstungone.Indeed,whatrighthadBasiltohavespokentohimashehaddone?Whohadmadehimajudgeoverothers?Hehadsaidthingsthatweredreadful,horrib