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s 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