CHAPTER XIV.

AllIaskofyouistoperformacertainscientificexperiment.Yougotohospitalsanddead-houses,andthehorrorsthatyoudotheredon’taffectyou.Ifinsomehideousdissecting-roomorfetidlaboratoryyoufoundthismanlyingonaleadentablewithredguttersscoopedoutinitforthebloodtoflowthrough,youwouldsimplylookuponhimasanadmirablesubject.Youwouldnotturnahair.Youwouldnotbelievethatyouweredoinganythingwrong.Onthecontrary,youwouldprobablyfeelthatyouwerebenefitingthehumanrace,orincreasingthesumofknowledgeintheworld,orgratifyingintellectualcuriosity,orsomethingofthatkind.WhatIwantyoutodoismerelywhatyouhaveoftendonebefore.Indeed,todestroyabodymustbefarlesshorriblethanwhatyouareaccustomedtoworkat.And,remember,itistheonlypieceofevidenceagainstme.Ifitisdiscovered,Iamlostanditissuretobediscoveredunlessyouhelpme.” “Ihavenodesiretohelpyou.Youforgetthat.Iamsimplyindifferenttothewholething.Ithasnothingtodowithme.” “Alan,Ientreatyou.ThinkofthepositionIamin.JustbeforeyoucameIalmostfaintedwithterror.Youmayknowterroryourselfsomeday.No!don’tthinkofthat.Lookatthematterpurelyfromthescientificpointofview.Youdon’tinquirewherethedeadthingsonwhichyouexperimentcomefrom.Don’tinquirenow.Ihavetoldyoutoomuchasitis.ButIbegofyoutodothis.Wewerefriendsonce,Alan.” “Don’tspeakaboutthosedays,Dorian—theyaredead.” “Thedeadlingersometimes.Themanupstairswillnotgoaway.Heissittingatthetablewithbowedheadandoutstretchedarms.Alan!Alan!Ifyoudon’tcometomyassistance,Iamruined.Why,theywillhangme,Alan!Don’tyouunderstand?TheywillhangmeforwhatIhavedone.” “Thereisnogoodinprolongingthisscene.Iabsolutelyrefusetodoanythinginthematter.Itisinsaneofyoutoaskme.” “Yourefuse?” “Yes.” “Ientreatyou,Alan.” “Itisuseless.” ThesamelookofpitycameintoDorianGray’seyes.Thenhestretchedouthishand,tookapieceofpaper,andwrotesomethingonit.Hereaditovertwice,foldeditcarefully,andpusheditacrossthetable.Havingdonethis,hegotupandwentovertothewindow. Campbelllookedathiminsurprise,andthentookupthepaper,andopenedit.Ashereadit,hisfacebecameghastlypaleandhefellbackinhischair.Ahorriblesenseofsicknesscameoverhim.Hefeltasifhisheartwasbeatingitselftodeathinsomeemptyhollow. Aftertwoorthreeminutesofterriblesilence,Dorianturnedroundandcameandstoodbehindhim,puttinghishanduponhisshoulder. “Iamsosorryforyou,Alan,”hemurmured,“butyouleavemenoalternative.Ihavealetterwrittenalready.Hereitis.Youseetheaddress.Ifyoudon’thelpme,Imustsendit.Ifyoudon’thelpme,Iwillsendit.Youknowwhattheresultwillbe.Butyouaregoingtohelpme.Itisimpossibleforyoutorefusenow.Itriedtospareyou.Youwilldomethejusticetoadmitthat.Youwerestern,harsh,offensive.Youtreatedmeasnomanhaseverdaredtotreatme—nolivingman,atanyrate.Iboreitall.Nowitisformetodictateterms.” Campbellburiedhisfaceinhishands,andashudderpassedthroughhim. “Yes,itismyturntodictateterms,Alan.Youknowwhattheyare.Thethingisquitesimple.Come,don’tworkyourselfintothisfever.Thethinghastobedone.Faceit,anddoit.” AgroanbrokefromCampbell’slipsandheshiveredallover.Thetickingoftheclockonthemantelpieceseemedtohimtobedividingtimeintoseparateatomsofagony,eachofwhichwastooterribletobeborne.Hefeltasifanironringwasbeingslowlytightenedroundhisforehead,asifthedisgracewithwhichhewasthreatenedhadalreadycomeuponhim.Thehanduponhisshoulderweighedlikeahandoflead.Itwasintolerable.Itseemedtocrushhim. “Come,Alan,youmustdecideatonce.” “Icannotdoit,”hesaid,mechanically,asthoughwordscouldalterthings. “Youmust.Youhavenochoice.Don’tdelay.” Hehesitatedamoment.“Isthereafireintheroomupstairs?” “Yes,thereisagas-firewithasbestos.” “Ishallhavetogohomeandgetsomethingsfromthelaboratory.” “No,Alan,youmustnotleavethehouse.Writeoutonasheetofnotepaperwhatyouwantandmyservantwilltakeacabandbringthethingsbacktoyou.” Campbellscrawledafewlines,blottedthem,andaddressedanenvelopetohisassistant.Doriantookthenoteupandreaditcarefully.Thenherangthebellandgaveittohisvalet,withorderstoreturnassoonaspossibleandtobringthethingswithhim. Asthehalldoorshut,Campbellstartednervously,andhavinggotupfromthechair,wentovertothechimney-piece.Hewasshiveringwithakindofague.Fornearlyt