22/29 No one would ever look upon the horrible thing. No eye but his would ever see his shame. On a little table of dark perfumed wood thickly incrusted with nacre, a present from Lady Radley, his guardian's wife, a pretty professional invalid who had spent the preceding winter in Cairo, was lying a note from Lord Henry, and beside it was a book bound in yellow paper, the cover slightly torn and the edges soiled. A copy of the third edition of The St.James's Gazette had been placed on the tea-tray. It was evident that Victor had returned. |