The Picture of Dorian Gray August 1889, Stoddart dined with Oscar Wilde, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle and T. P. Gill at the Langham Hotel, and commissioned novellas from each writer. Conan Doyle promptly submitted "The Sign of the Four" (1890) to Stoddart, but Wilde was more dilatory; Conan Doyle's second Sherlock Holmes novel was published in the February 1890 edition of "Lippincott's Monthly Magazine", yet Stoddart did not receive Wilde's manuscript for "The Picture of Dorian Gray" until 7 April 1890, nine months after having commissioned the novel from him. The literary merits of "The Picture of Dorian Gray" impressed Stoddart, but, as an editor,
The Picture of Dorian Gray (opera) to Dorian about the disturbing rumours about his behaviour. Dorian invites him to the attic, in order to show Basil his soul. "Scene 2" In the attic, Dorian unveils his covered portrait. Its bloody and distorted image shocks Basil, who says that Dorian must be far more evil than the rumours suggest. He then begs Dorian to pray for forgiveness. Dorian then takes a knife on the table near the portrait and stabs Basil to death. "Scene 3" Later that night, Dorian visits a dockside tavern, frequented by sailors and prostitutes. When a prostitute apparently familiar with Dorian solicits him,