[It's thrilling, in fact, for Henry to discover that playing to Dorian's ego is no less gratifying now than it ever has been. He had been worried for a moment there that the lad might have truly lost some of that brightness that made him so fascinating, but no. He has changed, but as Henry had hoped, he is only more interesting for it; there are murky depths where once you could see the bright stones and weeds beneath the surface of the water, as it were.]

[Meanwhile, he is genuinely—almost pathetically, though he won't show it—grateful for Dorian's offer of help in navigating this place.]

You really are a wonder. And though it does seem strange to me to do so, dear boy, [the old term of affection now used with a splash of irony] I will naturally defer to your expertise in this city. Indeed, I will be very glad to have it.