道林格雷的画像_奥斯卡·王尔德-第30章

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h　nobody　but　myself　has　access；　a　dead　man　is　seated　at　a　table。　he　has　been　dead　ten　hours　now。　dont　stir；　and　dont　look　at　me　like　that。　who　the　man　is；　why　he　died；　how　he　died；　are　matters　that　do　not　concern　you。　what　you　have　to　do　is　this〃

〃stop；　gray。　i　dont　want　to　know　anything　further。　whether　what　you　have　told　me　is　true　or　not　true　doesnt　concern　me。　i　entirely　decline　to　be　mixed　up　in　your　life。　keep　your　horrible　secrets　to　yourself。　they　dont　interest　me　any　more。〃

〃alan；　they　will　have　to　interest　you。　this　one　will　have　to　interest　you。　i　am　awfully　sorry　for　you；　alan。　but　i　cant　help　myself。　you　are　the　one　man　who　is　able　to　save　me。　i　am　forced　to　bring　you　into　the　matter。　i　have　no　option。　alan；　you　are　scientific。　you　know　about　chemistry　and　things　of　that　kind。　you　have　made　experiments。　what　you　have　got　to　do　is　to　destroy　the　thing　that　is　upstairs　to　destroy　it　so　that　not　a　vestige　of　it　will　be　left。　nobody　saw　this　person　e　into　the　house。　indeed；　at　the　present　moment　he　is　supposed　to　be　in　paris。　he　will　not　be　missed　for　months。　when　he　is　missed；　there　must　be　no　trace　of　him　found　here。　you；　alan；　you　must　change　him；　and　everything　that　belongs　to　him；　into　a　handful　of　ashes　that　i　may　scatter　in　the　air。〃

〃you　are　mad；　dorian。〃

〃ah！　i　was　waiting　for　you　to　call　me　dorian。〃

〃you　are　mad；　i　tell　youmad　to　imagine　that　i　would　raise　a　finger　to　help　you；　mad　to　make　this　monstrous　confession。　i　will　have　nothing　to　do　with　this　matter；　whatever　it　is。　do　you　think　i　am　going　to　peril　my　reputation　for　you？　what　is　it　to　me　what　devils　work　you　are　up　to？〃

〃it　was　suicide；　alan。〃

〃i　am　glad　of　that。　but　who　drove　him　to　it？　you；　i　should　fancy。〃

〃do　you　still　refuse　to　do　this　for　me？〃

〃of　course　i　refuse。　i　will　have　absolutely　nothing　to　do　with　it。　i　dont　care　what　shame　es　on　you。　you　deserve　it　all。　i　should　not　be　sorry　to　see　you　disgraced；　publicly　disgraced。　how　dare　you　ask　me；　of　all　men　in　the　world；　to　mix　myself　up　in　this　horror？　i　should　have　thought　you　knew　more　about　peoples　characters。　your　friend　lord　henry　wotton　cant　have　taught　you　much　about　psychology；　whatever　else　he　has　taught　you。　nothing　will　induce　me　to　stir　a　step　to　help　you。　you　have　e　to　the　wrong　man。　go　to　some　of　your　friends。　dont　e　to　me。〃

〃alan；　it　was　murder。　i　killed　him。　you　dont　know　what　he　had　made　me　suffer。　whatever　my　life　is；　he　had　more　to　do　with　the　making　or　the　marring　of　it　than　poor　harry　has　had。　he　may　not　have　intended　it；　the　result　was　the　same。〃

〃murder！　good　god；　dorian；　is　that　what　you　have　e　to？　i　shall　not　inform　upon　you。　it　is　not　my　business。　besides；　without　my　stirring　in　the　matter；　you　are　certain　to　be　arrested。　nobody　ever　mits　a　crime　without　doing　something　stupid。　but　i　will　have　nothing　to　do　with　it。〃

〃you　must　have　something　to　do　with　it。　wait；　wait　a　moment；　listen　to　me。　only　listen；　alan。　all　i　ask　of　you　is　to　perform　a　certain　scientific　experiment。　you　go　to　hospitals　and　dead…houses；　and　the　horrors　that　you　do　there　dont　affect　you。　if　in　some　hideous　dissecting…room　or　fetid　laboratory　you　found　this　man　lying　on　a　leaden　table　with　red　gutters　scooped　out　in　it　for　the　blood　to　flow　through；　you　would　simply　look　upon　him　as　an　admirable　subject。　you　would　not　turn　a　hair。　you　would　not　believe　that　you　were　doing　anything　wrong。　on　the　contrary；　you　would　probably　feel　that　you　were　benefiting　the　human　race；　or　increasing　the　sum　of　knowledge　in　the　world；　or　gratifying　intellectual　curiosity；　or　something　of　that　kind。　what　i　want　you　to　do　is　merely　what　you　have　often　done　before。　indeed；　to　destroy　a　body　must　be　far　less　horrible　than　what　you　are　accustomed　to　work　at。　and；　remember；　it　is　the　only　piece　of　evidence　against　me。　if　it　is　discovered；　i　am　lost；　and　it　is　sure　to　be　discovered　unless　you　help　me。〃

〃i　have　no　desire　to　help　you。　you　forget　that。　i　am　simply　indifferent　to　the　whole　thing。　it　has　nothing　to　do　with　me。〃

〃alan；　i　entreat　you。　think　of　the　position　i　am　in。　just　before　you　came　i　almost　fainted　with　terror。　you　may　know　terror　yourself　some　day。　no！　dont　think　of　that。　look　at　the　matter　purely　from　the　scientific　point　of　view。　you　dont　inquire　where　the　dead　things　on　which　you　experiment　e　from。　dont　inquire　now。　i　have　told　you　too　much　as　it　is。　but　i　beg　of　you　to　do　this。　we　were　friends　once；　alan。〃

〃dont　speak　about　those　days；　dorianthey　are　dead。〃

〃the　dead　linger　sometimes。　the　man　upstairs　will　not　go　away。　he　is　sitting　at　the　table　with　bowed　head　and　outstretched　arms。　alan！　alan！　if　you　dont　e　to　my　assistance；　i　am　ruined。　why；　they　will　hang　me；　alan！　dont　you　understand？　they　will　hang　me　for　what　i　have　done。〃

〃there　is　no　good　in　prolonging　this　scene。　i　absolutely　refuse　to　do　anything　in　the　matter。　it　is　insane　of　you　to　ask　me。〃

〃you　refuse？〃

〃yes。〃

〃i　entreat　you；　alan。〃

〃it　is　useless。〃

the　same　look　of　pity　came　into　dorian　grays　eyes。　then　he　stretched　out　his　hand；　took　a　piece　of　paper；　and　wrote　something　on　it。　he　read　it　over　twice；　folded　it　carefully；　and　pushed　it　across　the　table。　having　done　this；　he　got　up　and　went　over　to　the　window。

campbell　looked　at　him　in　surprise；　and　then　took　up　the　paper；　and　opened　it。　as　he　read　it；　his　face　became　ghastly　pale　and　he　fell　back　in　his　chair。　a　horrible　sense　of　sickness　came　over　him。　he　felt　as　if　his　heart　was　beating　itself　to　death　in　some　empty　hollow。

after　two　or　three　minutes　of　terrible　silence；　dorian　turned　round　and　came　and　stood　behind　him；　putting　his　hand　upon　his　shoulder。

〃i　am　so　sorry　for　you；　alan；〃　he　murmured；　〃but　you　leave　me　no　alternative。　i　have　a　letter　written　already。　here　it　is。　you　see　the　address。　if　you　dont　help　me；　i　must　send　it。　if　you　dont　help　me；　i　will　send　it。　you　know　what　the　result　will　be。　but　you　are　going　to　help　me。　it　is　impossible　for　you　to　refuse　now。　i　tried　to　spare　you。　you　will　do　me　the　justice　to　admit　that。　you　were　stern；　harsh；　offensive。　you　treated　me　as　no　man　has　ever　dared　to　treat　meno　living　man；　at　any　rate。　i　bore　it　all。　now　it　is　for　me　to　dictate　terms。〃

campbell　buried　his　face　in　his　hands；　and　a　shudder　passed　through　him。

〃yes；　it　is　my　turn　to　dictate　terms；　alan。　you　know　what　they　are。　the　thing　is　quite　simple。　e；　dont　work　yourself　into　this　fever。　the　thing　has　to　be　done。　face　it；　and　do　it。〃

a　groan　broke　from　campbells　lips　and　he　shivered　all　over。　the　ticking　of　the　clock　on　the　mantelpiece　seemed　to　him　to　be　dividing　time　into　separate　atoms　of　agony；　each　of　which　was　too　terrible　to　be　borne。　he　felt　as　if　an　iron　ring　was　being　slowly　tightened　round　his　forehead；　as　if　the　disgrace　with　which　he　was　threatened　had　already　e　upon　him。　the　hand　upon　his　shoulder　weighed　like　a　hand　of　lead。　it　was　intolerable。　it　seemed　to　crush　him。

〃e；　alan；　you　must　decide　at　once。〃

〃i　cannot　do　it；〃　he　said；　mechanically；　as　though　words　could　alter　things。

〃you　must。　you　have　no　choice。　dont　delay。〃

he　hesitated　a　moment。　〃is　there　a　fire　in　the　room　upstairs？〃

〃yes；　there　is　a　gas…fire　with　asbestos。〃

〃i　shall　have　to　go　home　and　get　some　things　from　the　laboratory。〃

〃no；　alan；　you　must　not　leave　the　house。　write　out　on　a　sheet　of　notepaper　what　you　want　and　my　servant　will　take　a　cab　and　bring　the　things　back　to　you。〃

campbell　scrawled　a　few　lines；　blotted　them；　and　addressed　an　envelope　to　his　assistant。　dorian　took　the　note　up　and　read　it　carefully。　then　he　rang　the　bell　and　gave　it　to　his　valet；　with　orders　to　return　as　soon　as　possible　and　to　bring　the　things　with　him。

as　the　hall　door　shut；　campbell　started　nervously；　and　having　got　up　from　the　chair；　went　over　to　the　chimney…piece。　he　was　shivering　with　a　kind　of　ague。　for　nearly　twenty　minutes；　neither　of　the　men　spoke。　a　fly　buzzed　noisily　about　the　room；　and　the　ticking　of　the　clock　was　like　the　beat　of　a　hammer。

as　the　chime　struck　one；　campbell　turned　round；　and　looking　at　dorian　gray；　saw　that　his　eyes　were　filled　with　tears。　there　was　something　in　the　purity　and　refinement　of　that　sad　face　that　seemed　to　enrage　him。　〃you　are　infamous；　absolutely　infamous！〃　he　muttered。

〃hush；　alan。　you　have　saved　my　life；〃　said　dorian。

〃your　life？　good　heavens！　what　a　life　that　is！　you　have　gone　from　corruption　to　corruption；　and　now　you　have　culminated　in　crime。　in　doing　what　i　am　going　to　dowhat　you　force　me　to　do　it　is　not　of　your　life　that　i　am　thinking。〃

〃ah；　alan；〃　murmured　dorian　with　a　sigh；　〃i　wish　you　had　a　thousandth　part　of　the　pity　for　me　that　i　have　for　you。〃　he　turned　away　as　he　spoke　and　stood　looking　out　at　the　garden。　campbell　made　no　answer。

after　about　ten　minutes　a　knock　came　to　the　door；　and　the　servant　entered；　carrying　a　large　mahogany　chest　of　chemicals；　with　a　long　coil　of　steel　and　platinum　wire　and　two　rather　curiously　shaped　iron　clamps。

〃shall　i　leave　the　things　here；　sir？〃　he　asked　campbell。

〃yes；〃　said　dorian。　〃and　i　am　afraid；　francis；　that　i　have　another　errand　for　you。　what　is　the　name　of　the　man　at　richmond　who　supplies　selby　with　orchids？〃

〃harden；　sir。〃

〃yesharden。　you　must　go　down　to　richmond　at　once；　see　harden　personally；　and　tell　him　to　send　twice　as　many　orchids　as　i　ordered；　and　to　have　as　few　white　ones　as　possible。　in　fact；　i　dont　want　any　white　ones。　it　is　a　lovely　day；　francis；　and　richmond　is　a　very　pretty　place　otherwise　i　wouldnt　bother　you　about　it。〃

〃no　trouble；　sir。　at　what　time　shall　i　be　back？〃

dorian　looked　at　campbell。　〃how　long　will　your　experiment　take；　alan？〃　he　said　in　a　calm　indifferent　voice。　the　presence　of　a　third　person　in　the　room　seemed　to　give　him　extraordinary　courage。

campbell　frowned　and　bit　his　lip。　〃it　will　take　about　five　hours；〃　he　answered。

〃it　will　be　time　enough；　then；　if　you　are　back　at　half…past　seven；　francis。　or　stay：　just　leave　my　things　out　for　dressing。　you　can　have　the　evening　to　yourself。　i　am　not　dining　at　home；　so　i　shall　not　want　you。〃

〃thank　you；　sir；〃　said　the　man；　leaving　the　room。

〃now；　alan；　there　is　not　a　moment　to　be　lost。　how　heavy　this　chest　is！　ill　take　it　for　you。　you　bring　the　other　things。〃　he　spoke　rapidly　and　in　an　authoritative　manner。　campbell　felt　dominated　by　him。　they　left　the　room　together。

when　they　reached　the　top　landing；　dorian　took　out　the　key　and　turned　it　in　the　lock。　then　he　stopped；　and　a　troubled　look　came　into　his　eyes。　he　shuddered。　〃i　dont　think　i　can　go　in；　alan；〃　he　murmured。

〃it　is　nothing　to　me。　i　dont　require　you；〃　said　campbell　coldly。

dorian　half　opened　the　door。　as　he　did　so；　he　saw　the　face　of　his　portrait　leering　in　the　sunlight。　on　the　floor　in　front　of　it　the　torn　curtain　was　lying。　he　remembered　that　the　night　before　he　had　forgotten；　for　the　first　time　in　his　life；　to　hide　the　fatal　canvas；　and　was　about　to　rush　forward；　when　he　drew　back　with　a　shudder。

what　was　that　loathsome　red　dew　that　gleamed；　wet　and　glistening；　on　one　of　the　hands；　as　though　the　canvas　had　sweated　blood？　how　horrible　it　was！more　horrible；　it　seemed　to　him　for　the　moment；　than　the　silent　thing　that　he　knew　was　stretched　across　the　table；　the　thing　whose　grotesque　misshapen　shadow　on　the　spotted　carpet　showed　him　that　it　had　not　stirred；