The Picture of Dorian Gray——13

The next morning Dorian wrote two letters.He put one of them into his pocket,and he gave the other to his servant.'Take this to Mr Campbell's house at once,'he said.
While Dorian waited,he picked up a book and tried to read.But after a time the book fell from his hand.Perhaps Alan Campbell was out of England.Perhaps he would refuse to come.He was a very clever scientist,and five years ago he and Dorian had been good friends.But now Alan never smiled when he met Dorian.
Each minute seemed an hour to Dorian,but at last the door opened.Dorian smiled.'Alan!he said.'Thank you for coming.'
'I never wanted to enter your house again,but your letter said that it was a question of life and death,'said Alan Campbell.His voice was hard and cold.
'Yes,Alan,it is.Please sit down.'Across the table the two men's eyes met.Dorian was silent for a moment;then,very quietly,he said.'Alan,in a locked room upstairs there is a dead body.I want you to destory it.There must be nothing left.I know you can do this.'
'I don't want to know your terrible secrets.I refuse to help you,'Campbell replied.
'But you must,Alan.You're the only person who can help me.'Dorian smiled sadly.He took a picture of paper,wrote something on it,and pushed it across the table to Campbell.'
As Campbell read the piece of paper,his face went white.He looked at Dorian with hate and fear in his eyes.
'I'm so sorry for you,Alan,'said Dorian gently.'I've already wirtten a letter,and if you don't help me,I'll have to send it.But I think that you will help me.'
Campbell put his face in his hands.and was silent for a long tiem.Dorian waited.
'I'll need something from my house,'Campbell said at last.
Dorian sent his servant to fetch the things that Campbell needed,and the two men waited silently.When the servant returned,Dorian took the scientist upstaris to the locked room.As they entered,Dorian remembered that the protrait was uncovered.He turned to cover it,then stopped and stared in horror.One of the hands in the picture was red with blood.For Dorian,this was more terrible than the dead body in the room.With a haking hands,he quickly covered the picture.
'Leave me now,'ordered Campbell.
Five hours later Campbell came back downstairts.'I've done what you asked me to do,'he said.'And now goodbye.I never want to see you again.'
When Campbell had left,Dorian went upstaris.There was a terrible smell in the room,but the dead body had gone.