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Dorian Gray cast a quick glance at the portrait, and suddenly an overwhelming surge of hatred for Basil Hallward engulfed him. It felt as though the intense aversion had been planted in him by the image on the canvas, whispered by those grinning lips. The wild passions of a hunted creature stirred within him, and he despised the man at the table more than anything in his entire life. Frantically looking around, his eyes caught a glimmer on the painted chest before him. He recognized it—a knife he had brought up days ago to cut a piece of cord and had forgotten to remove. Moving slowly towards it, passing Hallward, he seized the knife and turned. As soon as he stood behind Hallward, he lunged at him, thrusting the knife into the prominent vein behind the ear. He forced the man's head down on the table, stabbing repeatedly. A stifled groan and the dreadful sound of someone choking on blood filled the room. Three times outstretched arms convulsively shot up, waving grotesque, stiff-fingered hands. He stabbed twice more, but the man remained motionless. Something began to trickle on the floor. After a moment, he threw the knife on the table and listened. In the oppressive silence, he could only hear the drip, drip on the threadbare carpet. Opening the door, he stepped out onto the landing. The house was eerily quiet. No one was in sight. Bending over the balustrade for a few seconds, he peered down into the dark abyss. He then retrieved the key, returned to the room, and locked himself in. The lifeless figure still sat in the chair, hunched over the table with bowed head and long, fantastical arms. If not for the red jagged tear in the neck and the expanding black pool on the table, one might have assumed the man was merely asleep. How swiftly it had all transpired! Despite the gruesome scene, he felt an eerie calmness. Walking to the window, he opened it and stepped onto the balcony. The wind had dispersed the fog, revealing a sky resembling a monstrous peacock's tail adorned with countless golden eyes. Looking down, he observed a policeman on his rounds, casting the beam of his lantern on the silent house doors. A prowling hansom's crimson spot gleamed at the corner and then disappeared. A woman in a fluttering shawl crept slowly along the railings, occasionally stopping and peering back. She began to sing in a hoarse voice, and the policeman approached her. She stumbled away, laughing. A bitter blast swept across the square. The gas lamps flickered and turned blue, while the leafless trees shook their black iron branches. He shivered and returned, closing the window behind him. Dorian Gray glanced at the picture, and suddenly an uncontrollable feeling of hatred for Basil Hallward came over him, as though it had been suggested to him by the image on the canvas, whispered into his ear by those grinning lips. The mad passions of a hunted animal stirred within him, and he loathed the man who was seated at the table, more than in his whole life he had ever loathed anything. He glanced wildly around. Something glimmered on the top of the painted chest that faced him. His eye fell on it. He knew what it was. It was a knife that he had brought up, some days before, to cut a piece of cord, and had forgotten to take away with him. He moved slowly towards it, passing Hallward as he did so. As soon as he got behind him, he seized it and turned round. Hallward stirred in his chair as if he was going to rise. He rushed at him and dug the knife into the great vein that is behind the ear, crushing the man's head down on the table and stabbing again and again. There was a stifled groan and the horrible sound of some one choking with blood. Three times the outstretched arms shot up convulsively, waving grotesque, stiff-fingered hands in the air. He stabbed him twice more, but the man did not move. Something began to trickle on the floor. He waited for a moment, still pressing the head down. Then he threw the knife on the table, and listened. He could hear nothing, but the drip, drip on the threadbare carpet. He opened the door and went out on the landing. The house was absolutely quiet. No one was about. For a few seconds he stood bending over the balustrade and peering down into the black seething well of darkness. Then he took out the key and returned to the room, locking himself in as he did so. The thing was still seated in the chair, straining over the table with bowed head, and humped back, and long fantastic arms. Had it not been for the red jagged tear in the neck and the clotted black pool that was slowly widening on the table, one would have said that the man was simply asleep. How quickly it had all been done! He felt strangely calm, and walking over to the window, opened it and stepped out on the balcony. The wind had blown the fog away, and the sky was like a monstrous peacock's tail, starred with myriads of golden eyes. He looked down and saw the policeman going his rounds and flashing the long beam of his lantern on the doors of the silent houses. The crimson spot of a prowling hansom gleamed at the corner and then vanished. A woman in a fluttering shawl was creeping slowly by the railings, staggering as she went. Now and then she stopped and peered back. Once, she began to sing in a hoarse voice. The policeman strolled over and said something to her. She stumbled away, laughing. A bitter blast swept across the square. The gas-lamps flickered and became blue, and the leafless trees shook their black iron branches to and fro. He shivered and went back, closing the window behind him. Web version | Unsubscribe Dorian Gray glanced at the picture, and suddenly an uncontrollable feeling of hatred for Basil Hallward came over him, as though it had been suggested to him by the image on the canvas, whispered into his ear by those grinning lips. The mad passions of a hunted animal stirred within him, and he loathed the man who was seated at the table, more than in his whole life he had ever loathed anything. He glanced wildly around. Something glimmered on the top of the painted chest that faced him. His eye fell on it. He knew what it was. It was a knife that he had brought up, some days before, to cut a piece of cord, and had forgotten to take away with him. He moved slowly towards it, passing Hallward as he did so. As soon as he got behind him, he seized it and turned round. Hallward stirred in his chair as if he was going to rise. He rushed at him and dug the knife into the great vein that is behind the ear, crushing the man's head down on the table and stabbing again and again. There was a stifled groan and the horrible sound of some one choking with blood. Three times the outstretched arms shot up convulsively, waving grotesque, stiff-fingered hands in the air. He stabbed him twice more, but the man did not move. Something began to trickle on the floor. He waited for a moment, still pressing the head down. Then he threw the knife on the table, and listened. He could hear nothing, but the drip, drip on the threadbare carpet. He opened the door and went out on the landing. The house was absolutely quiet. No one was about. For a few seconds he stood bending over the balustrade and peering down into the black seething well of darkness. Then he took out the key and returned to the room, locking himself in as he did so. The thing was still seated in the chair, straining over the table with bowed head, and humped back, and long fantastic arms. Had it not been for the red jagged tear in the neck and the clotted black pool that was slowly widening on the table, one would have said that the man was simply asleep. How quickly it had all been done! He felt strangely calm, and walking over to the window, opened it and stepped out on the balcony. The wind had blown the fog away, and the sky was like a monstrous peacock's tail, starred with myriads of golden eyes. He looked down and saw the policeman going his rounds and flashing the long beam of his lantern on the doors of the silent houses. The crimson spot of a prowling hansom gleamed at the corner and then vanished. A woman in a fluttering shawl was creeping slowly by the railings, staggering as she went. Now and then she stopped and peered back. Once, she began to sing in a hoarse voice. The policeman strolled over and said something to her. She stumbled away, laughing. A bitter blast swept across the square. The gas-lamps flickered and became blue, and the leafless trees shook their black iron branches to and fro. He shivered and went back, closing the window behind him. A special message from the Editor of Online Investing Insider: We are often approached by other businesses with special offers for our readers. While many don't make the cut, the message below is one we believe deserves your consideration. Dorian Gray cast a quick glance at the portrait, and suddenly an overwhelming surge of hatred for Basil Hallward engulfed him. It felt as though the intense aversion had been planted in him by the image on the canvas, whispered by those grinning lips. The wild passions of a hunted creature stirred within him, and he despised the man at the table more than anything in his entire life. Frantically looking around, his eyes caught a glimmer on the painted chest before him. He recognized it—a knife he had brought up days ago to cut a piece of cord and had forgotten to remove. Moving slowly towards it, passing Hallward, he seized the knife and turned. As soon as he stood behind Hallward, he lunged at him, thrusting the knife into the prominent vein behind the ear. He forced the man's head down on the table, stabbing repeatedly. A stifled groan and the dreadful sound of someone choking on blood filled the room. Three times outstretched arms convulsively shot up, waving grotesque, stiff-fingered hands. He stabbed twice more, but the man remained motionless. Something began to trickle on the floor. After a moment, he threw the knife on the table and listened. In the oppressive silence, he could only hear the drip, drip on the threadbare carpet. Opening the door, he stepped out onto the landing. The house was eerily quiet. No one was in sight. Bending over the balustrade for a few seconds, he peered down into the dark abyss. He then retrieved the key, returned to the room, and locked himself in. The lifeless figure still sat in the chair, hunched over the table with bowed head and long, fantastical arms. If not for the red jagged tear in the neck and the expanding black pool on the table, one might have assumed the man was merely asleep. How swiftly it had all transpired! Despite the gruesome scene, he felt an eerie calmness. Walking to the window, he opened it and stepped onto the balcony. The wind had dispersed the fog, revealing a sky resembling a monstrous peacock's tail adorned with countless golden eyes. Looking down, he observed a policeman on his rounds, casting the beam of his lantern on the silent house doors. A prowling hansom's crimson spot gleamed at the corner and then disappeared. A woman in a fluttering shawl crept slowly along the railings, occasionally stopping and peering back. She began to sing in a hoarse voice, and the policeman approached her. She stumbled away, laughing. A bitter blast swept across the square. The gas lamps flickered and turned blue, while the leafless trees shook their black iron branches. He shivered and returned, closing the window behind him. Dorian Gray glanced at the picture, and suddenly an uncontrollable feeling of hatred for Basil Hallward came over him, as though it had been suggested to him by the image on the canvas, whispered into his ear by those grinning lips. The mad passions of a hunted animal stirred within him, and he loathed the man who was seated at the table, more than in his whole life he had ever loathed anything. He glanced wildly around. Something glimmered on the top of the painted chest that faced him. His eye fell on it. He knew what it was. It was a knife that he had brought up, some days before, to cut a piece of cord, and had forgotten to take away with him. He moved slowly towards it, passing Hallward as he did so. As soon as he got behind him, he seized it and turned round. Hallward stirred in his chair as if he was going to rise. He rushed at him and dug the knife into the great vein that is behind the ear, crushing the man's head down on the table and stabbing again and again. There was a stifled groan and the horrible sound of some one choking with blood. Three times the outstretched arms shot up convulsively, waving grotesque, stiff-fingered hands in the air. He stabbed him twice more, but the man did not move. Something began to trickle on the floor. He waited for a moment, still pressing the head down. Then he threw the knife on the table, and listened. He could hear nothing, but the drip, drip on the threadbare carpet. He opened the door and went out on the landing. The house was absolutely quiet. No one was about. For a few seconds he stood bending over the balustrade and peering down into the black seething well of darkness. Then he took out the key and returned to the room, locking himself in as he did so. The thing was still seated in the chair, straining over the table with bowed head, and humped back, and long fantastic arms. Had it not been for the red jagged tear in the neck and the clotted black pool that was slowly widening on the table, one would have said that the man was simply asleep. How quickly it had all been done! He felt strangely calm, and walking over to the window, opened it and stepped out on the balcony. The wind had blown the fog away, and the sky was like a monstrous peacock's tail, starred with myriads of golden eyes. He looked down and saw the policeman going his rounds and flashing the long beam of his lantern on the doors of the silent houses. The crimson spot of a prowling hansom gleamed at the corner and then vanished. A woman in a fluttering shawl was creeping slowly by the railings, staggering as she went. Now and then she stopped and peered back. Once, she began to sing in a hoarse voice. The policeman strolled over and said something to her. She stumbled away, laughing. A bitter blast swept across the square. The gas-lamps flickered and became blue, and the leafless trees shook their black iron branches to and fro. He shivered and went back, closing the window behind him. Your Bank Branch Next to Close??? Why are bank branches quickly and quietly closing across the country?? Click here to see why — and see how to protect your accounts while there is still time. PNC Bank: 222 Branches Closing. JP Morgan Chase: 18 Branches Closing. Citizens Bank: 8 Branches Closing. Bank of America: 5 Branches Closing. Citibank: 2 Branches Closing. In just one week recently, 64 bank branch closures were announced. What's going on? And is your bank branch next? Click here now to see the details. Dorian Gray cast a quick glance at the portrait, and suddenly an overwhelming surge of hatred for Basil Hallward engulfed him. It felt as though the intense aversion had been planted in him by the image on the canvas, whispered by those grinning lips. The wild passions of a hunted creature stirred within him, and he despised the man at the table more than anything in his entire life. Frantically looking around, his eyes caught a glimmer on the painted chest before him. He recognized it—a knife he had brought up days ago to cut a piece of cord and had forgotten to remove. Moving slowly towards it, passing Hallward, he seized the knife and turned. As soon as he stood behind Hallward, he lunged at him, thrusting the knife into the prominent vein behind the ear. He forced the man's head down on the table, stabbing repeatedly. A stifled groan and the dreadful sound of someone choking on blood filled the room. Three times outstretched arms convulsively shot up, waving grotesque, stiff-fingered hands. He stabbed twice more, but the man remained motionless. Something began to trickle on the floor. After a moment, he threw the knife on the table and listened. In the oppressive silence, he could only hear the drip, drip on the threadbare carpet. Opening the door, he stepped out onto the landing. The house was eerily quiet. No one was in sight. Bending over the balustrade for a few seconds, he peered down into the dark abyss. He then retrieved the key, returned to the room, and locked himself in. The lifeless figure still sat in the chair, hunched over the table with bowed head and long, fantastical arms. If not for the red jagged tear in the neck and the expanding black pool on the table, one might have assumed the man was merely asleep. How swiftly it had all transpired! Despite the gruesome scene, he felt an eerie calmness. Walking to the window, he opened it and stepped onto the balcony. The wind had dispersed the fog, revealing a sky resembling a monstrous peacock's tail adorned with countless golden eyes. Looking down, he observed a policeman on his rounds, casting the beam of his lantern on the silent house doors. A prowling hansom's crimson spot gleamed at the corner and then disappeared. A woman in a fluttering shawl crept slowly along the railings, occasionally stopping and peering back. She began to sing in a hoarse voice, and the policeman approached her. She stumbled away, laughing. A bitter blast swept across the square. The gas lamps flickered and turned blue, while the leafless trees shook their black iron branches. He shivered and returned, closing the window behind him. Dorian Gray glanced at the picture, and suddenly an uncontrollable feeling of hatred for Basil Hallward came over him, as though it had been suggested to him by the image on the canvas, whispered into his ear by those grinning lips. The mad passions of a hunted animal stirred within him, and he loathed the man who was seated at the table, more than in his whole life he had ever loathed anything. He glanced wildly around. Something glimmered on the top of the painted chest that faced him. His eye fell on it. He knew what it was. It was a knife that he had brought up, some days before, to cut a piece of cord, and had forgotten to take away with him. He moved slowly towards it, passing Hallward as he did so. As soon as he got behind him, he seized it and turned round. Hallward stirred in his chair as if he was going to rise. He rushed at him and dug the knife into the great vein that is behind the ear, crushing the man's head down on the table and stabbing again and again. There was a stifled groan and the horrible sound of some one choking with blood. Three times the outstretched arms shot up convulsively, waving grotesque, stiff-fingered hands in the air. He stabbed him twice more, but the man did not move. Something began to trickle on the floor. He waited for a moment, still pressing the head down. Then he threw the knife on the table, and listened. He could hear nothing, but the drip, drip on the threadbare carpet. He opened the door and went out on the landing. The house was absolutely quiet. No one was about. For a few seconds he stood bending over the balustrade and peering down into the black seething well of darkness. Then he took out the key and returned to the room, locking himself in as he did so. The thing was still seated in the chair, straining over the table with bowed head, and humped back, and long fantastic arms. Had it not been for the red jagged tear in the neck and the clotted black pool that was slowly widening on the table, one would have said that the man was simply asleep. How quickly it had all been done! He felt strangely calm, and walking over to the window, opened it and stepped out on the balcony. The wind had blown the fog away, and the sky was like a monstrous peacock's tail, starred with myriads of golden eyes. He looked down and saw the policeman going his rounds and flashing the long beam of his lantern on the doors of the silent houses. The crimson spot of a prowling hansom gleamed at the corner and then vanished. A woman in a fluttering shawl was creeping slowly by the railings, staggering as she went. Now and then she stopped and peered back. Once, she began to sing in a hoarse voice. The policeman strolled over and said something to her. She stumbled away, laughing. A bitter blast swept across the square. The gas-lamps flickered and became blue, and the leafless trees shook their black iron branches to and fro. He shivered and went back, closing the window behind him. Dorian Gray cast a quick glance at the portrait, and suddenly an overwhelming surge of hatred for Basil Hallward engulfed him. It felt as though the intense aversion had been planted in him by the image on the canvas, whispered by those grinning lips. The wild passions of a hunted creature stirred within him, and he despised the man at the table more than anything in his entire life. Frantically looking around, his eyes caught a glimmer on the painted chest before him. He recognized it—a knife he had brought up days ago to cut a piece of cord and had forgotten to remove. Moving slowly towards it, passing Hallward, he seized the knife and turned. As soon as he stood behind Hallward, he lunged at him, thrusting the knife into the prominent vein behind the ear. He forced the man's head down on the table, stabbing repeatedly. A stifled groan and the dreadful sound of someone choking on blood filled the room. Three times outstretched arms convulsively shot up, waving grotesque, stiff-fingered hands. He stabbed twice more, but the man remained motionless. Something began to trickle on the floor. After a moment, he threw the knife on the table and listened. In the oppressive silence, he could only hear the drip, drip on the threadbare carpet. Opening the door, he stepped out onto the landing. The house was eerily quiet. No one was in sight. Bending over the balustrade for a few seconds, he peered down into the dark abyss. He then retrieved the key, returned to the room, and locked himself in. The lifeless figure still sat in the chair, hunched over the table with bowed head and long, fantastical arms. If not for the red jagged tear in the neck and the expanding black pool on the table, one might have assumed the man was merely asleep. How swiftly it had all transpired! Despite the gruesome scene, he felt an eerie calmness. Walking to the window, he opened it and stepped onto the balcony. The wind had dispersed the fog, revealing a sky resembling a monstrous peacock's tail adorned with countless golden eyes. Looking down, he observed a policeman on his rounds, casting the beam of his lantern on the silent house doors. A prowling hansom's crimson spot gleamed at the corner and then disappeared. A woman in a fluttering shawl crept slowly along the railings, occasionally stopping and peering back. She began to sing in a hoarse voice, and the policeman approached her. She stumbled away, laughing. A bitter blast swept across the square. The gas lamps flickered and turned blue, while the leafless trees shook their black iron branches. He shivered and returned, closing the window behind him. Dorian Gray glanced at the picture, and suddenly an uncontrollable feeling of hatred for Basil Hallward came over him, as though it had been suggested to him by the image on the canvas, whispered into his ear by those grinning lips. The mad passions of a hunted animal stirred within him, and he loathed the man who was seated at the table, more than in his whole life he had ever loathed anything. He glanced wildly around. Something glimmered on the top of the painted chest that faced him. His eye fell on it. He knew what it was. It was a knife that he had brought up, some days before, to cut a piece of cord, and had forgotten to take away with him. He moved slowly towards it, passing Hallward as he did so. As soon as he got behind him, he seized it and turned round. Hallward stirred in his chair as if he was going to rise. He rushed at him and dug the knife into the great vein that is behind the ear, crushing the man's head down on the table and stabbing again and again. There was a stifled groan and the horrible sound of some one choking with blood. Three times the outstretched arms shot up convulsively, waving grotesque, stiff-fingered hands in the air. He stabbed him twice more, but the man did not move. Something began to trickle on the floor. He waited for a moment, still pressing the head down. Then he threw the knife on the table, and listened. He could hear nothing, but the drip, drip on the threadbare carpet. He opened the door and went out on the landing. The house was absolutely quiet. No one was about. For a few seconds he stood bending over the balustrade and peering down into the black seething well of darkness. Then he took out the key and returned to the room, locking himself in as he did so. The thing was still seated in the chair, straining over the table with bowed head, and humped back, and long fantastic arms. Had it not been for the red jagged tear in the neck and the clotted black pool that was slowly widening on the table, one would have said that the man was simply asleep. How quickly it had all been done! He felt strangely calm, and walking over to the window, opened it and stepped out on the balcony. The wind had blown the fog away, and the sky was like a monstrous peacock's tail, starred with myriads of golden eyes. He looked down and saw the policeman going his rounds and flashing the long beam of his lantern on the doors of the silent houses. The crimson spot of a prowling hansom gleamed at the corner and then vanished. A woman in a fluttering shawl was creeping slowly by the railings, staggering as she went. Now and then she stopped and peered back. Once, she began to sing in a hoarse voice. The policeman strolled over and said something to her. She stumbled away, laughing. A bitter blast swept across the square. The gas-lamps flickered and became blue, and the leafless trees shook their black iron branches to and fro. He shivered and went back, closing the window behind him.   Email sent by Finance and Investing Traffic, LLC, owner and operator of Online Investing Insider.   Experiencing issues or have questions? Contact our support team available 24/7, to guide you every step of the way.   This offer is brought to you by Online Investing Insider. 221 W 9th St # Wilmington, DE 19801. If you would like to unsubscribe from receiving offers brought to you by Online Investing Insider click here.  Keep up to date with the world of investing and finance by whitelisting us.   © 2023 Online Investing Insider. All Rights Reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions | Unsubscribe   Dorian Gray cast a quick glance at the portrait, and suddenly an overwhelming surge of hatred for Basil Hallward engulfed him. It felt as though the intense aversion had been planted in him by the image on the canvas, whispered by those grinning lips. The wild passions of a hunted creature stirred within him, and he despised the man at the table more than anything in his entire life. Frantically looking around, his eyes caught a glimmer on the painted chest before him. He recognized it—a knife he had brought up days ago to cut a piece of cord and had forgotten to remove. Moving slowly towards it, passing Hallward, he seized the knife and turned. As soon as he stood behind Hallward, he lunged at him, thrusting the knife into the prominent vein behind the ear. He forced the man's head down on the table, stabbing repeatedly. A stifled groan and the dreadful sound of someone choking on blood filled the room. Three times outstretched arms convulsively shot up, waving grotesque, stiff-fingered hands. He stabbed twice more, but the man remained motionless. Something began to trickle on the floor. After a moment, he threw the knife on the table and listened. In the oppressive silence, he could only hear the drip, drip on the threadbare carpet. Opening the door, he stepped out onto the landing. The house was eerily quiet. No one was in sight. Bending over the balustrade for a few seconds, he peered down into the dark abyss. He then retrieved the key, returned to the room, and locked himself in. The lifeless figure still sat in the chair, hunched over the table with bowed head and long, fantastical arms. If not for the red jagged tear in the neck and the expanding black pool on the table, one might have assumed the man was merely asleep. How swiftly it had all transpired! Despite the gruesome scene, he felt an eerie calmness. Walking to the window, he opened it and stepped onto the balcony. The wind had dispersed the fog, revealing a sky resembling a monstrous peacock's tail adorned with countless golden eyes. Looking down, he observed a policeman on his rounds, casting the beam of his lantern on the silent house doors. A prowling hansom's crimson spot gleamed at the corner and then disappeared. A woman in a fluttering shawl crept slowly along the railings, occasionally stopping and peering back. She began to sing in a hoarse voice, and the policeman approached her. She stumbled away, laughing. A bitter blast swept across the square. The gas lamps flickered and turned blue, while the leafless trees shook their black iron branches. He shivered and returned, closing the window behind him. Dorian Gray glanced at the picture, and suddenly an uncontrollable feeling of hatred for Basil Hallward came over him, as though it had been suggested to him by the image on the canvas, whispered into his ear by those grinning lips. The mad passions of a hunted animal stirred within him, and he loathed the man who was seated at the table, more than in his whole life he had ever loathed anything. He glanced wildly around. Something glimmered on the top of the painted chest that faced him. His eye fell on it. He knew what it was. It was a knife that he had brought up, some days before, to cut a piece of cord, and had forgotten to take away with him. He moved slowly towards it, passing Hallward as he did so. As soon as he got behind him, he seized it and turned round. Hallward stirred in his chair as if he was going to rise. He rushed at him and dug the knife into the great vein that is behind the ear, crushing the man's head down on the table and stabbing again and again. There was a stifled groan and the horrible sound of some one choking with blood. Three times the outstretched arms shot up convulsively, waving grotesque, stiff-fingered hands in the air. He stabbed him twice more, but the man did not move. Something began to trickle on the floor. He waited for a moment, still pressing the head down. Then he threw the knife on the table, and listened. He could hear nothing, but the drip, drip on the threadbare carpet. He opened the door and went out on the landing. The house was absolutely quiet. No one was about. For a few seconds he stood bending over the balustrade and peering down into the black seething well of darkness. Then he took out the key and returned to the room, locking himself in as he did so. The thing was still seated in the chair, straining over the table with bowed head, and humped back, and long fantastic arms. Had it not been for the red jagged tear in the neck and the clotted black pool that was slowly widening on the table, one would have said that the man was simply asleep. How quickly it had all been done! He felt strangely calm, and walking over to the window, opened it and stepped out on the balcony. The wind had blown the fog away, and the sky was like a monstrous peacock's tail, starred with myriads of golden eyes. He looked down and saw the policeman going his rounds and flashing the long beam of his lantern on the doors of the silent houses. The crimson spot of a prowling hansom gleamed at the corner and then vanished. A woman in a fluttering shawl was creeping slowly by the railings, staggering as she went. Now and then she stopped and peered back. Once, she began to sing in a hoarse voice. The policeman strolled over and said something to her. She stumbled away, laughing. A bitter blast swept across the square. The gas-lamps flickered and became blue, and the leafless trees shook their black iron branches to and fro. He shivered and went back, closing the window behind him.