He held tightly on to the two books, while Dickens and Thackeray were still protectingly within his reach.

What could he do?
Down there in Peru there had been a wonderful people whom Pizarro, the bad, bold Spaniard had conquered and abused.

Dorian knew about it all vaguely as a dim fairy tale; and here was the whole story, beautifully and minutely told.

He must have these books.

This bargain might never come again to him.