It was the ninth of November. This was the night before Dorian Gray’s thirty-eighth birthday. Dorian walked home at eleven o’clock. The night was very cold and foggy.
Dorian saw a man in the mist. The man walked fast and wore a grey ulster. The man carried a bag. Dorian knew the man was Basil Hallward. Dorian felt a strange fear but he did not stop.
Basil saw Dorian and hurried after him. Basil put his hand on Dorian's arm. He said he was lucky to find Dorian. Basil had waited in Dorian’s library from nine until eleven o’clock.
Basil said he was going to Paris. His train left at midnight. He wanted to see Dorian before he left England for six months. Dorian opened his front door with a key. They went inside.
The library was warm with a bright fire. Basil put his bag in the corner. He told Dorian that he wanted to talk about something serious. Dorian sat on the sofa and looked bored.
Basil said that people in London told terrible stories about Dorian. He said that a gentleman must care about his name. Basil did not want people to say that Dorian was a bad man.
Basil said that sin usually shows on a man’s face. He looked at Dorian's face. It was still pure and innocent. Because of this, Basil did not believe the bad stories. But he was still worried.
Basil asked why Dorian’s friends often lost their honor. He named several young men. Some committed suicide. Others had to leave England because of shame. Basil asked if Dorian was the cause of their ruin.
Dorian became angry. He said he was not responsible for the lives of other people. He said that people in England were hypocrites. He said they talked about him because they were jealous.
Basil did not stop. He mentioned Lady Gwendolen, the sister of Lord Henry Wotton. He said her name was ruined. He also said that Dorian went to dirty dens at night.
Basil wanted Dorian to lead a good life. He wanted the world to respect Dorian. He said he did not really know Dorian. He said he could only know Dorian if he saw his soul.
Dorian stood up. He was white with fear and anger. He laughed at Basil. He told Basil that he could see his soul tonight. He said it was the work of Basil’s own hands.
Dorian picked up a lamp. He told Basil to come upstairs. He said Basil could look at his soul face to face. Dorian felt a terrible joy because someone else would know his secret.
Basil was shocked. He said this was blasphemy. He said Dorian should not say such things. But Basil still wanted to know the truth.
Dorian said he kept a diary of his life in a locked room. He said he would show this diary to Basil. Basil said he would go, even if he missed his train. He wanted a plain answer to his questions.