CHAPTER XIV.
關燈
小
中
大
anddriventheeyeballsbackintotheircave.Itwasuseless.Thebrainhaditsownfoodonwhichitbattened,andtheimagination,madegrotesquebyterror,twistedanddistortedasalivingthingbypain,dancedlikesomefoulpuppetonastandandgrinnedthroughmovingmasks.Then,suddenly,timestoppedforhim.Yes:thatblind,slow-breathingthingcrawlednomore,andhorriblethoughts,timebeingdead,racednimblyoninfront,anddraggedahideousfuturefromitsgrave,andshowedittohim.Hestaredatit.Itsveryhorrormadehimstone.
Atlastthedooropenedandhisservantentered.Heturnedglazedeyesuponhim.
“Mr.Campbell,sir,”saidtheman.
Asighofreliefbrokefromhisparchedlips,andthecolourcamebacktohischeeks.
“Askhimtocomeinatonce,Francis.”Hefeltthathewashimselfagain.Hismoodofcowardicehadpassedaway.
Themanbowedandretired.Inafewmoments,AlanCampbellwalkedin,lookingverysternandratherpale,hispallorbeingintensifiedbyhiscoal-blackhairanddarkeyebrows.
“Alan!Thisiskindofyou.Ithankyouforcoming.”
“Ihadintendednevertoenteryourhouseagain,Gray.Butyousaiditwasamatteroflifeanddeath.”Hisvoicewashardandcold.Hespokewithslowdeliberation.TherewasalookofcontemptinthesteadysearchinggazethatheturnedonDorian.HekepthishandsinthepocketsofhisAstrakhancoat,andseemednottohavenoticedthegesturewithwhichhehadbeengreeted.
“Yes:itisamatteroflifeanddeath,Alan,andtomorethanoneperson.Sitdown.”
Campbelltookachairbythetable,andDoriansatoppositetohim.Thetwomen’seyesmet.InDorian’stherewasinfinitepity.Heknewthatwhathewasgoingtodowasdreadful.
Afterastrainedmomentofsilence,heleanedacrossandsaid,veryquietly,butwatchingtheeffectofeachworduponthefaceofhimhehadsentfor,“Alan,inalockedroomatthetopofthishouse,aroomtowhichnobodybutmyselfhasaccess,adeadmanisseatedatatable.Hehasbeendeadtenhoursnow.Don’tstir,anddon’tlookatmelikethat.Whothemanis,whyhedied,howhedied,aremattersthatdonotconcernyou.Whatyouhavetodoisthis—”
“Stop,Gray.Idon’twanttoknowanythingfurther.Whetherwhatyouhavetoldmeistrueornottruedoesn’tconcernme.Ientirelydeclinetobemixedupinyourlife.Keepyourhorriblesecretstoyourself.Theydon’tinterestmeanymore.”
“Alan,theywillhavetointerestyou.Thisonewillhavetointerestyou.Iamawfullysorryforyou,Alan.ButIcan’thelpmyself.Youaretheonemanwhoisabletosaveme.Iamforcedtobringyouintothematter.Ihavenooption.Alan,youarescientific.Youknowaboutchemistryandthingsofthatkind.Youhavemadeexperiments.Whatyouhavegottodoistodestroythethingthatisupstairs—todestroyitsothatnotavestigeofitwillbeleft.Nobodysawthispersoncomeintothehouse.Indeed,atthepresentmomentheissupposedtobeinParis.Hewillnotbemissedformonths.Whenheismissed,theremustbenotraceofhimfoundhere.You,Alan,youmustchangehim,andeverythingthatbelongstohim,intoahandfulofashesthatImayscatterintheair.”
“Youaremad,Dorian.”
“Ah!IwaswaitingforyoutocallmeDorian.”
“Youaremad,Itellyou—madtoimaginethatIwouldraiseafingertohelpyou,madtomakethismonstrousconfession.Iwillhavenothingtodowiththismatter,whateveritis.DoyouthinkIamgoingtoperilmyreputationforyou?Whatisittomewhatdevil’sworkyouareupto?”
“Itwassuicide,Alan.”
“Iamgladofthat.Butwhodrovehimtoit?You,Ishouldfancy.”
“Doyoustillrefusetodothisforme?”
“OfcourseIrefuse.Iwillhaveabsolutelynothingtodowithit.Idon’tcarewhatshamecomesonyou.Youdeserveitall.Ishouldnotbesorrytoseeyoudisgraced,publiclydisgraced.Howdareyouaskme,ofallmenintheworld,tomixmyselfupinthishorror?Ishouldhavethoughtyouknewmoreaboutpeople’scharacters.YourfriendLordHenryWottoncan’thavetaughtyoumuchaboutpsychology,whateverelsehehastaughtyou.Nothingwillinducemetostirasteptohelpyou.Youhavecometothewrongman.Gotosomeofyourfriends.Don’tcometome.”
“Alan,itwasmurder.Ikilledhim.Youdon’tknowwhathehadmademesuffer.Whatevermylifeis,hehadmoretodowiththemakingorthemarringofitthanpoorHarryhashad.Hemaynothaveintendedit,theresultwasthesame.”
“Murder!GoodGod,Dorian,isthatwhatyouhavecometo?Ishallnotinformuponyou.Itisnotmybusiness.Besides,withoutmystirringinthematter,youarecertaintobearrested.Nobodyevercommitsacrimewithoutdoingsomethingstupid.ButIwillhavenothingtodowithit.”
“Youmusthavesomethingtodowithit.Wait,waitamomentlistentome.Onlylisten,Alan.
