Vista previa parcial del texto
¡Descarga Dorian gray libro inglés y más Resúmenes en PDF de Inglés solo en Docsity!
In the summer of 1870, Basil Hallward, an artist, is Finishing the picture of his friend, Dorian Gray. Dorian is young, handsome and innocent and he is delighted with his beautiful portrait. But when he meets eynical Lord Henry Wotton, his life changes. Under Lord Henry's influence, Dorian's life becomes more and more decadent, and his beautiful picture refleots what is happening to him. This is one of Oscar Wilde's most popular books. This Burlington Reader is es yfligto, : «l 4 arte a series of carefully Loza graded readers specially «$ / designed For Spain. E B Burlington Books B Validity Check Di A 9 m0! AY Other Classic Fiction for his Level A Sherlock Holmes Collection Kidnapped o- ee A os Burlidigtoy Books s S S The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde Retold by Victoria Baron THE PICTURE OF DORIAN GRAY INTRODUCCIÓN Oscar Wilde (1854-1900) nació en Dublín, estudió en el Trinity College y después en la Universidad de Oxford. En 1881 publicó su libro Poemas y diez años más tarde su única novela El retrato de Dorian Gray. Sus obras de teatro, El abanico de Lady Windermere y La importancia de llamarse Ernesto, le abrieron las puertas de los círculos sociales y literarios de la época donde se hizo famoso por su ingenio y su extravagante estilo de vida. En el verano de 1870, el pintor Basil Hallward está a punto de terminar el retrato de su apuesto amigo Dorian Gray, un joven ingenuo que está encantado con su bello cuadro y que desearía poder permanecer siempre igual de joven y guapo. Sin embargo, las cosas cambian cuando conoce al cínico Lord Henry Wotton, bajo cuya influencia la vida de Dorian se va deteriorando mientras su retrato refleja los cambios en su personalidad. INTRODUCCIÓ Oscar Wilde (1854-1900) va néixer a Dublín, va estudiar al Trinity College i després a la Universitat d"'Oxford. El 1881 va publicar el seu llibre Poemes i deu anys més tard la seva única novel:la El retrat de Dorian Gray. Les seves obres de teatre, El vano de Lady Windermere i La importáncia de ser Frank li van obrir les portes dels cercles socials i literaris de P'época en qué es va fer famós pel seu ingeni i el seu extravagant estil de vida. Uestiu de 1870, el pintor Basil Hallward está a punt d'acabar el retrat del seu atractiu amic Dorian Gray, un jove ingenu que está encantat amb el seu bell quadre i que desitjaria poder seguir sempre igual de jove i ben plantat. No obstant aixo, les coses canvien quan coneix el cínic Lord Henry Wotton, sota la influencia del qual la vida d'en Dorian es deteriora mentre el seu retrat reflecteix els canvis en la seva personalitat, INTRODUCTION SARRERA Oscar Wilde (1854-1900) Dublinen jaio zen, Trinity Collegen ikasi zuen cta Oxfordeko Unibertsitatean ondoren. 1881ean Olerkiak izeneko liburua argitaratu zuen eta hamar urte beranduago bere nobela bakarra den Dorian Grayren Erretratua. Bere antzerki-lanek, Lady Windermeren Abanikua eta Ernest Deitzearen Garrantzña, alegia, garai hartako gizarte eta literatur giroko ateak ireki zizkioten, non bere buru-argitasun eta bizitzeko era ohizkanpokoagatik ezaguna egin zen. 1870ko udan, Basil Hallward margolaria Dorian Gray lagun lirainaren erretratua bukatzear dago. Dorian gazte sineskorra, bere irudi ederrarekin zoraturik dago eta margolanean bezain gazte eta eder egon nahi luke beti. Dena den, gauzak aldatu egiten dira Lord Henry Wotton zinikoa ezagutzen duenean, honen eranginpean Dorianen bizitzak okerrera egiten baitu, eta erretratua gaztearen pertsonalitate-aldaketak islatzen joaten da. Limiar Oscar Wilde (1854-1900) naceu en Dublín, estudou no Trinity College e logo na Universidade de Oxford. En 1881 publicou o seu libro Poemas e dez anos máis tarde a súa única novela O retrato de Dorian Gray. As súas obras de teatro, O abano de Lady Windermere e A importancia de chamarse Ernesto, abríronlle as portas dos círculos sociais e literarios da época onde gañou sona polo seu euxeño e o sen extravagante xeito de vivir. No verán de 1870, o pintor Basil Hallward está a piques de rematar o retrato do seu lanzal amigo Dorian Gray, un mozo inxenuo que está compracido co seu belido cadro e que desexaría poder permanecer sempre igual de mozo e fermoso. Porén, as cousas mudan ao coñecer ao lerchán Lord Henry Wotton, baixo cuxa influencia a vida de Dorian vai estragándose mentres o seu retrato reflite os cambios na súa personalidade, 5 The Picture of Dorian Gray CHAPTER 1 ÍN THE STUDIO In the summer of 1870, an artist was working in his studio in London. The artist's name was Basil Hallward, and he was finishing a portrait. His friend, Lord Henry Wotton, was sitting in an armebair, watching him. “That's a marvellous picture. 1 know all your pictures, but this is the best,” said Lord Henry. “The young man in the picture is very handsome, with his dark curly hair and bright blue eyes.” “Yes, he is,” Basil said. “He's also very innocent and he doesn't know anything about life. Sometimes I worry that Dorian Gray is too handsome and that he'!l suffer for it one day.” “Dorian Gray? Is that his name?” Lord Henry asked, laughing. “Yes, it is,” Basil answered. “Dorian and I are good friends and we spend a lot of time together. He often comes and sits with me, even when Pm not painting his portrait. When he's here, 1 paint much better than usual. He's a very special young man.” “Well, that's interesting,” said Lord Henry. “Y really want to meet him.” Basil was unhappy when he heard Lord Henry say tbis. Lord Henry was 40 years old, 10 years older than Basil. Lord Henry knew a lot about life, but he didn't believe in anything and he didn't care about anyone. He only saw the bad in everything and ridiculed the good. Nothing was important to him and he spent his life going to parties and drinking. “Henry is so cynical and he laughs at everything,” Basil thought. “It will be better if he doesn't meet Dorian.” “Henry, 1 don't think you'll like Dorian,” Basil said to his 6 IN THE STUDIO friend, “He's very different from you, but his friendship is important to me.” At that moment, a servant came into the studio. “Mr Gray is here, Mr Hallward,” the servant said. “Can l ask him to come upstairs to the studio?” “Yes, please do,” Basil answered. He didn't look happy, but Lord Henry laughed. “This is a coincidence!” he thought. “Now T can meet Dorian Gray!” “Henry, please be careful what you say to him,” Basil said seriously. “He's only 19 years old. He'll listen to what you say and l'm afraid you'1l have a bad influence on him.” Lord Henry laughed again. He was enjoying the situation. A few minutes later, Dorian Gray came into the studio and Basil introduced him to Lord Henry. Basil watched his friends for a few minutes. “They like each other,” he thought. “That's not good.” / sz 7 THE PICTURE OF DORIAN GRAY Basil's hand from the picture. “Why?” Basil asked in a cold voice. “Is it possible that you like my work?” “Of course I like it,” Dorian answered. “T love that portrait, It's already a part of me!” “Then PI give it to you,” Basil said. “Take it home, you can do what you like with it. I don't want it now.” Basil walked to the window and stood there in silence, with his back to his friends. Nobody said anything for a few minutes. Then Lord Henry had an idea. “Let's go to the theatre tonight,” he suggested. “Will you come, Dorian? And you, Basil?” “That's a good idea!” Dorian exclaimed, “T can't go,” Basil said. “Tve got too much work. Dorian, will you stay and have dinner with me?” “Tm sorry, I can't,” Dorian answered. “T'd like to go to the theatre with Lord Henry.” Basil was very disappointed, but he tried not to show it. Before Lord Henry and Dorian left, Basil spoke quietly to Lord Henry. “Please remember what I said to you about Dorian,” he said. “It's easy to influence him. Please be careful.” Lord Henry just laughed and opened the front door. “Goodbye, my friend,” he said. “Enjoy your dinner!” *Tll ses you tomorrow as usual, Basil,” said Dorian. Dorian and Lord Henry left and Basil closed the door. He was very sad. He remembered Lord Henry laughing and he was worried about his young friend's future. The next day, Lord Henry visited his uncle, an old gentleman called Lord Fermor. Lord Fermor knew all the aristocratic families in London. “Do you know Dorian Gray?” Lord Henry asked his uncle. “Dorian Gray? Who is he?” Lord Fermor asked. “That's what I want to know,” Lord Henry answered. “His grandfather was Lord Kelso, and his mother was Lady Margaret Devereux. You knew everybody when you were younger, so 10 SIBYL VANE maybe you knew her too. Please tell me about her. 1 met Dorian Gray yesterday aud I want to know more about him.” “Lord Kelso!” Lord Fermor exclaimed. “Of course I knew him, and I knew his daughter, Lady Margaret, too. She was a very beautiful girl and all the men were in love with her, but she fell in love with a poor, young man. He was a soldier. Her family was angry, so she left home and married the young man secretly. He died a year later in a duel, and Lady Margaret died a few months after him. It was very tragic. 1 went to Europe soon after that and lost contact with many people. So Lady Margaret had a child? I didn't know that.” “Yes,” Lord Henry answered. “Lord Kelso took the child to his home in the country and Dorian lived there until his grandfather died. Then Dorian finished school in London.” “Weil,” said Lord Fermor, “that's all very interesting. If Dorian looks like his mother, he”s probably a handsome young man.” Lord Henry was happy with this information and he left a short time later. CHAPTER 3 SIBYL VANE A month later, Dorian visited Lord Henry”s home. Lord Henry saw that his young friend was very happy. “Henry, T'm in love,” Dorian announced. Lord Henry was very surprised. “Who are you in love with?” he asked. “An actress called Sibyl Vane,” Dorian answered. “Yon probably don't know her, but she”s beantiful, she's 19 years old and she's a marvellous actress. Every time 1 see her, I appreciate her more.” “IT don't know the name Sibyl Vane. How did you meet her?” Lord Henry asked, laughing. “It was a coincidence,” Dorian explained. “One evening, when I was walking through a poor part of London, I passed an 11 THE PICTURE OF DORIAN GRAY old theatre. There was a man outside, trying to convince people to go into the theatre and see the play. 1 can't imagine why 1 lístened to him, but fortunately 1 did. Sibyl was playing Juliet in Shakespeare's play, Romeo and Juliet, and the moment 1 saw her, she enchanted me. 1 went to speak to her in her dressing room after the performance and uow 1 go to the theatre every evening. I want to be near her all the time.” “Siby! was playing Juliet in Shakespeare's play, Romeo and Juliet, and the moment Í saw her, she enchanted me.” 12 SIBYL VANE “But what do you know about her?” asked Lord Henry. “T know that her family is poor, but that isn”t important to me,” Dorian answered. “She's perfect and "ll make her love me, Please come to the theatre tomorrow evening and see her. And bring Basil too. Then you”Il understand my feelings.” “We'll come if you want,” Lord Henry said. “Let's meet at 6.30 for dinner and then go to the theatre together. Goodbye, PI see you tomorrow.” But Lord Henry heard from Dorian earlier than that. When he came home after dinner the same evening, he found a note from Dorian, Dear Henry, Sibul and 1 ave going to get married! Dorian Sibyl Vane lived in a modest house with her mother and her brottier, James. The next morning, Sibyl told her mother abont Dorian Gray. “T'm very happy,” Sibyl said. “T'm in love with a very special man.” “In love?” Mrs Vane exclaimed. She didn't know that Sibyl had a gentleman friend and was very surprised. “Who is he? Tell me about him.” “The young man's name is Prince Charming and I met him at the theatre,” Sibyl explained. “He comes every evening and visits me in my dressing room after the performance. He loves me and he wants to marry me. He wrote me a letter about it yesterday.” “When did you meet him?” her mother asked. “What do you know about him?” Mis Vane was very worried and asked a lot of questions. Mr Vane wasn't alive any more and although Mrs Vane worked, she didn't make much money. 13 Thg PICTURE OF DORIAN GRAY CHAPTER 4 AT THE THEATRE Later that day, Lord Henry and Basil met for dinner. “Did you hear the news?” Lord Henry asked. “What news?” Basil said, “Dorian is going to get married,” Lord Henry answered. “Really!” Basil exclaimed. He was very surprised. “T didn't know that. Who is he going to marry?” “A young actress,” Lord Henry answered, laughing. “Nobody knows her.” “This is terrible news,” said Basil. “An actress isn't an appropriate wife for Dorian. He's an aristocratic young man witb a position in society. Can't we stop him?” At that moment, Dorian arrived. He was very excited. Tm the happiest man alive,” he said to his friends, “and I want to celebrate!” “You can tell us all about it while we have dinner,” said Lord Henry. “It happened last night,” Dorian continued. “I went to visit Sibyl after the performance, as usual, and something happened between us. We kissed for the first time and then 1 sent her a letter and declared my love. We're going to get married, but it's still a secret, ] promise you, when you see her act tonight, yow'11 understand my feelings for her.” “We're impatient to see her,” said Lord Henry, “but first lef's eat before we go to the theatre. P'm sorry, Basil, butimy carriage is only big enough for Dorian and me. You must follow us to the restaurant in your carriage.” Later, when Basil was going to the theatre alone, he felt very sad. Dorian was spending more and more time with Lord Henry and was beginning to change. “Dorian is making a mistake,” Basil thought, worried, “but what can I do?” There were lots of people in the theatre. Sibyl appeared a few minutes after the start of the play and everyone applauded. 16 AT THE THEATRE She was beautiful, just as Dorian said, but when she started to speak, something was wrong. Dorian was angry. “Why is she acting so badly?” he thought. “Her voice is weak and umnatural, and she acts her part without emotion and without understanding. This is not my Sibyl, my great actress.” Soon the audience was shouting to Sibyl, “Stop acting! Go home!” When the interval came, Lord Henry took his coat. “Sibyl is beautiful, Dorian, just like you said, but she can't act,” he said to the young man. “We're leaving now. Are you coming with us?” “No, Pm staying here. You can do what yon like,” Dorían answered. Basil felt sad for his friend. “Maybe Miss Vane is ill tonight,” he said to Dorian. “We”U come and see her another evening. Perhaps she”1l feel better then.” Basil and Lord Henry left, but Dorian stayed and watched Sibyl's performance to the end. It was very bad and he was unhappy. When the curtain came down at the end of the play, there were only a few people in the theatre. Dorian went to Sibyl's dressing room. He was very surprised when he saw her. She was happy and smiling. “Didn't I act badly tonight, Dorian?” she asked happily. “Yes, it was terrible. I didn't want to watch you. Why did you act so badly?” Dorian wanted to know. *You should understand, Dorian, because I'm sure Dll never act well again,” Sibyl said, smiling at him. *“I don't understand. I came with friends and we didn*t enjoy your acting,” said Dorian. He was angry and perplexed. “Dorian,” Sibyi said in a sweet, loving voice, “Pm not a good actress any more because of you. How can 1 imitate love in a play, now that 1 know the real emotion? You taught me the 17 THB PICTURE OF DORIAN GRAY difference between real life and acting, and acting isn't important to me any more.” “How can you say that?” Dorian exclaimed. “You're killing my love for you. 1 loved you because you were a marvellous actress, but now I see the truth. A good actress couldn't do what you did tonight. 1 made a mistake. You aren't a great actress. You're nothing!” : Sibyl looked at Dorian in horror. “Dorian, you're acting now,” she said, trembling. “No, Pm not,” Dorian responded. “How can 1 love you? Yow're just ordinary. I don't want to see you any more.” With these words, Dorian left the room. Sibyl fell on the floor and cried. She was very unhappy, but Dorian didn't care. Sibyl fell on the floor and cried. 18 ThE PorRTRAIT CHANGES CHAPTER 5 ThE PORTRAIT CHANGES Dorian walked home slowly. Suddenly, he didn't feel any emotion for Sibyl Vane. He was irritated and he felt sad for himself. At home, he went into his study. His portrait was on the wall, but when he saw it, he suddenly stopped. “That's strange,” Dorian thought. “The portrait looks different, but how?” Dorian stood in front of the portrait and studied it carefully. “Everything's the same,” he thought, “except my mouth. There are lines around it and it looks cruel now. How could that happen? Pictures don't change.” He was very confused. Dorian looked in the mirror. His mouth was beautiful and there weren*t any lines around it. Then he looked at the portrait again and saw clearly that the portrait of Dorian Gray and the real Dorian Gray were no longer the same! Suddenly, he remembered when he saw the picture for the first time in Basil's studio. He also remembered his own words, “Why can't the young man jn the picture become old instead of me?” “Now I understand!” Dorian thought. “Tt means that all the changes in my life will appear on my portrait and not on my real face. And j£'s happening. The portrait is changing instead of me. It shows me as I really am, with a cruel face. Was T cruel to Sibyl this evening? Did the portrait change because of that?” Dorian sat down on a chair. He wanted to think. He remembered his words to Sibyl and her unhappiness. “Maybe I was cruel to her,” he thought. “She loves me and she didn't intend to hurt me. She's young and innocent. She didn't understand about her acting, but to me, her talent was as important as her beauty and her sweet personality. 1 was wrong. PI write to her in the morning and say that Pm sorry. L hope she still wants to marry me. She's good and pure, and under her influence PIl become a better man. 1 won't see Henry any more. He's an immoral person and he shouldr't be my friend.” Now Dorian didn*t want to look at tbe portrait. lt was ugly 19 THg PICTURE OF DORIAN GRAY “Dorian,” said Lord Henry in a quiet voice. “Sibyl didn't die accidentally. Thaf's why there must be an investigation. She took some poison and another actress found her on the floor of her dressing room.” “Sibyl taok some poison and another actress found her on the floor of her dressing room.” 22 Lor HENRY'S VISIT For a moment Dorian couldn't speak, He felt ill. Then he said, “Henry, this happened because of me. My words killed Sibyl. DI never forgive myself.” “Try to be calm,” Lord Henry said. “You mustn't feel bad. Sibyl was very young and stupid, She knew nothing about life and she was weak, Love! What is love? It's nothing, it's justa word, Tt doesn't exist. Only pleasure is important,” he continued eynically. “You must forget Sibyl and enjoy your life.” Dorian sat for a few moments and thought about Lord Henry's words. They sounded clever to him. “Maybe Henry is right” he thought. “T shouldn't be so serious. Oh, why did Sibyl take the poison the same night? I was going to send her my letter this morning!” Dorian turned to Lord Henry. “Yow're right,” he said. “Tm not responsible for what Sibyl did. She was too emotional and she behaved like a child.” “Tm happy you feel that way,” said Lord Henry. “Let's go Out to dinner and the theatre this evening, as usual. Then yow'1I feel better.” Dorian didn't like being unhappy, so he decided to go with Lord Henry. Why should he sit at home and be sad? The two friends decided to meet that evening and Lord Henry left. Dorian thought about the portrait. “Maybe there's another change,” he thought. He moved the cloth and looked at the portrait. It looked the same. “The portrait knows what's happening before 1 do,” he thought, “It changed when Sibyl died, although 1 didn't know about it, and it will change again in the future. I won't live a good life without Sibyl. Henry's influence ¡is very strong and 1 can't resist it.” Dorian couldn't fight his personality. He was weak, Later that evening, Dorian went to the theatre with Lord Henry. 23 THE PICTURE OF DORIAN GRAY CHAPTER 7 DoRIAN'S OLD STUDY The next morning, Basil visited Dorian. *“I was sad to hear about Sibyl,” Basil said to Dorian. “T's a great tragedy for you and Sibyl's family. How is SibyP's mother?” “Sibyl's mother?” Dorian said, surprised. “I don't know. 1 went to the theatre with Henry yesterday evening, so 1 didn't see her.” Basil was shocked when he heard this and he spoke to Dorian with anger in his voice. “You haven't got a heart,” he said, “and you haven't got any emotions. How can you behave like that? Sibyl died only yesterday.” “Yesterday is yesterday,” said Dorian. “I's sad that Sibyl's dead, but I won't think of her again. Pm young and handsome and I want to enjoy my life.” Dorian's words made Basil very unhappy, but he couldn't be angry with his friend for a long time. Soon they started talking about other things. A short time later, Basil said, “Dorian, I want to see my portrait of you. It's in the next room, isn't it?” He started to walk towards the study, but Dorian stopped him. “No, Basil, you can't see it,” he said. “But, Dorian, there's going to be an exhibition of my pictures in Paris and 1 want to take your portrait there,” Basil said. “It's my best work. Why can't 1 see it now?” Dorian thought quickly. He had to do something. Basil wanted the picture for an exhibition, but that was impossible. “Pm sorry, Basil, but you can't take the portrait,” Dorian said firmly. “It mustn't leave this house.” Basil was confused. “I don't understand,” he said. “Everyone will admire it — and you — at the exhibition. Don't you want that? Please explain.” “I can't explain it to you, but that's my decision,” Dorian answered. “The portrait is mine and no one will ever see it 24 DORIAN'S OLD STUDY again!” Basil didn't answer. He didn't waut to fight with his friend. “Dorian is behaving very strangely,” he thought. “Maybe it's because of Sibyl's death.” After Basil left, Dorian was very nervous. “I must hide the portrait,” he thought, “If I don't, someone will see jt one day. PL hide the picture upstairs in my old study. 1 don't use it now and nobody ever goes in there.” Dorian called his personal servant. “Please bring me the key to my old study,” he said. “But, sir,” the servant responded, “it's very dirty. Nobody ever cleans it and there's no light. Please let me clean it first.” “No, give me the key now,” Dorian said. “It's important and I don't want to wait.” The servant couldn't say “no” to his master. He gave Dorian the key and left the room. Dorian went upstairs to his old study. The servant was right. lt was very dirty, but it was a perfect place to keep the picture, Now he needed two strong men to carry the picture upstairs. “T can't use my servants,” he thought. “They”re too curious and they"ll want to know what's happening.” Two workmen were arriving at the house with wood for the fires. Dorian saw them and called to them, “Finish carrying the wood into the house, and then please come and do something for me.” “All right, sir,” one of the workmen said. At that moment, Dorian's personal servant came into the room with tea and biscuits for his master. He looked at Dorian, then put the tea and biscuits on a small table. “Why is the servant looking at me like that?” thought Dorian. “Does he suspect something? I don't trust him. He musto't see the men carrying the picture to my old study. Pl write a note to Henry and my personal servant can take it to him. Then he won't be at home for an hour.” Dorian wrote a note to Lord Henry and gave it to his servant, 25 THE PICTURE OF DORIAN GRAY “Yow're wrong, 1 don't care,” said Dorian. “Dorian, 1 don't want to believe bad things about you,” said Basil. “If you tell me that they're not true, P'll believe you. Please tell me the truth.” “The truth,” Dorian said in a cold voice. “Who knows the truth?” “Your heart knows the truth. Your heart is the real Dorian, and it knows the truth,” Basil answered. “Do you want to see the real Dorian, Basil?” asked Dorian. “Pl show him to you. He's upstairs and he never leaves the house. Come with me.” “I don't understand, but PI] come with you,” Basil responded. He was very perplexed. Dorian went upstairs with Basil and unlocked the door of his old study. The two men went inside. There was an old writing desk in one corner, with a lamp and a few other things on it. Next to the writing desk, there was a picture on the wall with a cloth over it. “If you remove the cloth on that picture, you'Íl see the real Dorian,” said Dorian. Basil removed the cloth, put it on the floor and looked at the picture. He saw a tired, ugly face with evil eyes. It was clearly the face of a very bad person. After a few seconds, he recognised . the face. “Ir's you, Dorian!” he said, shocked. “But why do you look so evil? ... Oh no, that's incredible! That's my portrait of you!” Suddenly, Basil felt ill and had to sit down. “What does this mean, Dorian?” he asked, trembling. “Do you remember when you finished that picture?” Dorian asked. “Do you remember my wish that day? l said, “Why can't the young man in the picture become old instead of me? Well, it's happening — the picture is becoming old, but [ still look young. The picture shows me as I really am.” “This is the most terrible thing, Dorian,” Basil murmured. Then his voice became stronger. “But we can stop it, it's not too 28 EIGHTEEN YEARS LATER Basil removed the cloth and looked at the picture. late. You must pray for God's help. Only He can save you.” Dorian thought about Basil's words. He wanted to pray. He wanted to become a better person. Then he remembered his life for the past 18 years and was full of hate. “Basil is responsible for this!” Dorian thought. “He started it all. He painted the portrait. 1 met Henry at his house, too.” Dorian looked round the room and saw an old knife on the writing desk. With sudden fury, he took it in his hand and stabbed Basil in the neck. A few seconds later, Basil was dead on the floor. Dorian stood for a few minutes and looked at his old friend. Then he cleaned the knife, put it on the desk and left the study silently, locking the door bebind him. “Pm happy it's the servants” free day today,” he thought, “and my personal servant is in the kitchen, so nobody saw anything.” 29 The PICTURE OF DORIAN GRAY CHAPTER 9 ALAN CAMPBELL Downstairs in the living room, Dorian saw Basil's coat and bag and hid them in a cupboard. “P'Il burn them later,” he thought. Then he sat down at his writing desk and wrote a note to a scientist called Alan Campbell. Ten years before, Dorian and Alan Campbell were friends. 42 Harley Street, London Dear Alan, Um sure you'l] be surprised to get a letter from me after all these yes. lease come to my house inumediately. 1's urgent. PU explain later. Sincerely, Dorian Gray Dorian called his personal servant from the kitchen and sent him to Alan Campbell's house with the letter. Alan Campbell arrived an hour later. “Hello, Dorian. We aren't friends any more, so 1 didn't want to come to your house,” Alan Campbell said. “But your note seemed very serious, so l came.” “It is serious, Alan,” Dorian said. “There's a dead man upstairs. Please don't ask any questions, but you must destroy the body. You're a scientist, you know about these things.” Alan Campbell was shocked. “That's a terrible thing to ask!” he exclaimed. “T can't do it.” “You can do it, IT know you can,” Dorian insisted, “You often see dead bodies and they don't affect you.” “How did the man die?” Alan Campbell asked. “It was an accident,” Dorian answered desperately. “I killed him by accident. You must help me, Alan, If the police find the body here, P'1l go to prison.” 30 ALAN CAMPBELL “Tm sorry,” Alan Campbell said, “but 1 won't destroy the body. T's wrong.” Dorian was silent for a moment, then he continued, “I know that you did some very bad things years ago. They were secret, but if you don't help me, Pl tell people about them. 1 haven't got any other option.” When Alan Campbell heard this, his face became white. “T need some things from my house,” he said in a cold voice. “Make a list and "ll send my personal servant to get them,” Dorian said. Campbell wrote a list and Dorian's servant went to Alan Campbell's house. Soon, the servant returned with a bag of instruments and chemicals. Now Dorian wanted to be alone in the house with Alan Campbell. “You can leave,” he said to the servant. “I'm going to a friends house soon, so 1 won't need you any more tonight. You're free until tomorrow morning.” “Thank you, sir,” the servant said and left the room. Dorian and Alan Campbell took the bag of instruments and chemicals upstairs. Dorian unlocked the door of the old study and they went inside. Alan Campbell saw the body, then he looked at the portrait; the cloth was still lying on the floor. He was shocked, but he didn't say anything. *Tll leave you alone,” Dorian said quickly. “Please do your work and then come downstairs. Pl! wait for you in the living room.” He turned and went downstairs. An hour later, Alan Campbell came into the Jiving room. He Tooked ilL “IT did what you asked,” he said, “but Pl never speak to you again.” He left the house immediately. Dorian went upstairs to the old study, opened the door and looked inside. There was a strong smell of chemicals, but the body wasn't there. He put the cloth over the picture again and smiled with satisfaction. Then he locked the door, went downstairs and prepared to go out. 31 ThE PICTURE OF DORIAN GRAY Dorian left James and walked quickly down the street. He wanted to run, but he didn't. An old woman was watching from the door of an old building on the other side of the street. Now she came and spoke to James, “Why didn't you kill htm?” she asked. “You had the opportunity.” “That wasn't Prince Charming,” James answered. “That was a young man. 1 almost killed an innocent person!” “Of course that was him,” the woman said angrily. “I know him — he often comes here, and he frightens me. It's true that he looks young and innocent. Nobody knows why. People have got different theories, but that man isn't young and he isn't innocent. He's evil. P'm sorry that you didn't kill him.” “This is crazy!” James exclaimed. “Maybe, but it's true!” the woman shouted. “That was Prince Charming and you permitted him to escape!” James turned and ran to the end of the street. He looked around, but he couldn't see Dorian Gray. He was very angry. “Pl find him again,” James thought, “and next time, Pl kill him!” CHAPTER 41 AN ACCIDENT Three days later, Dorian was sitting with some friends in his living room. They were talking and drinking and enjoying themselves. Suddenly, Dorian saw a face outside the window. Somebody was looking into the room and watching him! Dorian recognised the face. “It's James Vane!” he thought. “He's following me. This is terrible! Where did he get my name and address? Now 1'11 have to be careful all the time.” The face disappeared. Dorian was very nervous and didn't leave his house for a week. His friends were very surprised. He didn't go to parties and he didn't want to sec anybody, except Lord Henry. 34 AN ACCIDENT After a week, Lord Henry became worried. “Dorian, you can't continue like this,” he said. “You look tired and ill, You need some fresh air. Let's organise a shooting party at your country house. You'll enjoy yourself and you'll forget all your problems.” . Dorian smiled for the first time in a week. “PIl be safe in the country,” he thought. “James Vane won't find me there!” : “That's a good idea,” he said to Lord Henry. “T like shooting parties and it's the right time of year. Pll invite some friends to come with us.” . Two days later, Dorian and his friends went to Dorian's country house and the next moming, the men went out shooting. Tt was a beautiful day and they were enjoying their sport. Dorian was feeling much better. “I was stupid,” he thought. “I mustiút be frightened. Maybe the face outside the window was just my imagination.” : The men had lunch together and continued their sport. The next morning, Dorian and his friends went ota shooting. 35 THE PICTURE OF DORIAN GRAY Suddenly, there was a terrible accident. A rabbit ran between the trees and some of Dorian's friends tried to shoot it. A second later, there was a horrible cry. It sounded like a human cry and everyone stopped shooting. “What was that?” Lord Henry asked. Some of the men ran to the place and found a dead man on the ground, Dorian was a short distance behind them and couldn't see clearly. “Who is it?” he asked, worried. “Is it one of my friends?” “No, and it isn't a servant,” answered one of the men. “I don't know him. Maybe he lives in one of the villages near here.” Lord Henry came to Dorian. “That was a stupid accident,” he said. “I hope it doesn't ruin our party. Let's return to the house. We can't do any more shooting today.” The men walked home quietly. The servants went and took the body to the house, but none of the servants recognised the dead man, so they took the body to the stables. Everyone except Lord Henry was shocked and sad. “Henry, 1 feel responsible,” Dorian said to Lord Henry later that afternoon. “The accident happened on my land.” “Don't be stupid!” Lord Henry exclaimed. “Why was the man hiding between the trees? He could see we were shooting. You can't be responsible for an accident.” But Dorian still felt bad. He called one of his servants. “Do you know anything about the dead man?” he asked. “Did he have a wife and children? If he did, P'll give them some money.” “Well, sir, nobody knows him, but he looked like a sailor,” the servant answered. “He was wearing blue clothes and he had tattoos on his arms. We also found a pistol in his pocket.” “A sailor?” Dorian said slowly. Suddenly, he had a terrible thought. Dorian went to the stables immediately with the servant. The dead man was on the floor in a corner and there was a cloth over his face. The servant removed the cloth and Dorian looked at the 36 ThE Exp man's face. He was right — it was James Vane! “Tm safe,” he thought happily. “Now I won't be frightened any more. I can have a normal life again!” He was right — it was James Vane! CHAPTER 12 THE Enp The next week, Dorian went to Lord Henry”s house and the two men decided to go to a party. Dorian was safe from James Vane, but he wasn't happy. “Henry, 1 must tell you something,” he said. “T'm not satisfied with my life. Pm not a nice person and now T'm going to change.” “Oh, Dorian,” said Lord Henry, “you said that before but you didn't change. It's too difficult. And it isn't important, your friends like you as you are,” Lord Henry paused for a moment, then he continued, “Do you remember Alan Campbell, the scientist? He died two weeks ago. It was suicide. He didn't leave a note and nobody understands what happened, but lots of people are talking about 1” 37 
