one man towards another?"--"It would be the
influence produced on an artist by a beautiful personality," was the
reply.

Counsel: A beautiful person?

Witness: I said "a beautiful personality." You can describe it as you
like. Dorian Gray was a most remarkable personality.

May I take it that you, as an artist, have never known the feeling
described here?--I have never allowed any personality to dominate my
heart.

Then you have never known the feeling you describe?--No; it is a work of
fiction.

So far as you are concerned you have no experience as to its being a
natural feeling?--I think it is perfectly natural for any artist to
admire intensely and love a young man. It is an incident in the life of
almost every artist.

But let us go over it phrase by phrase. "I quite admit that I adored you
madly." What do you say to that? Have you ever adored a young man
madly?--No; not madly. I prefer love; that is a higher form.

Never mind about that. Let us keep down to the level we are at now.--I
have never given adoration to any body except myself. (Loud laughter.)

I suppose you think that a very smart thing?--Not at all.

Then you never had that feeling?--No; the whole idea was borrowed from
Shakespeare, I regret to say; yes, from Shakespeare's sonnets.

Mr. Carson, continuing to read: "I adored you extravagantly?"--Do you
mean financially?

Oh, yes, financially. Do you think we are talking about finance?--I do
not know what you are talking about.

Don't you? Well, I hope, I shall make myself very plain before I have
done. "I was jealous of every one to whom you spoke." Have you ever been
jealous of a young man?--Never in my life.

"I wanted to have you all to myself." Did you ever have that
feeling?--No, I should consider it an intense nuisance, an intense bore.

"I grew afraid that the world would know of my idolatry." Why should he
grow afraid that the world should know of it?--Because there are people
in the world who cannot understand the intense devotion, affection and
admiration that an artist can feel for a wonderful and beautiful
personality. These are the conditions under which we live. I regret
them.

These unfortunate people, that have not the high understanding that you
have, might put it down to something wrong?--Undoubtedly; to any point
they chose. I am not concerned with the ignorance of others.

In another passage Dorian Gray receives a book.[36] Was the book to
which you refer a mora