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