Читать книгу Dorian Gray - John Garavaglia - Страница 7

“But Basil,” Lord Wotton laughed, “I can’t see any resemblance. I don’t see the problem. I didn’t know you were so vain, but you flatter yourself. You don’t look at all like this fine young lad.”

“You don’t understand me, Harry,” answered the artist. “Of course I am not like him. I should be sorry to be so. There is a destructive quality about all such physical beauty. It is better not to be so different from others.”

“Basil, I was wondering.” Said Lord Wotton, walking across the studio toward the arrogant painter. “How did you meet this boy, and what is his name?”

“I went to a party at Lady Brandon’s.” Explained Basil, recalling the events if it had happened yesterday. “You know we poor artists have to show ourselves in society from time to time just to remind the public we aren’t savages.” Basil smiled. “After about ten minutes I ran into Dorian Gray—the good looking fellow you see before you.” He gestured over to the portrait. “It was funny but from the moment Lady Brandon introduced us, I found him to be a most fascinating person. I had a strange feeling about our meeting—I knew he would have an impact on my painting.”

Basil insisted that, thanks to Dorian Gray, his recent paintings were the finest he’d ever done and stated that the young man’s personality had suggested a whole new style of art.

“Yet I’m sure Dorian Gray will suffer because of his good looks.”

JOHN GRAVAGLIA

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