Jekyll

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THE STRANGE CASE OF DR. J EKYLL AND MR. HYDE

by Rober t Loui s St evenson

STORY OF THE DOOR

Mr . Ut t er son t he l awyer was a man of a r ugged count enance t hat was never
l i ght ed by a smi l e; col d, scant y and embar r assed i n di scour se; backwar d
i n sent i ment ; l ean, l ong, dust y, dr ear y and yet somehow l ovabl e.
At f r i endl y meet i ngs, and when t he wi ne was t o hi s t ast e, somet hi ng
emi nent l y human beaconed f r omhi s eye; somet hi ng i ndeed whi ch never
f ound i t s way i nt o hi s t al k, but whi ch spoke not onl y i n t hese si l ent
symbol s of t he af t er - di nner f ace, but mor e of t en and l oudl y i n t he act s
of hi s l i f e. He was aust er e wi t h hi msel f ; dr ank gi n when he was al one,
t o mor t i f y a t ast e f or vi nt ages; and t hough he enj oyed t he t heat er , had
not cr ossed t he door s of one f or t went y year s. But he had an appr oved
t ol er ance f or ot her s; somet i mes wonder i ng, al most wi t h envy, at t he hi gh
pr essur e of spi r i t s i nvol ved i n t hei r mi sdeeds; and i n any ext r emi t y
i ncl i ned t o hel p r at her t han t o r epr ove. "I i ncl i ne t o Cai n' s her esy, "
he used t o say quai nt l y: "I l et my br ot her go t o t he devi l i n hi s own
way. " I n t hi s char act er , i t was f r equent l y hi s f or t une t o be t he l ast
r eput abl e acquai nt ance and t he l ast good i nf l uence i n t he l i ves of
downgoi ng men. And t o such as t hese, so l ong as t hey came about hi s
chamber s, he never mar ked a shade of change i n hi s demeanour .

No doubt t he f eat was easy t o Mr . Ut t er son; f or he was undemonst r at i ve
at t he best , and even hi s f r i endshi p seemed t o be f ounded i n a si mi l ar
cat hol i ci t y of good- nat ur e. I t i s t he mar k of a modest man t o accept hi s
f r i endl y ci r cl e r eady- made f r omt he hands of oppor t uni t y; and t hat was
t he l awyer ' s way. Hi s f r i ends wer e t hose of hi s own bl ood or t hose whom
he had known t he l ongest ; hi s af f ect i ons, l i ke i vy, wer e t he gr owt h of
t i me, t hey i mpl i ed no apt ness i n t he obj ect . Hence, no doubt t he
bond t hat uni t ed hi mt o Mr . Ri char d Enf i el d, hi s di st ant ki nsman, t he
wel l - known man about t own. I t was a nut t o cr ack f or many, what t hese
t wo coul d see i n each ot her , or what subj ect t hey coul d f i nd i n common.
I t was r epor t ed by t hose who encount er ed t hemi n t hei r Sunday wal ks,
t hat t hey sai d not hi ng, l ooked si ngul ar l y dul l and woul d hai l wi t h
obvi ous r el i ef t he appear ance of a f r i end. For al l t hat , t he t wo men put
t he gr eat est st or e by t hese excur si ons, count ed t hemt he chi ef j ewel
of each week, and not onl y set asi de occasi ons of pl easur e, but
even r esi st ed t he cal l s of busi ness, t hat t hey mi ght enj oy t hem
uni nt er r upt ed.

I t chanced on one of t hese r ambl es t hat t hei r way l ed t hemdown a
by- st r eet i n a busy quar t er of London. The st r eet was smal l and what
i s cal l ed qui et , but i t dr ove a t hr i vi ng t r ade on t he weekdays. The
i nhabi t ant s wer e al l doi ng wel l , i t seemed and al l emul ousl y hopi ng t o
do bet t er st i l l , and l ayi ng out t he sur pl us of t hei r gr ai ns i n coquet r y;
so t hat t he shop f r ont s st ood al ong t hat t hor oughf ar e wi t h an ai r of
i nvi t at i on, l i ke r ows of smi l i ng sal eswomen. Even on Sunday, when i t
vei l ed i t s mor e f l or i d char ms and l ay compar at i vel y empt y of passage,
t he st r eet shone out i n cont r ast t o i t s di ngy nei ghbour hood, l i ke a
f i r e i n a f or est ; and wi t h i t s f r eshl y pai nt ed shut t er s, wel l - pol i shed
br asses, and gener al cl eanl i ness and gai et y of not e, i nst ant l y caught
and pl eased t he eye of t he passenger .

Two door s f r omone cor ner , on t he l ef t hand goi ng east t he l i ne was
br oken by t he ent r y of a cour t ; and j ust at t hat poi nt a cer t ai n
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si ni st er bl ock of bui l di ng t hr ust f or war d i t s gabl e on t he st r eet . I t
was t wo st or eys hi gh; showed no wi ndow, not hi ng but a door on t he l ower
st or ey and a bl i nd f or ehead of di scol our ed wal l on t he upper ; and bor e
i n ever y f eat ur e, t he mar ks of pr ol onged and sor di d negl i gence. The
door , whi ch was equi pped wi t h nei t her bel l nor knocker , was bl i st er ed
and di st ai ned. Tr amps sl ouched i nt o t he r ecess and st r uck mat ches on t he
panel s; chi l dr en kept shop upon t he st eps; t he school boy had t r i ed
hi s kni f e on t he moul di ngs; and f or cl ose on a gener at i on, no one had
appear ed t o dr i ve away t hese r andomvi si t or s or t o r epai r t hei r r avages.

Mr . Enf i el d and t he l awyer wer e on t he ot her si de of t he by- st r eet ; but
when t hey came abr east of t he ent r y, t he f or mer l i f t ed up hi s cane and
poi nt ed.

"Di d you ever r emar k t hat door ?" he asked; and when hi s compani on had
r epl i ed i n t he af f i r mat i ve. "I t i s connect ed i n my mi nd, " added he,
"wi t h a ver y odd st or y. "

"I ndeed?" sai d Mr . Ut t er son, wi t h a sl i ght change of voi ce, "and what
was t hat ?"

"Wel l , i t was t hi s way, " r et ur ned Mr . Enf i el d: "I was comi ng home f r om
some pl ace at t he end of t he wor l d, about t hr ee o' cl ock of a bl ack
wi nt er mor ni ng, and my way l ay t hr ough a par t of t own wher e t her e was
l i t er al l y not hi ng t o be seen but l amps. St r eet af t er st r eet and al l t he
f ol ks asl eep- - st r eet af t er st r eet , al l l i ght ed up as i f f or a pr ocessi on
and al l as empt y as a chur ch- - t i l l at l ast I got i nt o t hat st at e of mi nd
when a man l i st ens and l i st ens and begi ns t o l ong f or t he si ght of a
pol i ceman. Al l at once, I saw t wo f i gur es: one a l i t t l e man who was
st umpi ng al ong east war d at a good wal k, and t he ot her a gi r l of maybe
ei ght or t en who was r unni ng as har d as she was abl e down a cr oss
st r eet . Wel l , si r , t he t wo r an i nt o one anot her nat ur al l y enough at
t he cor ner ; and t hen came t he hor r i bl e par t of t he t hi ng; f or t he man
t r ampl ed cal ml y over t he chi l d' s body and l ef t her scr eami ng on t he
gr ound. I t sounds not hi ng t o hear , but i t was hel l i sh t o see. I t wasn' t
l i ke a man; i t was l i ke some damned J ugger naut . I gave a f ew hal l oa,
t ook t o my heel s, col l ar ed my gent l eman, and br ought hi mback t o wher e
t her e was al r eady qui t e a gr oup about t he scr eami ng chi l d. He was
per f ect l y cool and made no r esi st ance, but gave me one l ook, so ugl y
t hat i t br ought out t he sweat on me l i ke r unni ng. The peopl e who had
t ur ned out wer e t he gi r l ' s own f ami l y; and pr et t y soon, t he doct or , f or
whomshe had been sent put i n hi s appear ance. Wel l , t he chi l d was not
much t he wor se, mor e f r i ght ened, accor di ng t o t he Sawbones; and t her e
you mi ght have supposed woul d be an end t o i t . But t her e was one cur i ous
ci r cumst ance. I had t aken a l oat hi ng t o my gent l eman at f i r st si ght . So
had t he chi l d' s f ami l y, whi ch was onl y nat ur al . But t he doct or ' s case
was what st r uck me. He was t he usual cut and dr y apot hecar y, of no
par t i cul ar age and col our , wi t h a st r ong Edi nbur gh accent and about as
emot i onal as a bagpi pe. Wel l , si r , he was l i ke t he r est of us; ever y
t i me he l ooked at my pr i soner , I saw t hat Sawbones t ur n si ck and whi t e
wi t h desi r e t o ki l l hi m. I knew what was i n hi s mi nd, j ust as he knew
what was i n mi ne; and ki l l i ng bei ng out of t he quest i on, we di d t he next
best . We t ol d t he man we coul d and woul d make such a scandal out of t hi s
as shoul d make hi s name st i nk f r omone end of London t o t he ot her . I f
he had any f r i ends or any cr edi t , we under t ook t hat he shoul d l ose t hem.
And al l t he t i me, as we wer e pi t chi ng i t i n r ed hot , we wer e keepi ng t he
women of f hi mas best we coul d f or t hey wer e as wi l d as har pi es. I never
saw a ci r cl e of such hat ef ul f aces; and t her e was t he man i n t he mi ddl e,
wi t h a ki nd of bl ack sneer i ng cool ness- - f r i ght ened t oo, I coul d see
t hat - - but car r yi ng i t of f , si r , r eal l y l i ke Sat an. Ì f you choose t o
make capi t al out of t hi s acci dent , ' sai d he, Ì amnat ur al l y hel pl ess.
No gent l eman but wi shes t o avoi d a scene, ' says he. `Name your f i gur e. '
Wel l , we scr ewed hi mup t o a hundr ed pounds f or t he chi l d' s f ami l y; he
woul d have cl ear l y l i ked t o st i ck out ; but t her e was somet hi ng about t he
l ot of us t hat meant mi schi ef , and at l ast he st r uck. The next t hi ng was
t o get t he money; and wher e do you t hi nk he car r i ed us but t o t hat pl ace
wi t h t he door ?- - whi pped out a key, went i n, and pr esent l y came back
wi t h t he mat t er of t en pounds i n gol d and a cheque f or t he bal ance on
Cout t s' s, dr awn payabl e t o bear er and si gned wi t h a name t hat I can' t
ment i on, t hough i t ' s one of t he poi nt s of my st or y, but i t was a name at
l east ver y wel l known and of t en pr i nt ed. The f i gur e was st i f f ; but t he
si gnat ur e was good f or mor e t han t hat i f i t was onl y genui ne. I t ook t he
l i ber t y of poi nt i ng out t o my gent l eman t hat t he whol e busi ness l ooked
apocr yphal , and t hat a man does not , i n r eal l i f e, wal k i nt o a cel l ar
door at f our i n t he mor ni ng and come out wi t h anot her man' s cheque f or
cl ose upon a hundr ed pounds. But he was qui t e easy and sneer i ng. `Set
your mi nd at r est , ' says he, Ì wi l l st ay wi t h you t i l l t he banks open
and cash t he cheque mysel f . ' So we al l set of f , t he doct or , and t he
chi l d' s f at her , and our f r i end and mysel f , and passed t he r est of t he
ni ght i n my chamber s; and next day, when we had br eakf ast ed, went i n
a body t o t he bank. I gave i n t he cheque mysel f , and sai d I had ever y
r eason t o bel i eve i t was a f or ger y. Not a bi t of i t . The cheque was
genui ne. "

"Tut - t ut , " sai d Mr . Ut t er son.

"I see you f eel as I do, " sai d Mr . Enf i el d. "Yes, i t ' s a bad st or y. For
my man was a f el l ow t hat nobody coul d have t o do wi t h, a r eal l y damnabl e
man; and t he per son t hat dr ew t he cheque i s t he ver y pi nk of t he
pr opr i et i es, cel ebr at ed t oo, and ( what makes i t wor se) one of your
f el l ows who do what t hey cal l good. Bl ack mai l I suppose; an honest man
payi ng t hr ough t he nose f or some of t he caper s of hi s yout h. Bl ack Mai l
House i s what I cal l t he pl ace wi t h t he door , i n consequence. Though
even t hat , you know, i s f ar f r omexpl ai ni ng al l , " he added, and wi t h t he
wor ds f el l i nt o a vei n of musi ng.

Fr omt hi s he was r ecal l ed by Mr . Ut t er son aski ng r at her suddenl y: "And
you don' t know i f t he dr awer of t he cheque l i ves t her e?"

"A l i kel y pl ace, i sn' t i t ?" r et ur ned Mr . Enf i el d. "But I happen t o have
not i ced hi s addr ess; he l i ves i n some squar e or ot her . "

"And you never asked about t he- - pl ace wi t h t he door ?" sai d Mr . Ut t er son.

"No, si r : I had a del i cacy, " was t he r epl y. "I f eel ver y st r ongl y about
put t i ng quest i ons; i t par t akes t oo much of t he st yl e of t he day of
j udgment . You st ar t a quest i on, and i t ' s l i ke st ar t i ng a st one. You si t
qui et l y on t he t op of a hi l l ; and away t he st one goes, st ar t i ng ot her s;
and pr esent l y some bl and ol d bi r d ( t he l ast you woul d have t hought of )
i s knocked on t he head i n hi s own back gar den and t he f ami l y have t o
change t hei r name. No si r , I make i t a r ul e of mi ne: t he mor e i t l ooks
l i ke Queer St r eet , t he l ess I ask. "

"A ver y good r ul e, t oo, " sai d t he l awyer .

"But I have st udi ed t he pl ace f or mysel f , " cont i nued Mr . Enf i el d. "I t
seems scar cel y a house. Ther e i s no ot her door , and nobody goes i n
or out of t hat one but , once i n a gr eat whi l e, t he gent l eman of my
advent ur e. Ther e ar e t hr ee wi ndows l ooki ng on t he cour t on t he f i r st
f l oor ; none bel ow; t he wi ndows ar e al ways shut but t hey' r e cl ean. And
t hen t her e i s a chi mney whi ch i s gener al l y smoki ng; so somebody must
l i ve t her e. And yet i t ' s not so sur e; f or t he bui l di ngs ar e so packed
t oget her about t he cour t , t hat i t ' s har d t o say wher e one ends and
anot her begi ns. "

The pai r wal ked on agai n f or a whi l e i n si l ence; and t hen "Enf i el d, "
sai d Mr . Ut t er son, "t hat ' s a good r ul e of your s. "

"Yes, I t hi nk i t i s, " r et ur ned Enf i el d.

"But f or al l t hat , " cont i nued t he l awyer , "t her e' s one poi nt I want t o
ask: I want t o ask t he name of t hat man who wal ked over t he chi l d. "

"Wel l , " sai d Mr . Enf i el d, "I can' t see what har mi t woul d do. I t was a
man of t he name of Hyde. "

"Hm, " sai d Mr . Ut t er son. "What sor t of a man i s he t o see?"

"He i s not easy t o descr i be. Ther e i s somet hi ng wr ong wi t h hi s
appear ance; somet hi ng di spl easi ng, somet hi ng down- r i ght det est abl e. I
never saw a man I so di sl i ked, and yet I scar ce know why. He must be
def or med somewher e; he gi ves a st r ong f eel i ng of def or mi t y, al t hough I
coul dn' t speci f y t he poi nt . He' s an ext r aor di nar y l ooki ng man, and yet
I r eal l y can name not hi ng out of t he way. No, si r ; I can make no hand of
i t ; I can' t descr i be hi m. And i t ' s not want of memor y; f or I decl ar e I
can see hi mt hi s moment . "

Mr . Ut t er son agai n wal ked some way i n si l ence and obvi ousl y under a
wei ght of consi der at i on. "You ar e sur e he used a key?" he i nqui r ed at
l ast .

"My dear si r . . . " began Enf i el d, sur pr i sed out of hi msel f .

"Yes, I know, " sai d Ut t er son; "I know i t must seemst r ange. The f act i s,
i f I do not ask you t he name of t he ot her par t y, i t i s because I know
i t al r eady. You see, Ri char d, your t al e has gone home. I f you have been
i nexact i n any poi nt you had bet t er cor r ect i t . "

"I t hi nk you mi ght have war ned me, " r et ur ned t he ot her wi t h a t ouch of
sul l enness. "But I have been pedant i cal l y exact , as you cal l i t . The
f el l ow had a key; and what ' s mor e, he has i t st i l l . I saw hi muse i t not
a week ago. "

Mr . Ut t er son si ghed deepl y but sai d never a wor d; and t he young man
pr esent l y r esumed. "Her e i s anot her l esson t o say not hi ng, " sai d he. "I
amashamed of my l ong t ongue. Let us make a bar gai n never t o r ef er t o
t hi s agai n. "

"Wi t h al l my hear t , " sai d t he l awyer . "I shake hands on t hat , Ri char d. "

SEARCH FOR MR. HYDE

That eveni ng Mr . Ut t er son came home t o hi s bachel or house i n sombr e
spi r i t s and sat down t o di nner wi t hout r el i sh. I t was hi s cust omof a
Sunday, when t hi s meal was over , t o si t cl ose by t he f i r e, a vol ume
of some dr y di vi ni t y on hi s r eadi ng desk, unt i l t he cl ock of t he
nei ghbour i ng chur ch r ang out t he hour of t wel ve, when he woul d go
sober l y and gr at ef ul l y t o bed. On t hi s ni ght however , as soon as t he
cl ot h was t aken away, he t ook up a candl e and went i nt o hi s busi ness
r oom. Ther e he opened hi s saf e, t ook f r omt he most pr i vat e par t of i t a
document endor sed on t he envel ope as Dr . J ekyl l ' s Wi l l and sat down wi t h
a cl ouded br ow t o st udy i t s cont ent s. The wi l l was hol ogr aph, f or Mr .
Ut t er son t hough he t ook char ge of i t now t hat i t was made, had r ef used
t o l end t he l east assi st ance i n t he maki ng of i t ; i t pr ovi ded not onl y
t hat , i n case of t he decease of Henr y J ekyl l , M. D. , D. C. L. , L. L. D. ,
F. R. S. , et c. , al l hi s possessi ons wer e t o pass i nt o t he hands of hi s
"f r i end and benef act or Edwar d Hyde, " but t hat i n case of Dr . J ekyl l ' s
"di sappear ance or unexpl ai ned absence f or any per i od exceedi ng t hr ee
cal endar mont hs, " t he sai d Edwar d Hyde shoul d st ep i nt o t he sai d Henr y
J ekyl l ' s shoes wi t hout f ur t her del ay and f r ee f r omany bur t hen or
obl i gat i on beyond t he payment of a f ew smal l sums t o t he member s of t he
doct or ' s househol d. Thi s document had l ong been t he l awyer ' s eyesor e. I t
of f ended hi mbot h as a l awyer and as a l over of t he sane and cust omar y
si des of l i f e, t o whomt he f anci f ul was t he i mmodest . And hi t her t o i t
was hi s i gnor ance of Mr . Hyde t hat had swel l ed hi s i ndi gnat i on; now, by
a sudden t ur n, i t was hi s knowl edge. I t was al r eady bad enough when t he
name was but a name of whi ch he coul d l ear n no mor e. I t was wor se when
i t began t o be cl ot hed upon wi t h det est abl e at t r i but es; and out of t he
shi f t i ng, i nsubst ant i al mi st s t hat had so l ong baf f l ed hi s eye, t her e
l eaped up t he sudden, def i ni t e pr esent ment of a f i end.

"I t hought i t was madness, " he sai d, as he r epl aced t he obnoxi ous paper
i n t he saf e, "and now I begi n t o f ear i t i s di sgr ace. "

Wi t h t hat he bl ew out hi s candl e, put on a gr eat coat , and set f or t h i n
t he di r ect i on of Cavendi sh Squar e, t hat ci t adel of medi ci ne, wher e hi s
f r i end, t he gr eat Dr . Lanyon, had hi s house and r ecei ved hi s cr owdi ng
pat i ent s. "I f anyone knows, i t wi l l be Lanyon, " he had t hought .

The sol emn but l er knew and wel comed hi m; he was subj ect ed t o no st age
of del ay, but usher ed di r ect f r omt he door t o t he di ni ng- r oomwher e
Dr . Lanyon sat al one over hi s wi ne. Thi s was a hear t y, heal t hy, dapper ,
r ed- f aced gent l eman, wi t h a shock of hai r pr emat ur el y whi t e, and a
boi st er ous and deci ded manner . At si ght of Mr . Ut t er son, he spr ang up
f r omhi s chai r and wel comed hi mwi t h bot h hands. The geni al i t y, as was
t he way of t he man, was somewhat t heat r i cal t o t he eye; but i t r eposed
on genui ne f eel i ng. For t hese t wo wer e ol d f r i ends, ol d mat es bot h at
school and col l ege, bot h t hor ough r espect or s of t hemsel ves and of each
ot her , and what does not al ways f ol l ow, men who t hor oughl y enj oyed each
ot her ' s company.

Af t er a l i t t l e r ambl i ng t al k, t he l awyer l ed up t o t he subj ect whi ch so
di sagr eeabl y pr eoccupi ed hi s mi nd.

"I suppose, Lanyon, " sai d he, "you and I must be t he t wo ol dest f r i ends
t hat Henr y J ekyl l has?"

"I wi sh t he f r i ends wer e younger , " chuckl ed Dr . Lanyon. "But I suppose
we ar e. And what of t hat ? I see l i t t l e of hi mnow. "

"I ndeed?" sai d Ut t er son. "I t hought you had a bond of common i nt er est . "

"We had, " was t he r epl y. "But i t i s mor e t han t en year s si nce Henr y
J ekyl l became t oo f anci f ul f or me. He began t o go wr ong, wr ong i n mi nd;
and t hough of cour se I cont i nue t o t ake an i nt er est i n hi mf or ol d
sake' s sake, as t hey say, I see and I have seen devi l i sh l i t t l e of t he
man. Such unsci ent i f i c bal der dash, " added t he doct or , f l ushi ng suddenl y
pur pl e, "woul d have est r anged Damon and Pyt hi as. "

Thi s l i t t l e spi r i t of t emper was somewhat of a r el i ef t o Mr . Ut t er son.
"They have onl y di f f er ed on some poi nt of sci ence, " he t hought ;
and bei ng a man of no sci ent i f i c passi ons ( except i n t he mat t er of
conveyanci ng) , he even added: "I t i s not hi ng wor se t han t hat ! " He gave
hi s f r i end a f ew seconds t o r ecover hi s composur e, and t hen appr oached
t he quest i on he had come t o put . "Di d you ever come acr oss a pr ot ege of
hi s- - one Hyde?" he asked.

"Hyde?" r epeat ed Lanyon. "No. Never hear d of hi m. Si nce my t i me. "

That was t he amount of i nf or mat i on t hat t he l awyer car r i ed back wi t h hi m
t o t he gr eat , dar k bed on whi ch he t ossed t o and f r o, unt i l t he smal l
hour s of t he mor ni ng began t o gr ow l ar ge. I t was a ni ght of l i t t l e ease
t o hi s t oi l i ng mi nd, t oi l i ng i n mer e dar kness and besei ged by quest i ons.

Si x o' cl ock st r uck on t he bel l s of t he chur ch t hat was so conveni ent l y
near t o Mr . Ut t er son' s dwel l i ng, and st i l l he was di ggi ng at t he
pr obl em. Hi t her t o i t had t ouched hi mon t he i nt el l ect ual si de al one; but
now hi s i magi nat i on al so was engaged, or r at her ensl aved; and as he l ay
and t ossed i n t he gr oss dar kness of t he ni ght and t he cur t ai ned r oom,
Mr . Enf i el d' s t al e went by bef or e hi s mi nd i n a scr ol l of l i ght ed
pi ct ur es. He woul d be awar e of t he gr eat f i el d of l amps of a noct ur nal
ci t y; t hen of t he f i gur e of a man wal ki ng swi f t l y; t hen of a chi l d
r unni ng f r omt he doct or ' s; and t hen t hese met , and t hat human J ugger naut
t r od t he chi l d down and passed on r egar dl ess of her scr eams. Or el se he
woul d see a r oomi n a r i ch house, wher e hi s f r i end l ay asl eep, dr eami ng
and smi l i ng at hi s dr eams; and t hen t he door of t hat r oomwoul d be
opened, t he cur t ai ns of t he bed pl ucked apar t , t he sl eeper r ecal l ed, and
l o! t her e woul d st and by hi s si de a f i gur e t o whompower was gi ven, and
even at t hat dead hour , he must r i se and do i t s bi ddi ng. The f i gur e i n
t hese t wo phases haunt ed t he l awyer al l ni ght ; and i f at any t i me he
dozed over , i t was but t o see i t gl i de mor e st eal t hi l y t hr ough sl eepi ng
houses, or move t he mor e swi f t l y and st i l l t he mor e swi f t l y, even t o
di zzi ness, t hr ough wi der l abyr i nt hs of l ampl i ght ed ci t y, and at ever y
st r eet cor ner cr ush a chi l d and l eave her scr eami ng. And st i l l t he
f i gur e had no f ace by whi ch he mi ght know i t ; even i n hi s dr eams, i t had
no f ace, or one t hat baf f l ed hi mand mel t ed bef or e hi s eyes; and t hus
i t was t hat t her e spr ang up and gr ew apace i n t he l awyer ' s mi nd a
si ngul ar l y st r ong, al most an i nor di nat e, cur i osi t y t o behol d t he
f eat ur es of t he r eal Mr . Hyde. I f he coul d but once set eyes on hi m, he
t hought t he myst er y woul d l i ght en and per haps r ol l al t oget her away, as
was t he habi t of myst er i ous t hi ngs when wel l exami ned. He mi ght see a
r eason f or hi s f r i end' s st r ange pr ef er ence or bondage ( cal l i t whi ch you
pl ease) and even f or t he st ar t l i ng cl ause of t he wi l l . At l east i t woul d
be a f ace wor t h seei ng: t he f ace of a man who was wi t hout bowel s of
mer cy: a f ace whi ch had but t o show i t sel f t o r ai se up, i n t he mi nd of
t he uni mpr essi onabl e Enf i el d, a spi r i t of endur i ng hat r ed.

Fr omt hat t i me f or war d, Mr . Ut t er son began t o haunt t he door i n t he
by- st r eet of shops. I n t he mor ni ng bef or e of f i ce hour s, at noon when
busi ness was pl ent y, and t i me scar ce, at ni ght under t he f ace of
t he f ogged ci t y moon, by al l l i ght s and at al l hour s of sol i t ude or
concour se, t he l awyer was t o be f ound on hi s chosen post .

"I f he be Mr . Hyde, " he had t hought , "I shal l be Mr . Seek. "

And at l ast hi s pat i ence was r ewar ded. I t was a f i ne dr y ni ght ; f r ost i n
t he ai r ; t he st r eet s as cl ean as a bal l r oomf l oor ; t he l amps, unshaken
by any wi nd, dr awi ng a r egul ar pat t er n of l i ght and shadow. By t en
o' cl ock, when t he shops wer e cl osed t he by- st r eet was ver y sol i t ar y and,
i n spi t e of t he l ow gr owl of London f r omal l r ound, ver y si l ent . Smal l
sounds car r i ed f ar ; domest i c sounds out of t he houses wer e cl ear l y
audi bl e on ei t her si de of t he r oadway; and t he r umour of t he appr oach
of any passenger pr eceded hi mby a l ong t i me. Mr . Ut t er son had been some
mi nut es at hi s post , when he was awar e of an odd l i ght f oot st ep dr awi ng
near . I n t he cour se of hi s ni ght l y pat r ol s, he had l ong gr own accust omed
t o t he quai nt ef f ect wi t h whi ch t he f oot f al l s of a si ngl e per son, whi l e
he i s st i l l a gr eat way of f , suddenl y spr i ng out di st i nct f r omt he vast
humand cl at t er of t he ci t y. Yet hi s at t ent i on had never bef or e been so
shar pl y and deci si vel y ar r est ed; and i t was wi t h a st r ong, super st i t i ous
pr evi si on of success t hat he wi t hdr ew i nt o t he ent r y of t he cour t .

The st eps dr ew swi f t l y near er , and swel l ed out suddenl y l ouder as t hey
t ur ned t he end of t he st r eet . The l awyer , l ooki ng f or t h f r omt he ent r y,
coul d soon see what manner of man he had t o deal wi t h. He was smal l and
ver y pl ai nl y dr essed and t he l ook of hi m, even at t hat di st ance, went
somehow st r ongl y agai nst t he wat cher ' s i ncl i nat i on. But he made st r ai ght
f or t he door , cr ossi ng t he r oadway t o save t i me; and as he came, he dr ew
a key f r omhi s pocket l i ke one appr oachi ng home.

Mr . Ut t er son st epped out and t ouched hi mon t he shoul der as he passed.
"Mr . Hyde, I t hi nk?"

Mr . Hyde shr ank back wi t h a hi ssi ng i nt ake of t he br eat h. But hi s f ear
was onl y moment ar y; and t hough he di d not l ook t he l awyer i n t he f ace,
he answer ed cool l y enough: "That i s my name. What do you want ?"

"I see you ar e goi ng i n, " r et ur ned t he l awyer . "I aman ol d f r i end of
Dr . J ekyl l ' s- - Mr . Ut t er son of Gaunt St r eet - - you must have hear d of my
name; and meet i ng you so conveni ent l y, I t hought you mi ght admi t me. "

"You wi l l not f i nd Dr . J ekyl l ; he i s f r omhome, " r epl i ed Mr . Hyde,
bl owi ng i n t he key. And t hen suddenl y, but st i l l wi t hout l ooki ng up,
"How di d you know me?" he asked.

"On your si de, " sai d Mr . Ut t er son "wi l l you do me a f avour ?"

"Wi t h pl easur e, " r epl i ed t he ot her . "What shal l i t be?"

"Wi l l you l et me see your f ace?" asked t he l awyer .

Mr . Hyde appear ed t o hesi t at e, and t hen, as i f upon some sudden
r ef l ect i on, f r ont ed about wi t h an ai r of def i ance; and t he pai r st ar ed
at each ot her pr et t y f i xedl y f or a f ew seconds. "Now I shal l know you
agai n, " sai d Mr . Ut t er son. "I t may be usef ul . "

"Yes, " r et ur ned Mr . Hyde, "I t i s as wel l we have met ; and apr opos, you
shoul d have my addr ess. " And he gave a number of a st r eet i n Soho.

"Good God! " t hought Mr . Ut t er son, "can he, t oo, have been t hi nki ng
of t he wi l l ?" But he kept hi s f eel i ngs t o hi msel f and onl y gr unt ed i n
acknowl edgment of t he addr ess.

"And now, " sai d t he ot her , "how di d you know me?"

"By descr i pt i on, " was t he r epl y.

"Whose descr i pt i on?"

"We have common f r i ends, " sai d Mr . Ut t er son.

"Common f r i ends, " echoed Mr . Hyde, a l i t t l e hoar sel y. "Who ar e t hey?"

"J ekyl l , f or i nst ance, " sai d t he l awyer .

"He never t ol d you, " cr i ed Mr . Hyde, wi t h a f l ush of anger . "I di d not
t hi nk you woul d have l i ed. "

"Come, " sai d Mr . Ut t er son, "t hat i s not f i t t i ng l anguage. "

The ot her snar l ed al oud i nt o a savage l augh; and t he next moment , wi t h
ext r aor di nar y qui ckness, he had unl ocked t he door and di sappear ed i nt o
t he house.

The l awyer st ood awhi l e when Mr . Hyde had l ef t hi m, t he pi ct ur e of
di squi et ude. Then he began sl owl y t o mount t he st r eet , pausi ng ever y
st ep or t wo and put t i ng hi s hand t o hi s br ow l i ke a man i n ment al
per pl exi t y. The pr obl emhe was t hus debat i ng as he wal ked, was one of a
cl ass t hat i s r ar el y sol ved. Mr . Hyde was pal e and dwar f i sh, he gave
an i mpr essi on of def or mi t y wi t hout any nameabl e mal f or mat i on, he had
a di spl easi ng smi l e, he had bor ne hi msel f t o t he l awyer wi t h a sor t of
mur der ous mi xt ur e of t i mi di t y and bol dness, and he spoke wi t h a husky,
whi sper i ng and somewhat br oken voi ce; al l t hese wer e poi nt s agai nst
hi m, but not al l of t hese t oget her coul d expl ai n t he hi t her t o unknown
di sgust , l oat hi ng and f ear wi t h whi ch Mr . Ut t er son r egar ded hi m.
"Ther e must be somet hi ng el se, " sai d t he per pl exed gent l eman. "Ther e
i s somet hi ng mor e, i f I coul d f i nd a name f or i t . God bl ess me, t he man
seems har dl y human! Somet hi ng t r ogl odyt i c, shal l we say? or can i t be
t he ol d st or y of Dr . Fel l ? or i s i t t he mer e r adi ance of a f oul soul
t hat t hus t r anspi r es t hr ough, and t r ansf i gur es, i t s cl ay cont i nent ? The
l ast , I t hi nk; f or , O my poor ol d Har r y J ekyl l , i f ever I r ead Sat an' s
si gnat ur e upon a f ace, i t i s on t hat of your new f r i end. "

Round t he cor ner f r omt he by- st r eet , t her e was a squar e of anci ent ,
handsome houses, now f or t he most par t decayed f r omt hei r hi gh est at e
and l et i n f l at s and chamber s t o al l sor t s and condi t i ons of men;
map- engr aver s, ar chi t ect s, shady l awyer s and t he agent s of obscur e
ent er pr i ses. One house, however , second f r omt he cor ner , was st i l l
occupi ed ent i r e; and at t he door of t hi s, whi ch wor e a gr eat ai r of
weal t h and comf or t , t hough i t was now pl unged i n dar kness except f or
t he f anl i ght , Mr . Ut t er son st opped and knocked. A wel l - dr essed, el der l y
ser vant opened t he door .

"I s Dr . J ekyl l at home, Pool e?" asked t he l awyer .

"I wi l l see, Mr . Ut t er son, " sai d Pool e, admi t t i ng t he vi si t or , as he
spoke, i nt o a l ar ge, l ow- r oof ed, comf or t abl e hal l paved wi t h f l ags,
war med ( af t er t he f ashi on of a count r y house) by a br i ght , open f i r e,
and f ur ni shed wi t h cost l y cabi net s of oak. "Wi l l you wai t her e by t he
f i r e, si r ? or shal l I gi ve you a l i ght i n t he di ni ng- r oom?"

"Her e, t hank you, " sai d t he l awyer , and he dr ew near and l eaned on t he
t al l f ender . Thi s hal l , i n whi ch he was now l ef t al one, was a pet f ancy
of hi s f r i end t he doct or ' s; and Ut t er son hi msel f was wont t o speak of
i t as t he pl easant est r oomi n London. But t oni ght t her e was a shudder i n
hi s bl ood; t he f ace of Hyde sat heavy on hi s memor y; he f el t ( what was
r ar e wi t h hi m) a nausea and di st ast e of l i f e; and i n t he gl oomof hi s
spi r i t s, he seemed t o r ead a menace i n t he f l i cker i ng of t he f i r el i ght
on t he pol i shed cabi net s and t he uneasy st ar t i ng of t he shadow on t he
r oof . He was ashamed of hi s r el i ef , when Pool e pr esent l y r et ur ned t o
announce t hat Dr . J ekyl l was gone out .

"I saw Mr . Hyde go i n by t he ol d di ssect i ng r oom, Pool e, " he sai d. "I s
t hat r i ght , when Dr . J ekyl l i s f r omhome?"

"Qui t e r i ght , Mr . Ut t er son, si r , " r epl i ed t he ser vant . "Mr . Hyde has a
key. "

"Your mast er seems t o r epose a gr eat deal of t r ust i n t hat young man,
Pool e, " r esumed t he ot her musi ngl y.

"Yes, si r , he does i ndeed, " sai d Pool e. "We have al l or der s t o obey
hi m. "

"I do not t hi nk I ever met Mr . Hyde?" asked Ut t er son.

"O, dear no, si r . He never di nes her e, " r epl i ed t he but l er . "I ndeed we
see ver y l i t t l e of hi mon t hi s si de of t he house; he most l y comes and
goes by t he l abor at or y. "

"Wel l , good- ni ght , Pool e. "

"Good- ni ght , Mr . Ut t er son. "

And t he l awyer set out homewar d wi t h a ver y heavy hear t . "Poor Har r y
J ekyl l , " he t hought , "my mi nd mi sgi ves me he i s i n deep wat er s! He was
wi l d when he was young; a l ong whi l e ago t o be sur e; but i n t he l aw of
God, t her e i s no st at ut e of l i mi t at i ons. Ay, i t must be t hat ; t he ghost
of some ol d si n, t he cancer of some conceal ed di sgr ace: puni shment
comi ng, PEDE CLAUDO, year s af t er memor y has f or got t en and sel f - l ove
condoned t he f aul t . " And t he l awyer , scar ed by t he t hought , br ooded
awhi l e on hi s own past , gr opi ng i n al l t he cor ner s of memor y, l east
by chance some J ack- i n- t he- Box of an ol d i ni qui t y shoul d l eap t o l i ght
t her e. Hi s past was f ai r l y bl amel ess; f ew men coul d r ead t he r ol l s of
t hei r l i f e wi t h l ess appr ehensi on; yet he was humbl ed t o t he dust by
t he many i l l t hi ngs he had done, and r ai sed up agai n i nt o a sober and
f ear f ul gr at i t ude by t he many he had come so near t o doi ng yet avoi ded.
And t hen by a r et ur n on hi s f or mer subj ect , he concei ved a spar k of
hope. "Thi s Mast er Hyde, i f he wer e st udi ed, " t hought he, "must have
secr et s of hi s own; bl ack secr et s, by t he l ook of hi m; secr et s compar ed
t o whi ch poor J ekyl l ' s wor st woul d be l i ke sunshi ne. Thi ngs cannot
cont i nue as t hey ar e. I t t ur ns me col d t o t hi nk of t hi s cr eat ur e
st eal i ng l i ke a t hi ef t o Har r y' s bedsi de; poor Har r y, what a wakeni ng!
And t he danger of i t ; f or i f t hi s Hyde suspect s t he exi st ence of t he
wi l l , he may gr ow i mpat i ent t o i nher i t . Ay, I must put my shoul der s t o
t he wheel - - i f J ekyl l wi l l but l et me, " he added, "i f J ekyl l wi l l
onl y l et me. " For once mor e he saw bef or e hi s mi nd' s eye, as cl ear as
t r anspar ency, t he st r ange cl auses of t he wi l l .

DR. J EKYLL WAS QUI TE AT EASE

A f or t ni ght l at er , by excel l ent good f or t une, t he doct or gave one of
hi s pl easant di nner s t o some f i ve or si x ol d cr oni es, al l i nt el l i gent ,
r eput abl e men and al l j udges of good wi ne; and Mr . Ut t er son so cont r i ved
t hat he r emai ned behi nd af t er t he ot her s had depar t ed. Thi s was no new
ar r angement , but a t hi ng t hat had bef al l en many scor es of t i mes. Wher e
Ut t er son was l i ked, he was l i ked wel l . Host s l oved t o det ai n t he dr y
l awyer , when t he l i ght - hear t ed and l oose- t ongued had al r eady t hei r f oot
on t he t hr eshol d; t hey l i ked t o si t a whi l e i n hi s unobt r usi ve company,
pr act i si ng f or sol i t ude, sober i ng t hei r mi nds i n t he man' s r i ch si l ence
af t er t he expense and st r ai n of gai et y. To t hi s r ul e, Dr . J ekyl l was no
except i on; and as he now sat on t he opposi t e si de of t he f i r e- - a l ar ge,
wel l - made, smoot h- f aced man of f i f t y, wi t h somet hi ng of a st yl i sh cast
per haps, but ever y mar k of capaci t y and ki ndness- - you coul d see by hi s
l ooks t hat he cher i shed f or Mr . Ut t er son a si ncer e and war maf f ect i on.

"I have been want i ng t o speak t o you, J ekyl l , " began t he l at t er . "You
know t hat wi l l of your s?"

A cl ose obser ver mi ght have gat her ed t hat t he t opi c was di st ast ef ul ; but
t he doct or car r i ed i t of f gai l y. "My poor Ut t er son, " sai d he, "you ar e
unf or t unat e i n such a cl i ent . I never saw a man so di st r essed as you
wer e by my wi l l ; unl ess i t wer e t hat hi de- bound pedant , Lanyon, at what
he cal l ed my sci ent i f i c her esi es. O, I know he' s a good f el l ow- - you
needn' t f r own- - an excel l ent f el l ow, and I al ways mean t o see mor e of
hi m; but a hi de- bound pedant f or al l t hat ; an i gnor ant , bl at ant pedant .
I was never mor e di sappoi nt ed i n any man t han Lanyon. "

"You know I never appr oved of i t , " pur sued Ut t er son, r ut hl essl y
di sr egar di ng t he f r esh t opi c.

"My wi l l ? Yes, cer t ai nl y, I know t hat , " sai d t he doct or , a t r i f l e
shar pl y. "You have t ol d me so. "

"Wel l , I t el l you so agai n, " cont i nued t he l awyer . "I have been l ear ni ng
somet hi ng of young Hyde. "

The l ar ge handsome f ace of Dr . J ekyl l gr ew pal e t o t he ver y l i ps, and
t her e came a bl ackness about hi s eyes. "I do not car e t o hear mor e, "
sai d he. "Thi s i s a mat t er I t hought we had agr eed t o dr op. "

"What I hear d was abomi nabl e, " sai d Ut t er son.

"I t can make no change. You do not under st and my posi t i on, " r et ur ned t he
doct or , wi t h a cer t ai n i ncoher ency of manner . "I ampai nf ul l y si t uat ed,
Ut t er son; my posi t i on i s a ver y st r ange- - a ver y st r ange one. I t i s one
of t hose af f ai r s t hat cannot be mended by t al ki ng. "

"J ekyl l , " sai d Ut t er son, "you know me: I ama man t o be t r ust ed. Make
a cl ean br east of t hi s i n conf i dence; and I make no doubt I can get you
out of i t . "

"My good Ut t er son, " sai d t he doct or , "t hi s i s ver y good of you, t hi s
i s downr i ght good of you, and I cannot f i nd wor ds t o t hank you i n. I
bel i eve you f ul l y; I woul d t r ust you bef or e any man al i ve, ay, bef or e
mysel f , i f I coul d make t he choi ce; but i ndeed i t i sn' t what you f ancy;
i t i s not as bad as t hat ; and j ust t o put your good hear t at r est , I
wi l l t el l you one t hi ng: t he moment I choose, I can be r i d of Mr . Hyde.
I gi ve you my hand upon t hat ; and I t hank you agai n and agai n; and I
wi l l j ust add one l i t t l e wor d, Ut t er son, t hat I ' msur e you' l l t ake i n
good par t : t hi s i s a pr i vat e mat t er , and I beg of you t o l et i t sl eep. "

Ut t er son r ef l ect ed a l i t t l e, l ooki ng i n t he f i r e.

"I have no doubt you ar e per f ect l y r i ght , " he sai d at l ast , get t i ng t o
hi s f eet .

"Wel l , but si nce we have t ouched upon t hi s busi ness, and f or t he l ast
t i me I hope, " cont i nued t he doct or , "t her e i s one poi nt I shoul d l i ke
you t o under st and. I have r eal l y a ver y gr eat i nt er est i n poor Hyde. I
know you have seen hi m; he t ol d me so; and I f ear he was r ude. But I do
si ncer el y t ake a gr eat , a ver y gr eat i nt er est i n t hat young man; and i f
I amt aken away, Ut t er son, I wi sh you t o pr omi se me t hat you wi l l bear
wi t h hi mand get hi s r i ght s f or hi m. I t hi nk you woul d, i f you knew al l ;
and i t woul d be a wei ght of f my mi nd i f you woul d pr omi se. "

"I can' t pr et end t hat I shal l ever l i ke hi m, " sai d t he l awyer .

"I don' t ask t hat , " pl eaded J ekyl l , l ayi ng hi s hand upon t he ot her ' s
ar m; "I onl y ask f or j ust i ce; I onl y ask you t o hel p hi mf or my sake,
when I amno l onger her e. "

Ut t er son heaved an i r r epr essi bl e si gh. "Wel l , " sai d he, "I pr omi se. "

THE CAREWMURDER CASE

Near l y a year l at er , i n t he mont h of Oct ober , 18- - , London was st ar t l ed
by a cr i me of si ngul ar f er oci t y and r ender ed al l t he mor e not abl e by t he
hi gh posi t i on of t he vi ct i m. The det ai l s wer e f ew and st ar t l i ng. A
mai d ser vant l i vi ng al one i n a house not f ar f r omt he r i ver , had gone
upst ai r s t o bed about el even. Al t hough a f og r ol l ed over t he ci t y i n t he
smal l hour s, t he ear l y par t of t he ni ght was cl oudl ess, and t he l ane,
whi ch t he mai d' s wi ndow over l ooked, was br i l l i ant l y l i t by t he f ul l
moon. I t seems she was r omant i cal l y gi ven, f or she sat down upon her
box, whi ch st ood i mmedi at el y under t he wi ndow, and f el l i nt o a dr eamof
musi ng. Never ( she used t o say, wi t h st r eami ng t ear s, when she nar r at ed
t hat exper i ence) , never had she f el t mor e at peace wi t h al l men or
t hought mor e ki ndl y of t he wor l d. And as she so sat she became awar e
of an aged beaut i f ul gent l eman wi t h whi t e hai r , dr awi ng near al ong t he
l ane; and advanci ng t o meet hi m, anot her and ver y smal l gent l eman, t o
whomat f i r st she pai d l ess at t ent i on. When t hey had come wi t hi n speech
( whi ch was j ust under t he mai d' s eyes) t he ol der man bowed and accost ed
t he ot her wi t h a ver y pr et t y manner of pol i t eness. I t di d not seemas
i f t he subj ect of hi s addr ess wer e of gr eat i mpor t ance; i ndeed, f r omhi s
poi nt i ng, i t some t i mes appear ed as i f he wer e onl y i nqui r i ng hi s way;
but t he moon shone on hi s f ace as he spoke, and t he gi r l was pl eased t o
wat ch i t , i t seemed t o br eat he such an i nnocent and ol d- wor l d ki ndness
of di sposi t i on, yet wi t h somet hi ng hi gh t oo, as of a wel l - f ounded
sel f - cont ent . Pr esent l y her eye wander ed t o t he ot her , and she was
sur pr i sed t o r ecogni se i n hi ma cer t ai n Mr . Hyde, who had once vi si t ed
her mast er and f or whomshe had concei ved a di sl i ke. He had i n hi s hand
a heavy cane, wi t h whi ch he was t r i f l i ng; but he answer ed never a wor d,
and seemed t o l i st en wi t h an i l l - cont ai ned i mpat i ence. And t hen al l of
a sudden he br oke out i n a gr eat f l ame of anger , st ampi ng wi t h hi s f oot ,
br andi shi ng t he cane, and car r yi ng on ( as t he mai d descr i bed i t ) l i ke
a madman. The ol d gent l eman t ook a st ep back, wi t h t he ai r of one ver y
much sur pr i sed and a t r i f l e hur t ; and at t hat Mr . Hyde br oke out of
al l bounds and cl ubbed hi mt o t he ear t h. And next moment , wi t h ape- l i ke
f ur y, he was t r ampl i ng hi s vi ct i munder f oot and hai l i ng down a st or mof
bl ows, under whi ch t he bones wer e audi bl y shat t er ed and t he body j umped
upon t he r oadway. At t he hor r or of t hese si ght s and sounds, t he mai d
f ai nt ed.

I t was t wo o' cl ock when she came t o her sel f and cal l ed f or t he pol i ce.
The mur der er was gone l ong ago; but t her e l ay hi s vi ct i mi n t he mi ddl e
of t he l ane, i ncr edi bl y mangl ed. The st i ck wi t h whi ch t he deed had been
done, al t hough i t was of some r ar e and ver y t ough and heavy wood, had
br oken i n t he mi ddl e under t he st r ess of t hi s i nsensat e cr uel t y; and
one spl i nt er ed hal f had r ol l ed i n t he nei ghbour i ng gut t er - - t he ot her ,
wi t hout doubt , had been car r i ed away by t he mur der er . A pur se and gol d
wat ch wer e f ound upon t he vi ct i m: but no car ds or paper s, except a
seal ed and st amped envel ope, whi ch he had been pr obabl y car r yi ng t o t he
post , and whi ch bor e t he name and addr ess of Mr . Ut t er son.

Thi s was br ought t o t he l awyer t he next mor ni ng, bef or e he was out of
bed; and he had no sooner seen i t and been t ol d t he ci r cumst ances, t han
he shot out a sol emn l i p. "I shal l say not hi ng t i l l I have seen t he
body, " sai d he; "t hi s may be ver y ser i ous. Have t he ki ndness t o wai t
whi l e I dr ess. " And wi t h t he same gr ave count enance he hur r i ed t hr ough
hi s br eakf ast and dr ove t o t he pol i ce st at i on, whi t her t he body had been
car r i ed. As soon as he came i nt o t he cel l , he nodded.

"Yes, " sai d he, "I r ecogni se hi m. I amsor r y t o say t hat t hi s i s Si r
Danver s Car ew. "

"Good God, si r , " excl ai med t he of f i cer , "i s i t possi bl e?" And t he next
moment hi s eye l i ght ed up wi t h pr of essi onal ambi t i on. "Thi s wi l l make a
deal of noi se, " he sai d. "And per haps you can hel p us t o t he man. " And
he br i ef l y nar r at ed what t he mai d had seen, and showed t he br oken st i ck.

Mr . Ut t er son had al r eady quai l ed at t he name of Hyde; but when t he st i ck
was l ai d bef or e hi m, he coul d doubt no l onger ; br oken and bat t er ed as i t
was, he r ecogni zed i t f or one t hat he had hi msel f pr esent ed many year s
bef or e t o Henr y J ekyl l .

"I s t hi s Mr . Hyde a per son of smal l st at ur e?" he i nqui r ed.

"Par t i cul ar l y smal l and par t i cul ar l y wi cked- l ooki ng, i s what t he mai d
cal l s hi m, " sai d t he of f i cer .

Mr . Ut t er son r ef l ect ed; and t hen, r ai si ng hi s head, "I f you wi l l come
wi t h me i n my cab, " he sai d, "I t hi nk I can t ake you t o hi s house. "

I t was by t hi s t i me about ni ne i n t he mor ni ng, and t he f i r st f og of t he
season. A gr eat chocol at e- col our ed pal l l ower ed over heaven, but t he
wi nd was cont i nual l y char gi ng and r out i ng t hese embat t l ed vapour s; so
t hat as t he cab cr awl ed f r omst r eet t o st r eet , Mr . Ut t er son behel d a
mar vel ous number of degr ees and hues of t wi l i ght ; f or her e i t woul d be
dar k l i ke t he back- end of eveni ng; and t her e woul d be a gl ow of a r i ch,
l ur i d br own, l i ke t he l i ght of some st r ange conf l agr at i on; and her e,
f or a moment , t he f og woul d be qui t e br oken up, and a haggar d shaf t
of dayl i ght woul d gl ance i n bet ween t he swi r l i ng wr eat hs. The di smal
quar t er of Soho seen under t hese changi ng gl i mpses, wi t h i t s muddy
ways, and sl at t er nl y passenger s, and i t s l amps, whi ch had never
been ext i ngui shed or had been ki ndl ed af r esh t o combat t hi s mour nf ul
r ei nvasi on of dar kness, seemed, i n t he l awyer ' s eyes, l i ke a di st r i ct of
some ci t y i n a ni ght mar e. The t hought s of hi s mi nd, besi des, wer e of t he
gl oomi est dye; and when he gl anced at t he compani on of hi s dr i ve, he
was consci ous of some t ouch of t hat t er r or of t he l aw and t he l aw' s
of f i cer s, whi ch may at t i mes assai l t he most honest .

As t he cab dr ew up bef or e t he addr ess i ndi cat ed, t he f og l i f t ed a l i t t l e
and showed hi ma di ngy st r eet , a gi n pal ace, a l ow Fr ench eat i ng house,
a shop f or t he r et ai l of penny number s and t wopenny sal ads, many r agged
chi l dr en huddl ed i n t he door ways, and many women of many di f f er ent
nat i onal i t i es passi ng out , key i n hand, t o have a mor ni ng gl ass; and
t he next moment t he f og set t l ed down agai n upon t hat par t , as br own as
umber , and cut hi mof f f r omhi s bl ackguar dl y sur r oundi ngs. Thi s was t he
home of Henr y J ekyl l ' s f avour i t e; of a man who was hei r t o a quar t er of
a mi l l i on st er l i ng.

An i vor y- f aced and si l ver y- hai r ed ol d woman opened t he door . She had an
evi l f ace, smoot hed by hypocr i sy: but her manner s wer e excel l ent . Yes,
she sai d, t hi s was Mr . Hyde' s, but he was not at home; he had been i n
t hat ni ght ver y l at e, but he had gone away agai n i n l ess t han an hour ;
t her e was not hi ng st r ange i n t hat ; hi s habi t s wer e ver y i r r egul ar , and
he was of t en absent ; f or i nst ance, i t was near l y t wo mont hs si nce she
had seen hi mt i l l yest er day.

"Ver y wel l , t hen, we wi sh t o see hi s r ooms, " sai d t he l awyer ; and when
t he woman began t o decl ar e i t was i mpossi bl e, "I had bet t er t el l you
who t hi s per son i s, " he added. "Thi s i s I nspect or Newcomen of Scot l and
Yar d. "

A f l ash of odi ous j oy appear ed upon t he woman' s f ace. "Ah! " sai d she,
"he i s i n t r oubl e! What has he done?"

Mr . Ut t er son and t he i nspect or exchanged gl ances. "He don' t seema ver y
popul ar char act er , " obser ved t he l at t er . "And now, my good woman, j ust
l et me and t hi s gent l eman have a l ook about us. "

I n t he whol e ext ent of t he house, whi ch but f or t he ol d woman r emai ned
ot her wi se empt y, Mr . Hyde had onl y used a coupl e of r ooms; but t hese
wer e f ur ni shed wi t h l uxur y and good t ast e. A cl oset was f i l l ed wi t h
wi ne; t he pl at e was of si l ver , t he naper y el egant ; a good pi ct ur e hung
upon t he wal l s, a gi f t ( as Ut t er son supposed) f r omHenr y J ekyl l , who was
much of a connoi sseur ; and t he car pet s wer e of many pl i es and agr eeabl e
i n col our . At t hi s moment , however , t he r ooms bor e ever y mar k of havi ng
been r ecent l y and hur r i edl y r ansacked; cl ot hes l ay about t he f l oor ,
wi t h t hei r pocket s i nsi de out ; l ock- f ast dr awer s st ood open; and on t he
hear t h t her e l ay a pi l e of gr ey ashes, as t hough many paper s had been
bur ned. Fr omt hese ember s t he i nspect or di si nt er r ed t he but t end of a
gr een cheque book, whi ch had r esi st ed t he act i on of t he f i r e; t he ot her
hal f of t he st i ck was f ound behi nd t he door ; and as t hi s cl i nched hi s
suspi ci ons, t he of f i cer decl ar ed hi msel f del i ght ed. A vi si t t o t he bank,
wher e sever al t housand pounds wer e f ound t o be l yi ng t o t he mur der er ' s
cr edi t , compl et ed hi s gr at i f i cat i on.

"You may depend upon i t , si r , " he t ol d Mr . Ut t er son: "I have hi mi n my
hand. He must have l ost hi s head, or he never woul d have l ef t t he st i ck
or , above al l , bur ned t he cheque book. Why, money' s l i f e t o t he man.
We have not hi ng t o do but wai t f or hi mat t he bank, and get out t he
handbi l l s. "

Thi s l ast , however , was not so easy of accompl i shment ; f or Mr . Hyde had
number ed f ew f ami l i ar s- - even t he mast er of t he ser vant mai d had onl y
seen hi mt wi ce; hi s f ami l y coul d nowher e be t r aced; he had never been
phot ogr aphed; and t he f ew who coul d descr i be hi mdi f f er ed wi del y, as
common obser ver s wi l l . Onl y on one poi nt wer e t hey agr eed; and t hat
was t he haunt i ng sense of unexpr essed def or mi t y wi t h whi ch t he f ugi t i ve
i mpr essed hi s behol der s.

I NCI DENT OF THE LETTER

I t was l at e i n t he af t er noon, when Mr . Ut t er son f ound hi s way t o Dr .
J ekyl l ' s door , wher e he was at once admi t t ed by Pool e, and car r i ed down
by t he ki t chen of f i ces and acr oss a yar d whi ch had once been a gar den,
t o t he bui l di ng whi ch was i ndi f f er ent l y known as t he l abor at or y or
di ssect i ng r ooms. The doct or had bought t he house f r omt he hei r s of
a cel ebr at ed sur geon; and hi s own t ast es bei ng r at her chemi cal t han
anat omi cal , had changed t he dest i nat i on of t he bl ock at t he bot t omof
t he gar den. I t was t he f i r st t i me t hat t he l awyer had been r ecei ved i n
t hat par t of hi s f r i end' s quar t er s; and he eyed t he di ngy, wi ndowl ess
st r uct ur e wi t h cur i osi t y, and gazed r ound wi t h a di st ast ef ul sense of
st r angeness as he cr ossed t he t heat r e, once cr owded wi t h eager
st udent s and now l yi ng gaunt and si l ent , t he t abl es l aden wi t h chemi cal
appar at us, t he f l oor st r ewn wi t h cr at es and l i t t er ed wi t h packi ng st r aw,
and t he l i ght f al l i ng di ml y t hr ough t he f oggy cupol a. At t he f ur t her
end, a f l i ght of st ai r s mount ed t o a door cover ed wi t h r ed bai ze;
and t hr ough t hi s, Mr . Ut t er son was at l ast r ecei ved i nt o t he doct or ' s
cabi net . I t was a l ar ge r oomf i t t ed r ound wi t h gl ass pr esses, f ur ni shed,
among ot her t hi ngs, wi t h a cheval - gl ass and a busi ness t abl e, and
l ooki ng out upon t he cour t by t hr ee dust y wi ndows bar r ed wi t h i r on. The
f i r e bur ned i n t he gr at e; a l amp was set l i ght ed on t he chi mney shel f ,
f or even i n t he houses t he f og began t o l i e t hi ckl y; and t her e, cl ose up
t o t he war mt h, sat Dr . J ekyl l , l ooki ng deat hl y si ck. He di d not r i se
t o meet hi s vi si t or , but hel d out a col d hand and bade hi mwel come i n a
changed voi ce.

"And now, " sai d Mr . Ut t er son, as soon as Pool e had l ef t t hem, "you have
hear d t he news?"

The doct or shudder ed. "They wer e cr yi ng i t i n t he squar e, " he sai d. "I
hear d t hemi n my di ni ng- r oom. "

"One wor d, " sai d t he l awyer . "Car ew was my cl i ent , but so ar e you, and I
want t o know what I amdoi ng. You have not been mad enough t o hi de t hi s
f el l ow?"

"Ut t er son, I swear t o God, " cr i ed t he doct or , "I swear t o God I wi l l
never set eyes on hi magai n. I bi nd my honour t o you t hat I amdone wi t h
hi mi n t hi s wor l d. I t i s al l at an end. And i ndeed he does not want my
hel p; you do not know hi mas I do; he i s saf e, he i s qui t e saf e; mar k my
wor ds, he wi l l never mor e be hear d of . "

The l awyer l i st ened gl oomi l y; he di d not l i ke hi s f r i end' s f ever i sh
manner . "You seempr et t y sur e of hi m, " sai d he; "and f or your sake, I
hope you may be r i ght . I f i t came t o a t r i al , your name mi ght appear . "

"I amqui t e sur e of hi m, " r epl i ed J ekyl l ; "I have gr ounds f or cer t ai nt y
t hat I cannot shar e wi t h any one. But t her e i s one t hi ng on whi ch you
may advi se me. I have- - I have r ecei ved a l et t er ; and I amat a l oss
whet her I shoul d show i t t o t he pol i ce. I shoul d l i ke t o l eave i t i n
your hands, Ut t er son; you woul d j udge wi sel y, I amsur e; I have so gr eat
a t r ust i n you. "

"You f ear , I suppose, t hat i t mi ght l ead t o hi s det ect i on?" asked t he
l awyer .

"No, " sai d t he ot her . "I cannot say t hat I car e what becomes of Hyde; I
amqui t e done wi t h hi m. I was t hi nki ng of my own char act er , whi ch t hi s
hat ef ul busi ness has r at her exposed. "

Ut t er son r umi nat ed awhi l e; he was sur pr i sed at hi s f r i end' s sel f i shness,
and yet r el i eved by i t . "Wel l , " sai d he, at l ast , "l et me see t he
l et t er . "

The l et t er was wr i t t en i n an odd, upr i ght hand and si gned "Edwar d Hyde":
and i t si gni f i ed, br i ef l y enough, t hat t he wr i t er ' s benef act or ,
Dr . J ekyl l , whomhe had l ong so unwor t hi l y r epai d f or a t housand
gener osi t i es, need l abour under no al ar mf or hi s saf et y, as he had means
of escape on whi ch he pl aced a sur e dependence. The l awyer l i ked t hi s
l et t er wel l enough; i t put a bet t er col our on t he i nt i macy t han he had
l ooked f or ; and he bl amed hi msel f f or some of hi s past suspi ci ons.

"Have you t he envel ope?" he asked.

"I bur ned i t , " r epl i ed J ekyl l , "bef or e I t hought what I was about . But
i t bor e no post mar k. The not e was handed i n. "

"Shal l I keep t hi s and sl eep upon i t ?" asked Ut t er son.

"I wi sh you t o j udge f or me ent i r el y, " was t he r epl y. "I have l ost
conf i dence i n mysel f . "

"Wel l , I shal l consi der , " r et ur ned t he l awyer . "And now one wor d
mor e: i t was Hyde who di ct at ed t he t er ms i n your wi l l about t hat
di sappear ance?"

The doct or seemed sei zed wi t h a qual mof f ai nt ness; he shut hi s mout h
t i ght and nodded.

"I knew i t , " sai d Ut t er son. "He meant t o mur der you. You had a f i ne
escape. "

"I have had what i s f ar mor e t o t he pur pose, " r et ur ned t he doct or
sol emnl y: "I have had a l esson- - O God, Ut t er son, what a l esson I have
had! " And he cover ed hi s f ace f or a moment wi t h hi s hands.

On hi s way out , t he l awyer st opped and had a wor d or t wo wi t h Pool e. "By
t he bye, " sai d he, "t her e was a l et t er handed i n t o- day: what was t he
messenger l i ke?" But Pool e was posi t i ve not hi ng had come except by post ;
"and onl y ci r cul ar s by t hat , " he added.

Thi s news sent of f t he vi si t or wi t h hi s f ear s r enewed. Pl ai nl y t he
l et t er had come by t he l abor at or y door ; possi bl y, i ndeed, i t had been
wr i t t en i n t he cabi net ; and i f t hat wer e so, i t must be di f f er ent l y
j udged, and handl ed wi t h t he mor e caut i on. The newsboys, as he went ,
wer e cr yi ng t hemsel ves hoar se al ong t he f oot ways: "Speci al edi t i on.
Shocki ng mur der of an M. P. " That was t he f uner al or at i on of one f r i end
and cl i ent ; and he coul d not hel p a cer t ai n appr ehensi on l est t he good
name of anot her shoul d be sucked down i n t he eddy of t he scandal . I t
was, at l east , a t i ckl i sh deci si on t hat he had t o make; and sel f - r el i ant
as he was by habi t , he began t o cher i sh a l ongi ng f or advi ce. I t was not
t o be had di r ect l y; but per haps, he t hought , i t mi ght be f i shed f or .

Pr esent l y af t er , he sat on one si de of hi s own hear t h, wi t h Mr .
Guest , hi s head cl er k, upon t he ot her , and mi dway bet ween, at a ni cel y
cal cul at ed di st ance f r omt he f i r e, a bot t l e of a par t i cul ar ol d wi ne
t hat had l ong dwel t unsunned i n t he f oundat i ons of hi s house. The
f og st i l l sl ept on t he wi ng above t he dr owned ci t y, wher e t he l amps
gl i mmer ed l i ke car buncl es; and t hr ough t he muf f l e and smot her of t hese
f al l en cl ouds, t he pr ocessi on of t he t own' s l i f e was st i l l r ol l i ng i n
t hr ough t he gr eat ar t er i es wi t h a sound as of a mi ght y wi nd. But t he
r oomwas gay wi t h f i r el i ght . I n t he bot t l e t he aci ds wer e l ong ago
r esol ved; t he i mper i al dye had sof t ened wi t h t i me, as t he col our gr ows
r i cher i n st ai ned wi ndows; and t he gl ow of hot aut umn af t er noons on
hi l l si de vi neyar ds, was r eady t o be set f r ee and t o di sper se t he f ogs of
London. I nsensi bl y t he l awyer mel t ed. Ther e was no man f r omwhomhe kept
f ewer secr et s t han Mr . Guest ; and he was not al ways sur e t hat he kept as
many as he meant . Guest had of t en been on busi ness t o t he doct or ' s;
he knew Pool e; he coul d scar ce have f ai l ed t o hear of Mr . Hyde' s
f ami l i ar i t y about t he house; he mi ght dr aw concl usi ons: was i t not as
wel l , t hen, t hat he shoul d see a l et t er whi ch put t hat myst er y t o
r i ght ? and above al l si nce Guest , bei ng a gr eat st udent and cr i t i c of
handwr i t i ng, woul d consi der t he st ep nat ur al and obl i gi ng? The cl er k,
besi des, was a man of counsel ; he coul d scar ce r ead so st r ange a
document wi t hout dr oppi ng a r emar k; and by t hat r emar k Mr . Ut t er son
mi ght shape hi s f ut ur e cour se.

"Thi s i s a sad busi ness about Si r Danver s, " he sai d.

"Yes, si r , i ndeed. I t has el i ci t ed a gr eat deal of publ i c f eel i ng, "
r et ur ned Guest . "The man, of cour se, was mad. "

"I shoul d l i ke t o hear your vi ews on t hat , " r epl i ed Ut t er son. "I have a
document her e i n hi s handwr i t i ng; i t i s bet ween our sel ves, f or I scar ce
know what t o do about i t ; i t i s an ugl y busi ness at t he best . But t her e
i t i s; qui t e i n your way: a mur der er ' s aut ogr aph. "

Guest ' s eyes br i ght ened, and he sat down at once and st udi ed i t wi t h
passi on. "No si r , " he sai d: "not mad; but i t i s an odd hand. "

"And by al l account s a ver y odd wr i t er , " added t he l awyer .

J ust t hen t he ser vant ent er ed wi t h a not e.

"I s t hat f r omDr . J ekyl l , si r ?" i nqui r ed t he cl er k. "I t hought I knew
t he wr i t i ng. Anyt hi ng pr i vat e, Mr . Ut t er son?"

"Onl y an i nvi t at i on t o di nner . Why? Do you want t o see i t ?"

"One moment . I t hank you, si r ; " and t he cl er k l ai d t he t wo sheet s of
paper al ongsi de and sedul ousl y compar ed t hei r cont ent s. "Thank you,
si r , " he sai d at l ast , r et ur ni ng bot h; "i t ' s a ver y i nt er est i ng
aut ogr aph. "

Ther e was a pause, dur i ng whi ch Mr . Ut t er son st r uggl ed wi t h hi msel f .
"Why di d you compar e t hem, Guest ?" he i nqui r ed suddenl y.

"Wel l , si r , " r et ur ned t he cl er k, "t her e' s a r at her si ngul ar r esembl ance;
t he t wo hands ar e i n many poi nt s i dent i cal : onl y di f f er ent l y sl oped. "

"Rat her quai nt , " sai d Ut t er son.

"I t i s, as you say, r at her quai nt , " r et ur ned Guest .

"I woul dn' t speak of t hi s not e, you know, " sai d t he mast er .

"No, si r , " sai d t he cl er k. "I under st and. "

But no sooner was Mr . Ut t er son al one t hat ni ght , t han he l ocked t he
not e i nt o hi s saf e, wher e i t r eposed f r omt hat t i me f or war d. "What ! " he
t hought . "Henr y J ekyl l f or ge f or a mur der er ! " And hi s bl ood r an col d i n
hi s vei ns.


I NCI DENT OF DR. LANYON

Ti me r an on; t housands of pounds wer e of f er ed i n r ewar d, f or t he
deat h of Si r Danver s was r esent ed as a publ i c i nj ur y; but Mr . Hyde had
di sappear ed out of t he ken of t he pol i ce as t hough he had never exi st ed.
Much of hi s past was unear t hed, i ndeed, and al l di sr eput abl e: t al es came
out of t he man' s cr uel t y, at once so cal l ous and vi ol ent ; of hi s vi l e
l i f e, of hi s st r ange associ at es, of t he hat r ed t hat seemed t o have
sur r ounded hi s car eer ; but of hi s pr esent wher eabout s, not a whi sper .
Fr omt he t i me he had l ef t t he house i n Soho on t he mor ni ng of t he
mur der , he was si mpl y bl ot t ed out ; and gr adual l y, as t i me dr ew on, Mr .
Ut t er son began t o r ecover f r omt he hot ness of hi s al ar m, and t o gr ow
mor e at qui et wi t h hi msel f . The deat h of Si r Danver s was, t o hi s way of
t hi nki ng, mor e t han pai d f or by t he di sappear ance of Mr . Hyde. Now t hat
t hat evi l i nf l uence had been wi t hdr awn, a new l i f e began f or Dr . J ekyl l .
He came out of hi s secl usi on, r enewed r el at i ons wi t h hi s f r i ends, became
once mor e t hei r f ami l i ar guest and ent er t ai ner ; and whi l st he had al ways
been known f or char i t i es, he was now no l ess di st i ngui shed f or r el i gi on.
He was busy, he was much i n t he open ai r , he di d good; hi s f ace seemed
t o open and br i ght en, as i f wi t h an i nwar d consci ousness of ser vi ce; and
f or mor e t han t wo mont hs, t he doct or was at peace.

On t he 8t h of J anuar y Ut t er son had di ned at t he doct or ' s wi t h a smal l
par t y; Lanyon had been t her e; and t he f ace of t he host had l ooked f r om
one t o t he ot her as i n t he ol d days when t he t r i o wer e i nsepar abl e
f r i ends. On t he 12t h, and agai n on t he 14t h, t he door was shut agai nst
t he l awyer . "The doct or was conf i ned t o t he house, " Pool e sai d, "and saw
no one. " On t he 15t h, he t r i ed agai n, and was agai n r ef used; and havi ng
now been used f or t he l ast t wo mont hs t o see hi s f r i end al most dai l y, he
f ound t hi s r et ur n of sol i t ude t o wei gh upon hi s spi r i t s. The f i f t h ni ght
he had i n Guest t o di ne wi t h hi m; and t he si xt h he bet ook hi msel f t o Dr .
Lanyon' s.

Ther e at l east he was not deni ed admi t t ance; but when he came i n, he was
shocked at t he change whi ch had t aken pl ace i n t he doct or ' s appear ance.
He had hi s deat h- war r ant wr i t t en l egi bl y upon hi s f ace. The r osy man had
gr own pal e; hi s f l esh had f al l en away; he was vi si bl y bal der and ol der ;
and yet i t was not so much t hese t okens of a swi f t physi cal decay t hat
ar r est ed t he l awyer ' s not i ce, as a l ook i n t he eye and qual i t y of manner
t hat seemed t o t est i f y t o some deep- seat ed t er r or of t he mi nd. I t
was unl i kel y t hat t he doct or shoul d f ear deat h; and yet t hat was what
Ut t er son was t empt ed t o suspect . "Yes, " he t hought ; "he i s a doct or , he
must know hi s own st at e and t hat hi s days ar e count ed; and t he knowl edge
i s mor e t han he can bear . " And yet when Ut t er son r emar ked on hi s
i l l - l ooks, i t was wi t h an ai r of gr eat f i r mness t hat Lanyon decl ar ed
hi msel f a doomed man.

"I have had a shock, " he sai d, "and I shal l never r ecover . I t i s a
quest i on of weeks. Wel l , l i f e has been pl easant ; I l i ked i t ; yes, si r ,
I used t o l i ke i t . I somet i mes t hi nk i f we knew al l , we shoul d be mor e
gl ad t o get away. "

"J ekyl l i s i l l , t oo, " obser ved Ut t er son. "Have you seen hi m?"

But Lanyon' s f ace changed, and he hel d up a t r embl i ng hand. "I wi sh t o
see or hear no mor e of Dr . J ekyl l , " he sai d i n a l oud, unst eady voi ce.
"I amqui t e done wi t h t hat per son; and I beg t hat you wi l l spar e me any
al l usi on t o one whomI r egar d as dead. "

"Tut - t ut , " sai d Mr . Ut t er son; and t hen af t er a consi der abl e pause,
"Can' t I do anyt hi ng?" he i nqui r ed. "We ar e t hr ee ver y ol d f r i ends,
Lanyon; we shal l not l i ve t o make ot her s. "

"Not hi ng can be done, " r et ur ned Lanyon; "ask hi msel f . "

"He wi l l not see me, " sai d t he l awyer .

"I amnot sur pr i sed at t hat , " was t he r epl y. "Some day, Ut t er son, af t er
I amdead, you may per haps come t o l ear n t he r i ght and wr ong of t hi s. I
cannot t el l you. And i n t he meant i me, i f you can si t and t al k wi t h me
of ot her t hi ngs, f or God' s sake, st ay and do so; but i f you cannot keep
cl ear of t hi s accur sed t opi c, t hen i n God' s name, go, f or I cannot bear
i t . "

As soon as he got home, Ut t er son sat down and wr ot e t o J ekyl l ,
compl ai ni ng of hi s excl usi on f r omt he house, and aski ng t he cause of
t hi s unhappy br eak wi t h Lanyon; and t he next day br ought hi ma l ong
answer , of t en ver y pat het i cal l y wor ded, and somet i mes dar kl y myst er i ous
i n dr i f t . The quar r el wi t h Lanyon was i ncur abl e. "I do not bl ame our ol d
f r i end, " J ekyl l wr ot e, "but I shar e hi s vi ew t hat we must never meet . I
mean f r omhencef or t h t o l ead a l i f e of ext r eme secl usi on; you must not
be sur pr i sed, nor must you doubt my f r i endshi p, i f my door i s of t en shut
even t o you. You must suf f er me t o go my own dar k way. I have br ought on
mysel f a puni shment and a danger t hat I cannot name. I f I amt he chi ef
of si nner s, I amt he chi ef of suf f er er s al so. I coul d not t hi nk t hat
t hi s ear t h cont ai ned a pl ace f or suf f er i ngs and t er r or s so unmanni ng;
and you can do but one t hi ng, Ut t er son, t o l i ght en t hi s dest i ny, and
t hat i s t o r espect my si l ence. " Ut t er son was amazed; t he dar k i nf l uence
of Hyde had been wi t hdr awn, t he doct or had r et ur ned t o hi s ol d t asks
and ami t i es; a week ago, t he pr ospect had smi l ed wi t h ever y pr omi se of a
cheer f ul and an honour ed age; and now i n a moment , f r i endshi p, and peace
of mi nd, and t he whol e t enor of hi s l i f e wer e wr ecked. So gr eat and
unpr epar ed a change poi nt ed t o madness; but i n vi ew of Lanyon' s manner
and wor ds, t her e must l i e f or i t some deeper gr ound.

A week af t er war ds Dr . Lanyon t ook t o hi s bed, and i n somet hi ng l ess t han
a f or t ni ght he was dead. The ni ght af t er t he f uner al , at whi ch he had
been sadl y af f ect ed, Ut t er son l ocked t he door of hi s busi ness r oom,
and si t t i ng t her e by t he l i ght of a mel anchol y candl e, dr ew out and set
bef or e hi man envel ope addr essed by t he hand and seal ed wi t h t he seal of
hi s dead f r i end. "PRI VATE: f or t he hands of G. J . Ut t er son ALONE, and i n
case of hi s pr edecease t o be dest r oyed unr ead, " so i t was emphat i cal l y
super scr i bed; and t he l awyer dr eaded t o behol d t he cont ent s. "I have
bur i ed one f r i end t o- day, " he t hought : "what i f t hi s shoul d cost me
anot her ?" And t hen he condemned t he f ear as a di sl oyal t y, and br oke t he
seal . Wi t hi n t her e was anot her encl osur e, l i kewi se seal ed, and mar ked
upon t he cover as "not t o be opened t i l l t he deat h or di sappear ance
of Dr . Henr y J ekyl l . " Ut t er son coul d not t r ust hi s eyes. Yes, i t was
di sappear ance; her e agai n, as i n t he mad wi l l whi ch he had l ong ago
r est or ed t o i t s aut hor , her e agai n wer e t he i dea of a di sappear ance
and t he name of Henr y J ekyl l br acket t ed. But i n t he wi l l , t hat i dea had
spr ung f r omt he si ni st er suggest i on of t he man Hyde; i t was set t her e
wi t h a pur pose al l t oo pl ai n and hor r i bl e. Wr i t t en by t he hand of
Lanyon, what shoul d i t mean? A gr eat cur i osi t y came on t he t r ust ee,
t o di sr egar d t he pr ohi bi t i on and di ve at once t o t he bot t omof t hese
myst er i es; but pr of essi onal honour and f ai t h t o hi s dead f r i end wer e
st r i ngent obl i gat i ons; and t he packet sl ept i n t he i nmost cor ner of hi s
pr i vat e saf e.

I t i s one t hi ng t o mor t i f y cur i osi t y, anot her t o conquer i t ; and i t may
be doubt ed i f , f r omt hat day f or t h, Ut t er son desi r ed t he soci et y of hi s
sur vi vi ng f r i end wi t h t he same eager ness. He t hought of hi mki ndl y; but
hi s t hought s wer e di squi et ed and f ear f ul . He went t o cal l i ndeed; but he
was per haps r el i eved t o be deni ed admi t t ance; per haps, i n hi s hear t , he
pr ef er r ed t o speak wi t h Pool e upon t he door st ep and sur r ounded by t he
ai r and sounds of t he open ci t y, r at her t han t o be admi t t ed i nt o t hat
house of vol unt ar y bondage, and t o si t and speak wi t h i t s i nscr ut abl e
r ecl use. Pool e had, i ndeed, no ver y pl easant news t o communi cat e. The
doct or , i t appear ed, now mor e t han ever conf i ned hi msel f t o t he cabi net
over t he l abor at or y, wher e he woul d somet i mes even sl eep; he was out of
spi r i t s, he had gr own ver y si l ent , he di d not r ead; i t seemed as i f
he had somet hi ng on hi s mi nd. Ut t er son became so used t o t he unvar yi ng
char act er of t hese r epor t s, t hat he f el l of f l i t t l e by l i t t l e i n t he
f r equency of hi s vi si t s.

I NCI DENT AT THE WI NDOW

I t chanced on Sunday, when Mr . Ut t er son was on hi s usual wal k wi t h Mr .
Enf i el d, t hat t hei r way l ay once agai n t hr ough t he by- st r eet ; and t hat
when t hey came i n f r ont of t he door , bot h st opped t o gaze on i t .

"Wel l , " sai d Enf i el d, "t hat st or y' s at an end at l east . We shal l never
see mor e of Mr . Hyde. "

"I hope not , " sai d Ut t er son. "Di d I ever t el l you t hat I once saw hi m,
and shar ed your f eel i ng of r epul si on?"

"I t was i mpossi bl e t o do t he one wi t hout t he ot her , " r et ur ned Enf i el d.
"And by t he way, what an ass you must have t hought me, not t o know t hat
t hi s was a back way t o Dr . J ekyl l ' s! I t was par t l y your own f aul t t hat I
f ound i t out , even when I di d. "

"So you f ound i t out , di d you?" sai d Ut t er son. "But i f t hat be so, we
may st ep i nt o t he cour t and t ake a l ook at t he wi ndows. To t el l you t he
t r ut h, I amuneasy about poor J ekyl l ; and even out si de, I f eel as i f t he
pr esence of a f r i end mi ght do hi mgood. "

The cour t was ver y cool and a l i t t l e damp, and f ul l of pr emat ur e
t wi l i ght , al t hough t he sky, hi gh up over head, was st i l l br i ght wi t h
sunset . The mi ddl e one of t he t hr ee wi ndows was hal f - way open; and
si t t i ng cl ose besi de i t , t aki ng t he ai r wi t h an i nf i ni t e sadness of
mi en, l i ke some di sconsol at e pr i soner , Ut t er son saw Dr . J ekyl l .

"What ! J ekyl l ! " he cr i ed. "I t r ust you ar e bet t er . "

"I amver y l ow, Ut t er son, " r epl i ed t he doct or dr ear i l y, "ver y l ow. I t
wi l l not l ast l ong, t hank God. "

"You st ay t oo much i ndoor s, " sai d t he l awyer . "You shoul d be out ,
whi ppi ng up t he ci r cul at i on l i ke Mr . Enf i el d and me. ( Thi s i s my
cousi n- - Mr . Enf i el d- - Dr . J ekyl l . ) Come now; get your hat and t ake a
qui ck t ur n wi t h us. "

"You ar e ver y good, " si ghed t he ot her . "I shoul d l i ke t o ver y much; but
no, no, no, i t i s qui t e i mpossi bl e; I dar e not . But i ndeed, Ut t er son,
I amver y gl ad t o see you; t hi s i s r eal l y a gr eat pl easur e; I woul d ask
you and Mr . Enf i el d up, but t he pl ace i s r eal l y not f i t . "

"Why, t hen, " sai d t he l awyer , good- nat ur edl y, "t he best t hi ng we can do
i s t o st ay down her e and speak wi t h you f r omwher e we ar e. "

"That i s j ust what I was about t o vent ur e t o pr opose, " r et ur ned t he
doct or wi t h a smi l e. But t he wor ds wer e har dl y ut t er ed, bef or e t he smi l e
was st r uck out of hi s f ace and succeeded by an expr essi on of such abj ect
t er r or and despai r , as f r oze t he ver y bl ood of t he t wo gent l emen bel ow.
They saw i t but f or a gl i mpse f or t he wi ndow was i nst ant l y t hr ust down;
but t hat gl i mpse had been suf f i ci ent , and t hey t ur ned and l ef t t he cour t
wi t hout a wor d. I n si l ence, t oo, t hey t r aver sed t he by- st r eet ; and i t
was not unt i l t hey had come i nt o a nei ghbour i ng t hor oughf ar e, wher e even
upon a Sunday t her e wer e st i l l some st i r r i ngs of l i f e, t hat Mr . Ut t er son
at l ast t ur ned and l ooked at hi s compani on. They wer e bot h pal e; and
t her e was an answer i ng hor r or i n t hei r eyes.

"God f or gi ve us, God f or gi ve us, " sai d Mr . Ut t er son.

But Mr . Enf i el d onl y nodded hi s head ver y ser i ousl y, and wal ked on once
mor e i n si l ence.

THE LAST NI GHT

Mr . Ut t er son was si t t i ng by hi s f i r esi de one eveni ng af t er di nner , when
he was sur pr i sed t o r ecei ve a vi si t f r omPool e.

"Bl ess me, Pool e, what br i ngs you her e?" he cr i ed; and t hen t aki ng a
second l ook at hi m, "What ai l s you?" he added; "i s t he doct or i l l ?"

"Mr . Ut t er son, " sai d t he man, "t her e i s somet hi ng wr ong. "

"Take a seat , and her e i s a gl ass of wi ne f or you, " sai d t he l awyer .
"Now, t ake your t i me, and t el l me pl ai nl y what you want . "

"You know t he doct or ' s ways, si r , " r epl i ed Pool e, "and how he shut s
hi msel f up. Wel l , he' s shut up agai n i n t he cabi net ; and I don' t l i ke
i t , si r - - I wi sh I may di e i f I l i ke i t . Mr . Ut t er son, si r , I ' maf r ai d. "

"Now, my good man, " sai d t he l awyer , "be expl i ci t . What ar e you af r ai d
of ?"

"I ' ve been af r ai d f or about a week, " r et ur ned Pool e, doggedl y
di sr egar di ng t he quest i on, "and I can bear i t no mor e. "

The man' s appear ance ampl y bor e out hi s wor ds; hi s manner was al t er ed
f or t he wor se; and except f or t he moment when he had f i r st announced hi s
t er r or , he had not once l ooked t he l awyer i n t he f ace. Even now, he sat
wi t h t he gl ass of wi ne unt ast ed on hi s knee, and hi s eyes di r ect ed t o a
cor ner of t he f l oor . "I can bear i t no mor e, " he r epeat ed.

"Come, " sai d t he l awyer , "I see you have some good r eason, Pool e; I see
t her e i s somet hi ng ser i ousl y ami ss. Tr y t o t el l me what i t i s. "

"I t hi nk t her e' s been f oul pl ay, " sai d Pool e, hoar sel y.

"Foul pl ay! " cr i ed t he l awyer , a good deal f r i ght ened and r at her
i ncl i ned t o be i r r i t at ed i n consequence. "What f oul pl ay! What does t he
man mean?"

"I dar en' t say, si r , " was t he answer ; "but wi l l you come al ong wi t h me
and see f or your sel f ?"

Mr . Ut t er son' s onl y answer was t o r i se and get hi s hat and gr eat coat ;
but he obser ved wi t h wonder t he gr eat ness of t he r el i ef t hat appear ed
upon t he but l er ' s f ace, and per haps wi t h no l ess, t hat t he wi ne was
st i l l unt ast ed when he set i t down t o f ol l ow.

I t was a wi l d, col d, seasonabl e ni ght of Mar ch, wi t h a pal e moon, l yi ng
on her back as t hough t he wi nd had t i l t ed her , and f l yi ng wr ack of t he
most di aphanous and l awny t ext ur e. The wi nd made t al ki ng di f f i cul t , and
f l ecked t he bl ood i nt o t he f ace. I t seemed t o have swept t he st r eet s
unusual l y bar e of passenger s, besi des; f or Mr . Ut t er son t hought he had
never seen t hat par t of London so deser t ed. He coul d have wi shed i t
ot her wi se; never i n hi s l i f e had he been consci ous of so shar p a wi sh t o
see and t ouch hi s f el l ow- cr eat ur es; f or st r uggl e as he mi ght , t her e was
bor ne i n upon hi s mi nd a cr ushi ng ant i ci pat i on of cal ami t y. The squar e,
when t hey got t her e, was f ul l of wi nd and dust , and t he t hi n t r ees i n
t he gar den wer e l ashi ng t hemsel ves al ong t he r ai l i ng. Pool e, who had
kept al l t he way a pace or t wo ahead, now pul l ed up i n t he mi ddl e of
t he pavement , and i n spi t e of t he bi t i ng weat her , t ook of f hi s hat and
mopped hi s br ow wi t h a r ed pocket - handker chi ef . But f or al l t he hur r y of
hi s comi ng, t hese wer e not t he dews of exer t i on t hat he wi ped away, but
t he moi st ur e of some st r angl i ng angui sh; f or hi s f ace was whi t e and hi s
voi ce, when he spoke, har sh and br oken.

"Wel l , si r , " he sai d, "her e we ar e, and God gr ant t her e be not hi ng
wr ong. "

"Amen, Pool e, " sai d t he l awyer .

Ther eupon t he ser vant knocked i n a ver y guar ded manner ; t he door was
opened on t he chai n; and a voi ce asked f r omwi t hi n, "I s t hat you,
Pool e?"

"I t ' s al l r i ght , " sai d Pool e. "Open t he door . "

The hal l , when t hey ent er ed i t , was br i ght l y l i ght ed up; t he f i r e was
bui l t hi gh; and about t he hear t h t he whol e of t he ser vant s, men and
women, st ood huddl ed t oget her l i ke a f l ock of sheep. At t he si ght of Mr .
Ut t er son, t he housemai d br oke i nt o hyst er i cal whi mper i ng; and t he cook,
cr yi ng out "Bl ess God! i t ' s Mr . Ut t er son, " r an f or war d as i f t o t ake hi m
i n her ar ms.

"What , what ? Ar e you al l her e?" sai d t he l awyer peevi shl y. "Ver y
i r r egul ar , ver y unseeml y; your mast er woul d be f ar f r ompl eased. "

"They' r e al l af r ai d, " sai d Pool e.

Bl ank si l ence f ol l owed, no one pr ot est i ng; onl y t he mai d l i f t ed her
voi ce and now wept l oudl y.

"Hol d your t ongue! " Pool e sai d t o her , wi t h a f er oci t y of accent t hat
t est i f i ed t o hi s own j angl ed ner ves; and i ndeed, when t he gi r l had so
suddenl y r ai sed t he not e of her l ament at i on, t hey had al l st ar t ed and
t ur ned t owar ds t he i nner door wi t h f aces of dr eadf ul expect at i on.
"And now, " cont i nued t he but l er , addr essi ng t he kni f e- boy, "r each me a
candl e, and we' l l get t hi s t hr ough hands at once. " And t hen he begged
Mr . Ut t er son t o f ol l ow hi m, and l ed t he way t o t he back gar den.

"Now, si r , " sai d he, "you come as gent l y as you can. I want you t o hear ,
and I don' t want you t o be hear d. And see her e, si r , i f by any chance he
was t o ask you i n, don' t go. "

Mr . Ut t er son' s ner ves, at t hi s unl ooked- f or t er mi nat i on, gave a j er k
t hat near l y t hr ew hi mf r omhi s bal ance; but he r ecol l ect ed hi s cour age
and f ol l owed t he but l er i nt o t he l abor at or y bui l di ng t hr ough t he
sur gi cal t heat r e, wi t h i t s l umber of cr at es and bot t l es, t o t he f oot
of t he st ai r . Her e Pool e mot i oned hi mt o st and on one si de and l i st en;
whi l e he hi msel f , set t i ng down t he candl e and maki ng a gr eat and obvi ous
cal l on hi s r esol ut i on, mount ed t he st eps and knocked wi t h a somewhat
uncer t ai n hand on t he r ed bai ze of t he cabi net door .

"Mr . Ut t er son, si r , aski ng t o see you, " he cal l ed; and even as he di d
so, once mor e vi ol ent l y si gned t o t he l awyer t o gi ve ear .

A voi ce answer ed f r omwi t hi n: "Tel l hi mI cannot see anyone, " i t sai d
compl ai ni ngl y.

"Thank you, si r , " sai d Pool e, wi t h a not e of somet hi ng l i ke t r i umph i n
hi s voi ce; and t aki ng up hi s candl e, he l ed Mr . Ut t er son back acr oss t he
yar d and i nt o t he gr eat ki t chen, wher e t he f i r e was out and t he beet l es
wer e l eapi ng on t he f l oor .

"Si r , " he sai d, l ooki ng Mr . Ut t er son i n t he eyes, "Was t hat my mast er ' s
voi ce?"

"I t seems much changed, " r epl i ed t he l awyer , ver y pal e, but gi vi ng l ook
f or l ook.

"Changed? Wel l , yes, I t hi nk so, " sai d t he but l er . "Have I been t went y
year s i n t hi s man' s house, t o be decei ved about hi s voi ce? No, si r ;
mast er ' s made away wi t h; he was made away wi t h ei ght days ago, when we
hear d hi mcr y out upon t he name of God; and who' s i n t her e i nst ead
of hi m, and why i t st ays t her e, i s a t hi ng t hat cr i es t o Heaven, Mr .
Ut t er son! "

"Thi s i s a ver y st r ange t al e, Pool e; t hi s i s r at her a wi l d t al e my man, "
sai d Mr . Ut t er son, bi t i ng hi s f i nger . "Suppose i t wer e as you suppose,
supposi ng Dr . J ekyl l t o have been- - wel l , mur der ed what coul d i nduce t he
mur der er t o st ay? That won' t hol d wat er ; i t doesn' t commend i t sel f t o
r eason. "

"Wel l , Mr . Ut t er son, you ar e a har d man t o sat i sf y, but I ' l l do i t yet , "
sai d Pool e. "Al l t hi s l ast week ( you must know) hi m, or i t , what ever i t
i s t hat l i ves i n t hat cabi net , has been cr yi ng ni ght and day f or some
sor t of medi ci ne and cannot get i t t o hi s mi nd. I t was somet i mes hi s
way- - t he mast er ' s, t hat i s- - t o wr i t e hi s or der s on a sheet of paper and
t hr ow i t on t he st ai r . We' ve had not hi ng el se t hi s week back; not hi ng
but paper s, and a cl osed door , and t he ver y meal s l ef t t her e t o be
smuggl ed i n when nobody was l ooki ng. Wel l , si r , ever y day, ay, and t wi ce
and t hr i ce i n t he same day, t her e have been or der s and compl ai nt s, and I
have been sent f l yi ng t o al l t he whol esal e chemi st s i n t own. Ever y t i me
I br ought t he st uf f back, t her e woul d be anot her paper t el l i ng me t o
r et ur n i t , because i t was not pur e, and anot her or der t o a di f f er ent
f i r m. Thi s dr ug i s want ed bi t t er bad, si r , what ever f or . "

"Have you any of t hese paper s?" asked Mr . Ut t er son.

Pool e f el t i n hi s pocket and handed out a cr umpl ed not e, whi ch t he
l awyer , bendi ng near er t o t he candl e, car ef ul l y exami ned. I t s cont ent s
r an t hus: "Dr . J ekyl l pr esent s hi s compl i ment s t o Messr s. Maw. He
assur es t hemt hat t hei r l ast sampl e i s i mpur e and qui t e usel ess f or hi s
pr esent pur pose. I n t he year 18- - , Dr . J . pur chased a somewhat l ar ge
quant i t y f r omMessr s. M. He now begs t hemt o sear ch wi t h most sedul ous
car e, and shoul d any of t he same qual i t y be l ef t , f or war d i t t o hi mat
once. Expense i s no consi der at i on. The i mpor t ance of t hi s t o Dr . J . can
har dl y be exagger at ed. " So f ar t he l et t er had r un composedl y enough, but
her e wi t h a sudden spl ut t er of t he pen, t he wr i t er ' s emot i on had br oken
l oose. "For God' s sake, " he added, "f i nd me some of t he ol d. "

"Thi s i s a st r ange not e, " sai d Mr . Ut t er son; and t hen shar pl y, "How do
you come t o have i t open?"

"The man at Maw' s was mai n angr y, si r , and he t hr ew i t back t o me l i ke
so much di r t , " r et ur ned Pool e.

"Thi s i s unquest i onabl y t he doct or ' s hand, do you know?" r esumed t he
l awyer .

"I t hought i t l ooked l i ke i t , " sai d t he ser vant r at her sul ki l y; and
t hen, wi t h anot her voi ce, "But what mat t er s hand of wr i t e?" he sai d.
"I ' ve seen hi m! "

"Seen hi m?" r epeat ed Mr . Ut t er son. "Wel l ?"

"That ' s i t ! " sai d Pool e. "I t was t hi s way. I came suddenl y i nt o t he
t heat er f r omt he gar den. I t seems he had sl i pped out t o l ook f or t hi s
dr ug or what ever i t i s; f or t he cabi net door was open, and t her e he was
at t he f ar end of t he r oomdi ggi ng among t he cr at es. He l ooked up when
I came i n, gave a ki nd of cr y, and whi pped upst ai r s i nt o t he cabi net . I t
was but f or one mi nut e t hat I saw hi m, but t he hai r st ood upon my head
l i ke qui l l s. Si r , i f t hat was my mast er , why had he a mask upon hi s
f ace? I f i t was my mast er , why di d he cr y out l i ke a r at , and r un f r om
me? I have ser ved hi ml ong enough. And t hen. . . " The man paused and
passed hi s hand over hi s f ace.

"These ar e al l ver y st r ange ci r cumst ances, " sai d Mr . Ut t er son, "but I
t hi nk I begi n t o see dayl i ght . Your mast er , Pool e, i s pl ai nl y sei zed
wi t h one of t hose mal adi es t hat bot h t or t ur e and def or mt he suf f er er ;
hence, f or aught I know, t he al t er at i on of hi s voi ce; hence t he mask and
t he avoi dance of hi s f r i ends; hence hi s eager ness t o f i nd t hi s dr ug, by
means of whi ch t he poor soul r et ai ns some hope of ul t i mat e r ecover y- - God
gr ant t hat he be not decei ved! Ther e i s my expl anat i on; i t i s sad
enough, Pool e, ay, and appal l i ng t o consi der ; but i t i s pl ai n and
nat ur al , hangs wel l t oget her , and del i ver s us f r omal l exor bi t ant
al ar ms. "

"Si r , " sai d t he but l er , t ur ni ng t o a sor t of mot t l ed pal l or , "t hat t hi ng
was not my mast er , and t her e' s t he t r ut h. My mast er "- - her e he l ooked
r ound hi mand began t o whi sper - - "i s a t al l , f i ne bui l d of a man, and
t hi s was mor e of a dwar f . " Ut t er son at t empt ed t o pr ot est . "O, si r , "
cr i ed Pool e, "do you t hi nk I do not know my mast er af t er t went y year s?
Do you t hi nk I do not know wher e hi s head comes t o i n t he cabi net door ,
wher e I saw hi mever y mor ni ng of my l i f e? No, si r , t hat t hi ng i n t he
mask was never Dr . J ekyl l - - God knows what i t was, but i t was never Dr .
J ekyl l ; and i t i s t he bel i ef of my hear t t hat t her e was mur der done. "

"Pool e, " r epl i ed t he l awyer , "i f you say t hat , i t wi l l become my dut y t o
make cer t ai n. Much as I desi r e t o spar e your mast er ' s f eel i ngs, much as
I ampuzzl ed by t hi s not e whi ch seems t o pr ove hi mt o be st i l l al i ve, I
shal l consi der i t my dut y t o br eak i n t hat door . "

"Ah, Mr . Ut t er son, t hat ' s t al ki ng! " cr i ed t he but l er .

"And now comes t he second quest i on, " r esumed Ut t er son: "Who i s goi ng t o
do i t ?"

"Why, you and me, si r , " was t he undaunt ed r epl y.

"That ' s ver y wel l sai d, " r et ur ned t he l awyer ; "and what ever comes of i t ,
I shal l make i t my busi ness t o see you ar e no l oser . "

"Ther e i s an axe i n t he t heat r e, " cont i nued Pool e; "and you mi ght t ake
t he ki t chen poker f or your sel f . "

The l awyer t ook t hat r ude but wei ght y i nst r ument i nt o hi s hand, and
bal anced i t . "Do you know, Pool e, " he sai d, l ooki ng up, "t hat you and I
ar e about t o pl ace our sel ves i n a posi t i on of some per i l ?"

"You may say so, si r , i ndeed, " r et ur ned t he but l er .

"I t i s wel l , t hen t hat we shoul d be f r ank, " sai d t he ot her . "We bot h
t hi nk mor e t han we have sai d; l et us make a cl ean br east . Thi s masked
f i gur e t hat you saw, di d you r ecogni se i t ?"

"Wel l , si r , i t went so qui ck, and t he cr eat ur e was so doubl ed up, t hat
I coul d har dl y swear t o t hat , " was t he answer . "But i f you mean, was i t
Mr . Hyde?- - why, yes, I t hi nk i t was! You see, i t was much of t he same
bi gness; and i t had t he same qui ck, l i ght way wi t h i t ; and t hen who el se
coul d have got i n by t he l abor at or y door ? You have not f or got , si r , t hat
at t he t i me of t he mur der he had st i l l t he key wi t h hi m? But t hat ' s not
al l . I don' t know, Mr . Ut t er son, i f you ever met t hi s Mr . Hyde?"

"Yes, " sai d t he l awyer , "I once spoke wi t h hi m. "

"Then you must know as wel l as t he r est of us t hat t her e was somet hi ng
queer about t hat gent l eman- - somet hi ng t hat gave a man a t ur n- - I don' t
know r i ght l y how t o say i t , si r , beyond t hi s: t hat you f el t i n your
mar r ow ki nd of col d and t hi n. "

"I own I f el t somet hi ng of what you descr i be, " sai d Mr . Ut t er son.

"Qui t e so, si r , " r et ur ned Pool e. "Wel l , when t hat masked t hi ng l i ke a
monkey j umped f r omamong t he chemi cal s and whi pped i nt o t he cabi net , i t
went down my spi ne l i ke i ce. O, I know i t ' s not evi dence, Mr . Ut t er son;
I ' mbook- l ear ned enough f or t hat ; but a man has hi s f eel i ngs, and I gi ve
you my bi bl e- wor d i t was Mr . Hyde! "

"Ay, ay, " sai d t he l awyer . "My f ear s i ncl i ne t o t he same poi nt . Evi l ,
I f ear , f ounded- - evi l was sur e t o come- - of t hat connect i on. Ay t r ul y, I
bel i eve you; I bel i eve poor Har r y i s ki l l ed; and I bel i eve hi s mur der er
( f or what pur pose, God al one can t el l ) i s st i l l l ur ki ng i n hi s vi ct i m' s
r oom. Wel l , l et our name be vengeance. Cal l Br adshaw. "

The f oot man came at t he summons, ver y whi t e and ner vous.

"Put your sel f t oget her , Br adshaw, " sai d t he l awyer . "Thi s suspense, I
know, i s t el l i ng upon al l of you; but i t i s now our i nt ent i on t o make
an end of i t . Pool e, her e, and I ar e goi ng t o f or ce our way i nt o t he
cabi net . I f al l i s wel l , my shoul der s ar e br oad enough t o bear
t he bl ame. Meanwhi l e, l est anyt hi ng shoul d r eal l y be ami ss, or any
mal ef act or seek t o escape by t he back, you and t he boy must go r ound t he
cor ner wi t h a pai r of good st i cks and t ake your post at t he l abor at or y
door . We gi ve you t en mi nut es, t o get t o your st at i ons. "

As Br adshaw l ef t , t he l awyer l ooked at hi s wat ch. "And now, Pool e, l et
us get t o our s, " he sai d; and t aki ng t he poker under hi s ar m, l ed t he
way i nt o t he yar d. The scud had banked over t he moon, and i t was now
qui t e dar k. The wi nd, whi ch onl y br oke i n puf f s and dr aught s i nt o t hat
deep wel l of bui l di ng, t ossed t he l i ght of t he candl e t o and f r o about
t hei r st eps, unt i l t hey came i nt o t he shel t er of t he t heat r e, wher e t hey
sat down si l ent l y t o wai t . London hummed sol emnl y al l ar ound; but near er
at hand, t he st i l l ness was onl y br oken by t he sounds of a f oot f al l
movi ng t o and f r o al ong t he cabi net f l oor .

"So i t wi l l wal k al l day, si r , " whi sper ed Pool e; "ay, and t he bet t er
par t of t he ni ght . Onl y when a new sampl e comes f r omt he chemi st ,
t her e' s a bi t of a br eak. Ah, i t ' s an i l l consci ence t hat ' s such an
enemy t o r est ! Ah, si r , t her e' s bl ood f oul l y shed i n ever y st ep of
i t ! But har k agai n, a l i t t l e cl oser - - put your hear t i n your ear s, Mr .
Ut t er son, and t el l me, i s t hat t he doct or ' s f oot ?"

The st eps f el l l i ght l y and oddl y, wi t h a cer t ai n swi ng, f or al l t hey
went so sl owl y; i t was di f f er ent i ndeed f r omt he heavy cr eaki ng t r ead of
Henr y J ekyl l . Ut t er son si ghed. "I s t her e never anyt hi ng el se?" he asked.

Pool e nodded. "Once, " he sai d. "Once I hear d i t weepi ng! "

"Weepi ng? how t hat ?" sai d t he l awyer , consci ous of a sudden chi l l of
hor r or .

"Weepi ng l i ke a woman or a l ost soul , " sai d t he but l er . "I came away
wi t h t hat upon my hear t , t hat I coul d have wept t oo. "

But now t he t en mi nut es dr ew t o an end. Pool e di si nt er r ed t he axe f r om
under a st ack of packi ng st r aw; t he candl e was set upon t he near est
t abl e t o l i ght t hemt o t he at t ack; and t hey dr ew near wi t h bat ed br eat h
t o wher e t hat pat i ent f oot was st i l l goi ng up and down, up and down, i n
t he qui et of t he ni ght . "J ekyl l , " cr i ed Ut t er son, wi t h a l oud voi ce, "I
demand t o see you. " He paused a moment , but t her e came no r epl y. "I gi ve
you f ai r war ni ng, our suspi ci ons ar e ar oused, and I must and shal l see
you, " he r esumed; "i f not by f ai r means, t hen by f oul - - i f not of your
consent , t hen by br ut e f or ce! "

"Ut t er son, " sai d t he voi ce, "f or God' s sake, have mer cy! "

"Ah, t hat ' s not J ekyl l ' s voi ce- - i t ' s Hyde' s! " cr i ed Ut t er son. "Down wi t h
t he door , Pool e! "

Pool e swung t he axe over hi s shoul der ; t he bl ow shook t he bui l di ng, and
t he r ed bai ze door l eaped agai nst t he l ock and hi nges. A di smal scr eech,
as of mer e ani mal t er r or , r ang f r omt he cabi net . Up went t he axe agai n,
and agai n t he panel s cr ashed and t he f r ame bounded; f our t i mes t he
bl ow f el l ; but t he wood was t ough and t he f i t t i ngs wer e of excel l ent
wor kmanshi p; and i t was not unt i l t he f i f t h, t hat t he l ock bur st and t he
wr eck of t he door f el l i nwar ds on t he car pet .

The besi eger s, appal l ed by t hei r own r i ot and t he st i l l ness t hat had
succeeded, st ood back a l i t t l e and peer ed i n. Ther e l ay t he cabi net
bef or e t hei r eyes i n t he qui et l ampl i ght , a good f i r e gl owi ng and
chat t er i ng on t he hear t h, t he ket t l e si ngi ng i t s t hi n st r ai n, a dr awer
or t wo open, paper s neat l y set f or t h on t he busi ness t abl e, and near er
t he f i r e, t he t hi ngs l ai d out f or t ea; t he qui et est r oom, you woul d
have sai d, and, but f or t he gl azed pr esses f ul l of chemi cal s, t he most
commonpl ace t hat ni ght i n London.

Ri ght i n t he mi ddl e t her e l ay t he body of a man sor el y cont or t ed and
st i l l t wi t chi ng. They dr ew near on t i pt oe, t ur ned i t on i t s back and
behel d t he f ace of Edwar d Hyde. He was dr essed i n cl ot hes f ar t oo l ar ge
f or hi m, cl ot hes of t he doct or ' s bi gness; t he cor ds of hi s f ace st i l l
moved wi t h a sembl ance of l i f e, but l i f e was qui t e gone: and by t he
cr ushed phi al i n t he hand and t he st r ong smel l of ker nel s t hat hung
upon t he ai r , Ut t er son knew t hat he was l ooki ng on t he body of a
sel f - dest r oyer .

"We have come t oo l at e, " he sai d st er nl y, "whet her t o save or puni sh.
Hyde i s gone t o hi s account ; and i t onl y r emai ns f or us t o f i nd t he body
of your mast er . "

The f ar gr eat er pr opor t i on of t he bui l di ng was occupi ed by t he t heat r e,
whi ch f i l l ed al most t he whol e gr ound st or ey and was l i ght ed f r omabove,
and by t he cabi net , whi ch f or med an upper st or y at one end and l ooked
upon t he cour t . A cor r i dor j oi ned t he t heat r e t o t he door on t he
by- st r eet ; and wi t h t hi s t he cabi net communi cat ed separ at el y by a second
f l i ght of st ai r s. Ther e wer e besi des a f ew dar k cl oset s and a spaci ous
cel l ar . Al l t hese t hey now t hor oughl y exami ned. Each cl oset needed but
a gl ance, f or al l wer e empt y, and al l , by t he dust t hat f el l f r omt hei r
door s, had st ood l ong unopened. The cel l ar , i ndeed, was f i l l ed wi t h
cr azy l umber , most l y dat i ng f r omt he t i mes of t he sur geon who was
J ekyl l ' s pr edecessor ; but even as t hey opened t he door t hey wer e
adver t i sed of t he usel essness of f ur t her sear ch, by t he f al l of a
per f ect mat of cobweb whi ch had f or year s seal ed up t he ent r ance. No
wher e was t her e any t r ace of Henr y J ekyl l dead or al i ve.

Pool e st amped on t he f l ags of t he cor r i dor . "He must be bur i ed her e, " he
sai d, hear keni ng t o t he sound.

"Or he may have f l ed, " sai d Ut t er son, and he t ur ned t o exami ne t he door
i n t he by- st r eet . I t was l ocked; and l yi ng near by on t he f l ags, t hey
f ound t he key, al r eady st ai ned wi t h r ust .

"Thi s does not l ook l i ke use, " obser ved t he l awyer .

"Use! " echoed Pool e. "Do you not see, si r , i t i s br oken? much as i f a
man had st amped on i t . "

"Ay, " cont i nued Ut t er son, "and t he f r act ur es, t oo, ar e r ust y. " The t wo
men l ooked at each ot her wi t h a scar e. "Thi s i s beyond me, Pool e, " sai d
t he l awyer . "Let us go back t o t he cabi net . "

They mount ed t he st ai r i n si l ence, and st i l l wi t h an occasi onal
awest r uck gl ance at t he dead body, pr oceeded mor e t hor oughl y t o exami ne
t he cont ent s of t he cabi net . At one t abl e, t her e wer e t r aces of chemi cal
wor k, var i ous measur ed heaps of some whi t e sal t bei ng l ai d on gl ass
saucer s, as t hough f or an exper i ment i n whi ch t he unhappy man had been
pr event ed.

"That i s t he same dr ug t hat I was al ways br i ngi ng hi m, " sai d Pool e; and
even as he spoke, t he ket t l e wi t h a st ar t l i ng noi se boi l ed over .

Thi s br ought t hemt o t he f i r esi de, wher e t he easy- chai r was dr awn cosi l y
up, and t he t ea t hi ngs st ood r eady t o t he si t t er ' s el bow, t he ver y sugar
i n t he cup. Ther e wer e sever al books on a shel f ; one l ay besi de t he t ea
t hi ngs open, and Ut t er son was amazed t o f i nd i t a copy of a pi ous wor k,
f or whi ch J ekyl l had sever al t i mes expr essed a gr eat est eem, annot at ed,
i n hi s own hand wi t h st ar t l i ng bl asphemi es.

Next , i n t he cour se of t hei r r evi ew of t he chamber , t he sear cher s came
t o t he cheval - gl ass, i nt o whose dept hs t hey l ooked wi t h an i nvol unt ar y
hor r or . But i t was so t ur ned as t o show t hemnot hi ng but t he r osy gl ow
pl ayi ng on t he r oof , t he f i r e spar kl i ng i n a hundr ed r epet i t i ons
al ong t he gl azed f r ont of t he pr esses, and t hei r own pal e and f ear f ul
count enances st oopi ng t o l ook i n.

"Thi s gl ass has seen some st r ange t hi ngs, si r , " whi sper ed Pool e.

"And sur el y none st r anger t han i t sel f , " echoed t he l awyer i n t he same
t ones. "For what di d J ekyl l "- - he caught hi msel f up at t he wor d wi t h a
st ar t , and t hen conquer i ng t he weakness- - "what coul d J ekyl l want wi t h
i t ?" he sai d.

"You may say t hat ! " sai d Pool e.

Next t hey t ur ned t o t he busi ness t abl e. On t he desk, among t he neat
ar r ay of paper s, a l ar ge envel ope was upper most , and bor e, i n t he
doct or ' s hand, t he name of Mr . Ut t er son. The l awyer unseal ed i t , and
sever al encl osur es f el l t o t he f l oor . The f i r st was a wi l l , dr awn i n t he
same eccent r i c t er ms as t he one whi ch he had r et ur ned si x mont hs bef or e,
t o ser ve as a t est ament i n case of deat h and as a deed of gi f t i n case
of di sappear ance; but i n pl ace of t he name of Edwar d Hyde, t he l awyer ,
wi t h i ndescr i babl e amazement r ead t he name of Gabr i el J ohn Ut t er son. He
l ooked at Pool e, and t hen back at t he paper , and l ast of al l at t he dead
mal ef act or st r et ched upon t he car pet .

"My head goes r ound, " he sai d. "He has been al l t hese days i n
possessi on; he had no cause t o l i ke me; he must have r aged t o see
hi msel f di spl aced; and he has not dest r oyed t hi s document . "

He caught up t he next paper ; i t was a br i ef not e i n t he doct or ' s hand
and dat ed at t he t op. "O Pool e! " t he l awyer cr i ed, "he was al i ve and
her e t hi s day. He cannot have been di sposed of i n so shor t a space; he
must be st i l l al i ve, he must have f l ed! And t hen, why f l ed? and how?
and i n t hat case, can we vent ur e t o decl ar e t hi s sui ci de? O, we must
be car ef ul . I f or esee t hat we may yet i nvol ve your mast er i n some di r e
cat ast r ophe. "

"Why don' t you r ead i t , si r ?" asked Pool e.

"Because I f ear , " r epl i ed t he l awyer sol emnl y. "God gr ant I have no
cause f or i t ! " And wi t h t hat he br ought t he paper t o hi s eyes and r ead
as f ol l ows:

"My dear Ut t er son, - - When t hi s shal l f al l i nt o your hands, I shal l have
di sappear ed, under what ci r cumst ances I have not t he penet r at i on t o
f or esee, but my i nst i nct and al l t he ci r cumst ances of my namel ess
si t uat i on t el l me t hat t he end i s sur e and must be ear l y. Go t hen, and
f i r st r ead t he nar r at i ve whi ch Lanyon war ned me he was t o pl ace i n your
hands; and i f you car e t o hear mor e, t ur n t o t he conf essi on of

"Your unwor t hy and unhappy f r i end,

"HENRY J EKYLL. "

"Ther e was a t hi r d encl osur e?" asked Ut t er son.

"Her e, si r , " sai d Pool e, and gave i nt o hi s hands a consi der abl e packet
seal ed i n sever al pl aces.

The l awyer put i t i n hi s pocket . "I woul d say not hi ng of t hi s paper . I f
your mast er has f l ed or i s dead, we may at l east save hi s cr edi t . I t i s
now t en; I must go home and r ead t hese document s i n qui et ; but I shal l
be back bef or e mi dni ght , when we shal l send f or t he pol i ce. "

They went out , l ocki ng t he door of t he t heat r e behi nd t hem; and
Ut t er son, once mor e l eavi ng t he ser vant s gat her ed about t he f i r e i n t he
hal l , t r udged back t o hi s of f i ce t o r ead t he t wo nar r at i ves i n whi ch
t hi s myst er y was now t o be expl ai ned.

DR. LANYON' S NARRATI VE

On t he ni nt h of J anuar y, now f our days ago, I r ecei ved by t he eveni ng
del i ver y a r egi st er ed envel ope, addr essed i n t he hand of my col l eague
and ol d school compani on, Henr y J ekyl l . I was a good deal sur pr i sed by
t hi s; f or we wer e by no means i n t he habi t of cor r espondence; I had seen
t he man, di ned wi t h hi m, i ndeed, t he ni ght bef or e; and I coul d
i magi ne not hi ng i n our i nt er cour se t hat shoul d j ust i f y f or mal i t y of
r egi st r at i on. The cont ent s i ncr eased my wonder ; f or t hi s i s how t he
l et t er r an:

"10t h December , 18- - .

"Dear Lanyon, - - You ar e one of my ol dest f r i ends; and al t hough we may
have di f f er ed at t i mes on sci ent i f i c quest i ons, I cannot r emember , at
l east on my si de, any br eak i n our af f ect i on. Ther e was never a day
when, i f you had sai d t o me, `J ekyl l , my l i f e, my honour , my r eason,
depend upon you, ' I woul d not have sacr i f i ced my l ef t hand t o hel p you.
Lanyon my l i f e, my honour , my r eason, ar e al l at your mer cy; i f you f ai l
me t o- ni ght , I aml ost . You mi ght suppose, af t er t hi s pr ef ace, t hat I
amgoi ng t o ask you f or somet hi ng di shonour abl e t o gr ant . J udge f or
your sel f .

"I want you t o post pone al l ot her engagement s f or t o- ni ght - - ay, even i f
you wer e summoned t o t he bedsi de of an emper or ; t o t ake a cab, unl ess
your car r i age shoul d be act ual l y at t he door ; and wi t h t hi s l et t er i n
your hand f or consul t at i on, t o dr i ve st r ai ght t o my house. Pool e, my
but l er , has hi s or der s; you wi l l f i nd hi mwai t i ng your ar r i val wi t h a
l ocksmi t h. The door of my cabi net i s t hen t o be f or ced: and you ar e
t o go i n al one; t o open t he gl azed pr ess ( l et t er E) on t he l ef t hand,
br eaki ng t he l ock i f i t be shut ; and t o dr aw out , wi t h al l i t s cont ent s
as t hey st and, t he f our t h dr awer f r omt he t op or ( whi ch i s t he same
t hi ng) t he t hi r d f r omt he bot t om. I n my ext r eme di st r ess of mi nd, I have
a mor bi d f ear of mi sdi r ect i ng you; but even i f I ami n er r or , you may
know t he r i ght dr awer by i t s cont ent s: some powder s, a phi al and a
paper book. Thi s dr awer I beg of you t o car r y back wi t h you t o Cavendi sh
Squar e exact l y as i t st ands.

"That i s t he f i r st par t of t he ser vi ce: now f or t he second. You shoul d
be back, i f you set out at once on t he r ecei pt of t hi s, l ong bef or e
mi dni ght ; but I wi l l l eave you t hat amount of mar gi n, not onl y i n
t he f ear of one of t hose obst acl es t hat can nei t her be pr event ed nor
f or eseen, but because an hour when your ser vant s ar e i n bed i s t o be
pr ef er r ed f or what wi l l t hen r emai n t o do. At mi dni ght , t hen, I have t o
ask you t o be al one i n your consul t i ng r oom, t o admi t wi t h your own hand
i nt o t he house a man who wi l l pr esent hi msel f i n my name, and t o pl ace
i n hi s hands t he dr awer t hat you wi l l have br ought wi t h you f r ommy
cabi net . Then you wi l l have pl ayed your par t and ear ned my gr at i t ude
compl et el y. Fi ve mi nut es af t er war ds, i f you i nsi st upon an expl anat i on,
you wi l l have under st ood t hat t hese ar r angement s ar e of capi t al
i mpor t ance; and t hat by t he negl ect of one of t hem, f ant ast i c as t hey
must appear , you mi ght have char ged your consci ence wi t h my deat h or t he
shi pwr eck of my r eason.

"Conf i dent as I amt hat you wi l l not t r i f l e wi t h t hi s appeal , my hear t
si nks and my hand t r embl es at t he bar e t hought of such a possi bi l i t y.
Thi nk of me at t hi s hour , i n a st r ange pl ace, l abour i ng under a
bl ackness of di st r ess t hat no f ancy can exagger at e, and yet wel l awar e
t hat , i f you wi l l but punct ual l y ser ve me, my t r oubl es wi l l r ol l away
l i ke a st or y t hat i s t ol d. Ser ve me, my dear Lanyon and save

"Your f r i end,

"H. J .

"P. S. - - I had al r eady seal ed t hi s up when a f r esh t er r or st r uck upon my
soul . I t i s possi bl e t hat t he post - of f i ce may f ai l me, and t hi s l et t er
not come i nt o your hands unt i l t o- mor r ow mor ni ng. I n t hat case, dear
Lanyon, do my er r and when i t shal l be most conveni ent f or you i n t he
cour se of t he day; and once mor e expect my messenger at mi dni ght . I t may
t hen al r eady be t oo l at e; and i f t hat ni ght passes wi t hout event , you
wi l l know t hat you have seen t he l ast of Henr y J ekyl l . "

Upon t he r eadi ng of t hi s l et t er , I made sur e my col l eague was i nsane;
but t i l l t hat was pr oved beyond t he possi bi l i t y of doubt , I f el t bound
t o do as he r equest ed. The l ess I under st ood of t hi s f ar r ago, t he l ess
I was i n a posi t i on t o j udge of i t s i mpor t ance; and an appeal so
wor ded coul d not be set asi de wi t hout a gr ave r esponsi bi l i t y. I r ose
accor di ngl y f r omt abl e, got i nt o a hansom, and dr ove st r ai ght t o
J ekyl l ' s house. The but l er was awai t i ng my ar r i val ; he had r ecei ved by
t he same post as mi ne a r egi st er ed l et t er of i nst r uct i on, and had sent
at once f or a l ocksmi t h and a car pent er . The t r adesmen came whi l e we
wer e yet speaki ng; and we moved i n a body t o ol d Dr . Denman' s sur gi cal
t heat r e, f r omwhi ch ( as you ar e doubt l ess awar e) J ekyl l ' s pr i vat e
cabi net i s most conveni ent l y ent er ed. The door was ver y st r ong, t he l ock
excel l ent ; t he car pent er avowed he woul d have gr eat t r oubl e and have
t o do much damage, i f f or ce wer e t o be used; and t he l ocksmi t h was near
despai r . But t hi s l ast was a handy f el l ow, and af t er t wo hour ' s wor k,
t he door st ood open. The pr ess mar ked E was unl ocked; and I t ook out t he
dr awer , had i t f i l l ed up wi t h st r aw and t i ed i n a sheet , and r et ur ned
wi t h i t t o Cavendi sh Squar e.

Her e I pr oceeded t o exami ne i t s cont ent s. The powder s wer e neat l y enough
made up, but not wi t h t he ni cet y of t he di spensi ng chemi st ; so t hat i t
was pl ai n t hey wer e of J ekyl l ' s pr i vat e manuf act ur e: and when I opened
one of t he wr apper s I f ound what seemed t o me a si mpl e cr yst al l i ne sal t
of a whi t e col our . The phi al , t o whi ch I next t ur ned my at t ent i on,
mi ght have been about hal f f ul l of a bl ood- r ed l i quor , whi ch was hi ghl y
pungent t o t he sense of smel l and seemed t o me t o cont ai n phosphor us and
some vol at i l e et her . At t he ot her i ngr edi ent s I coul d make no guess. The
book was an or di nar y ver si on book and cont ai ned l i t t l e but a ser i es of
dat es. These cover ed a per i od of many year s, but I obser ved t hat t he
ent r i es ceased near l y a year ago and qui t e abr upt l y. Her e and t her e a
br i ef r emar k was appended t o a dat e, usual l y no mor e t han a si ngl e
wor d: "doubl e" occur r i ng per haps si x t i mes i n a t ot al of sever al hundr ed
ent r i es; and once ver y ear l y i n t he l i st and f ol l owed by sever al mar ks
of excl amat i on, "t ot al f ai l ur e! ! ! " Al l t hi s, t hough i t whet t ed my
cur i osi t y, t ol d me l i t t l e t hat was def i ni t e. Her e wer e a phi al of some
sal t , and t he r ecor d of a ser i es of exper i ment s t hat had l ed ( l i ke t oo
many of J ekyl l ' s i nvest i gat i ons) t o no end of pr act i cal usef ul ness.
How coul d t he pr esence of t hese ar t i cl es i n my house af f ect ei t her
t he honour , t he sani t y, or t he l i f e of my f l i ght y col l eague? I f hi s
messenger coul d go t o one pl ace, why coul d he not go t o anot her ? And
even gr ant i ng some i mpedi ment , why was t hi s gent l eman t o be r ecei ved by
me i n secr et ? The mor e I r ef l ect ed t he mor e convi nced I gr ew t hat I
was deal i ng wi t h a case of cer ebr al di sease; and t hough I di smi ssed my
ser vant s t o bed, I l oaded an ol d r evol ver , t hat I mi ght be f ound i n some
post ur e of sel f - def ence.

Twel ve o' cl ock had scar ce r ung out over London, er e t he knocker sounded
ver y gent l y on t he door . I went mysel f at t he summons, and f ound a smal l
man cr ouchi ng agai nst t he pi l l ar s of t he por t i co.

"Ar e you come f r omDr . J ekyl l ?" I asked.

He t ol d me "yes" by a const r ai ned gest ur e; and when I had bi dden hi m
ent er , he di d not obey me wi t hout a sear chi ng backwar d gl ance i nt o t he
dar kness of t he squar e. Ther e was a pol i ceman not f ar of f , advanci ng
wi t h hi s bul l ' s eye open; and at t he si ght , I t hought my vi si t or st ar t ed
and made gr eat er hast e.

These par t i cul ar s st r uck me, I conf ess, di sagr eeabl y; and as I f ol l owed
hi mi nt o t he br i ght l i ght of t he consul t i ng r oom, I kept my hand r eady
on my weapon. Her e, at l ast , I had a chance of cl ear l y seei ng hi m. I had
never set eyes on hi mbef or e, so much was cer t ai n. He was smal l , as
I have sai d; I was st r uck besi des wi t h t he shocki ng expr essi on of hi s
f ace, wi t h hi s r emar kabl e combi nat i on of gr eat muscul ar act i vi t y and
gr eat appar ent debi l i t y of const i t ut i on, and- - l ast but not l east - - wi t h
t he odd, subj ect i ve di st ur bance caused by hi s nei ghbour hood. Thi s bor e
some r esembl ance t o i nci pi ent r i gour , and was accompani ed by a mar ked
si nki ng of t he pul se. At t he t i me, I set i t down t o some i di osyncr at i c,
per sonal di st ast e, and mer el y wonder ed at t he acut eness of t he sympt oms;
but I have si nce had r eason t o bel i eve t he cause t o l i e much deeper i n
t he nat ur e of man, and t o t ur n on some nobl er hi nge t han t he pr i nci pl e
of hat r ed.

Thi s per son ( who had t hus, f r omt he f i r st moment of hi s ent r ance, st r uck
i n me what I can onl y, descr i be as a di sgust f ul cur i osi t y) was dr essed
i n a f ashi on t hat woul d have made an or di nar y per son l aughabl e; hi s
cl ot hes, t hat i s t o say, al t hough t hey wer e of r i ch and sober f abr i c,
wer e enor mousl y t oo l ar ge f or hi mi n ever y measur ement - - t he t r ouser s
hangi ng on hi s l egs and r ol l ed up t o keep t hemf r omt he gr ound, t he
wai st of t he coat bel ow hi s haunches, and t he col l ar spr awl i ng wi de upon
hi s shoul der s. St r ange t o r el at e, t hi s l udi cr ous accout r ement was f ar
f r ommovi ng me t o l aught er . Rat her , as t her e was somet hi ng abnor mal
and mi sbegot t en i n t he ver y essence of t he cr eat ur e t hat now f aced
me- - somet hi ng sei zi ng, sur pr i si ng and r evol t i ng- - t hi s f r esh di spar i t y
seemed but t o f i t i n wi t h and t o r ei nf or ce i t ; so t hat t o my i nt er est
i n t he man' s nat ur e and char act er , t her e was added a cur i osi t y as t o hi s
or i gi n, hi s l i f e, hi s f or t une and st at us i n t he wor l d.

These obser vat i ons, t hough t hey have t aken so gr eat a space t o be set
down i n, wer e yet t he wor k of a f ew seconds. My vi si t or was, i ndeed, on
f i r e wi t h sombr e exci t ement .

"Have you got i t ?" he cr i ed. "Have you got i t ?" And so l i vel y was hi s
i mpat i ence t hat he even l ai d hi s hand upon my ar mand sought t o shake
me.

I put hi mback, consci ous at hi s t ouch of a cer t ai n i cy pang al ong my
bl ood. "Come, si r , " sai d I . "You f or get t hat I have not yet t he pl easur e
of your acquai nt ance. Be seat ed, i f you pl ease. " And I showed hi man
exampl e, and sat down mysel f i n my cust omar y seat and wi t h as f ai r an
i mi t at i on of my or di nar y manner t o a pat i ent , as t he l at eness of t he
hour , t he nat ur e of my pr eoccupat i ons, and t he hor r or I had of my
vi si t or , woul d suf f er me t o must er .

"I beg your par don, Dr . Lanyon, " he r epl i ed ci vi l l y enough. "What you
say i s ver y wel l f ounded; and my i mpat i ence has shown i t s heel s t o my
pol i t eness. I come her e at t he i nst ance of your col l eague, Dr . Henr y
J ekyl l , on a pi ece of busi ness of some moment ; and I under st ood. . . " He
paused and put hi s hand t o hi s t hr oat , and I coul d see, i n spi t e of hi s
col l ect ed manner , t hat he was wr est l i ng agai nst t he appr oaches of t he
hyst er i a- - "I under st ood, a dr awer . . . "

But her e I t ook pi t y on my vi si t or ' s suspense, and some per haps on my
own gr owi ng cur i osi t y.

"Ther e i t i s, si r , " sai d I , poi nt i ng t o t he dr awer , wher e i t l ay on t he
f l oor behi nd a t abl e and st i l l cover ed wi t h t he sheet .

He spr ang t o i t , and t hen paused, and l ai d hi s hand upon hi s hear t : I
coul d hear hi s t eet h gr at e wi t h t he convul si ve act i on of hi s j aws; and
hi s f ace was so ghast l y t o see t hat I gr ew al ar med bot h f or hi s l i f e and
r eason.

"Compose your sel f , " sai d I .

He t ur ned a dr eadf ul smi l e t o me, and as i f wi t h t he deci si on of
despai r , pl ucked away t he sheet . At si ght of t he cont ent s, he ut t er ed
one l oud sob of such i mmense r el i ef t hat I sat pet r i f i ed. And t he next
moment , i n a voi ce t hat was al r eady f ai r l y wel l under cont r ol , "Have you
a gr aduat ed gl ass?" he asked.

I r ose f r ommy pl ace wi t h somet hi ng of an ef f or t and gave hi mwhat he
asked.

He t hanked me wi t h a smi l i ng nod, measur ed out a f ew mi ni ms of t he r ed
t i nct ur e and added one of t he powder s. The mi xt ur e, whi ch was at f i r st
of a r eddi sh hue, began, i n pr opor t i on as t he cr yst al s mel t ed, t o
br i ght en i n col our , t o ef f er vesce audi bl y, and t o t hr ow of f smal l f umes
of vapour . Suddenl y and at t he same moment , t he ebul l i t i on ceased and
t he compound changed t o a dar k pur pl e, whi ch f aded agai n mor e sl owl y t o
a wat er y gr een. My vi si t or , who had wat ched t hese met amor phoses wi t h a
keen eye, smi l ed, set down t he gl ass upon t he t abl e, and t hen t ur ned and
l ooked upon me wi t h an ai r of scr ut i ny.

"And now, " sai d he, "t o set t l e what r emai ns. Wi l l you be wi se? wi l l you
be gui ded? wi l l you suf f er me t o t ake t hi s gl ass i n my hand and t o
go f or t h f r omyour house wi t hout f ur t her par l ey? or has t he gr eed of
cur i osi t y t oo much command of you? Thi nk bef or e you answer , f or i t shal l
be done as you deci de. As you deci de, you shal l be l ef t as you wer e
bef or e, and nei t her r i cher nor wi ser , unl ess t he sense of ser vi ce
r ender ed t o a man i n mor t al di st r ess may be count ed as a ki nd of r i ches
of t he soul . Or , i f you shal l so pr ef er t o choose, a new pr ovi nce of
knowl edge and new avenues t o f ame and power shal l be l ai d open t o you,
her e, i n t hi s r oom, upon t he i nst ant ; and your si ght shal l be bl ast ed by
a pr odi gy t o st agger t he unbel i ef of Sat an. "

"Si r , " sai d I , af f ect i ng a cool ness t hat I was f ar f r omt r ul y
possessi ng, "you speak eni gmas, and you wi l l per haps not wonder t hat I
hear you wi t h no ver y st r ong i mpr essi on of bel i ef . But I have gone t oo
f ar i n t he way of i nexpl i cabl e ser vi ces t o pause bef or e I see t he end. "

"I t i s wel l , " r epl i ed my vi si t or . "Lanyon, you r emember your vows: what
f ol l ows i s under t he seal of our pr of essi on. And now, you who have so
l ong been bound t o t he most nar r ow and mat er i al vi ews, you who have
deni ed t he vi r t ue of t r anscendent al medi ci ne, you who have der i ded your
super i or s- - behol d! "

He put t he gl ass t o hi s l i ps and dr ank at one gul p. A cr y f ol l owed;
he r eel ed, st agger ed, cl ut ched at t he t abl e and hel d on, st ar i ng wi t h
i nj ect ed eyes, gaspi ng wi t h open mout h; and as I l ooked t her e came, I
t hought , a change- - he seemed t o swel l - - hi s f ace became suddenl y bl ack
and t he f eat ur es seemed t o mel t and al t er - - and t he next moment , I had
spr ung t o my f eet and l eaped back agai nst t he wal l , my ar ms r ai sed t o
shi el d me f r omt hat pr odi gy, my mi nd submer ged i n t er r or .

"O God! " I scr eamed, and "O God! " agai n and agai n; f or t her e bef or e my
eyes- - pal e and shaken, and hal f f ai nt i ng, and gr opi ng bef or e hi mwi t h
hi s hands, l i ke a man r est or ed f r omdeat h- - t her e st ood Henr y J ekyl l !

What he t ol d me i n t he next hour , I cannot br i ng my mi nd t o set on
paper . I saw what I saw, I hear d what I hear d, and my soul si ckened at
i t ; and yet now when t hat si ght has f aded f r ommy eyes, I ask mysel f i f
I bel i eve i t , and I cannot answer . My l i f e i s shaken t o i t s r oot s; sl eep
has l ef t me; t he deadl i est t er r or si t s by me at al l hour s of t he day and
ni ght ; and I f eel t hat my days ar e number ed, and t hat I must di e;
and yet I shal l di e i ncr edul ous. As f or t he mor al t ur pi t ude t hat man
unvei l ed t o me, even wi t h t ear s of peni t ence, I can not , even i n
memor y, dwel l on i t wi t hout a st ar t of hor r or . I wi l l say but one t hi ng,
Ut t er son, and t hat ( i f you can br i ng your mi nd t o cr edi t i t ) wi l l be
mor e t han enough. The cr eat ur e who cr ept i nt o my house t hat ni ght was,
on J ekyl l ' s own conf essi on, known by t he name of Hyde and hunt ed f or i n
ever y cor ner of t he l and as t he mur der er of Car ew.

HASTI E LANYON

HENRY J EKYLL' S FULL STATEMENT OF THE CASE

I was bor n i n t he year 18- - t o a l ar ge f or t une, endowed besi des wi t h
excel l ent par t s, i ncl i ned by nat ur e t o i ndust r y, f ond of t he r espect
of t he wi se and good among my f el l owmen, and t hus, as mi ght have been
supposed, wi t h ever y guar ant ee of an honour abl e and di st i ngui shed
f ut ur e. And i ndeed t he wor st of my f aul t s was a cer t ai n i mpat i ent gai et y
of di sposi t i on, such as has made t he happi ness of many, but such as I
f ound i t har d t o r econci l e wi t h my i mper i ous desi r e t o car r y my head
hi gh, and wear a mor e t han commonl y gr ave count enance bef or e t he publ i c.
Hence i t came about t hat I conceal ed my pl easur es; and t hat when I
r eached year s of r ef l ect i on, and began t o l ook r ound me and t ake st ock
of my pr ogr ess and posi t i on i n t he wor l d, I st ood al r eady commi t t ed t o
a pr of ound dupl i ci t y of me. Many a man woul d have even bl azoned such
i r r egul ar i t i es as I was gui l t y of ; but f r omt he hi gh vi ews t hat I had
set bef or e me, I r egar ded and hi d t hemwi t h an al most mor bi d sense of
shame. I t was t hus r at her t he exact i ng nat ur e of my aspi r at i ons t han any
par t i cul ar degr adat i on i n my f aul t s, t hat made me what I was, and, wi t h
even a deeper t r ench t han i n t he maj or i t y of men, sever ed i n me t hose
pr ovi nces of good and i l l whi ch di vi de and compound man' s dual nat ur e.
I n t hi s case, I was dr i ven t o r ef l ect deepl y and i nvet er at el y on t hat
har d l aw of l i f e, whi ch l i es at t he r oot of r el i gi on and i s one of t he
most pl ent i f ul spr i ngs of di st r ess. Though so pr of ound a doubl e- deal er ,
I was i n no sense a hypocr i t e; bot h si des of me wer e i n dead ear nest ;
I was no mor e mysel f when I l ai d asi de r est r ai nt and pl unged i n shame,
t han when I l abour ed, i n t he eye of day, at t he f ur t her ance of knowl edge
or t he r el i ef of sor r ow and suf f er i ng. And i t chanced t hat t he di r ect i on
of my sci ent i f i c st udi es, whi ch l ed whol l y t owar ds t he myst i c and t he
t r anscendent al , r eact ed and shed a st r ong l i ght on t hi s consci ousness of
t he per enni al war among my member s. Wi t h ever y day, and f r ombot h si des
of my i nt el l i gence, t he mor al and t he i nt el l ect ual , I t hus dr ew st eadi l y
near er t o t hat t r ut h, by whose par t i al di scover y I have been doomed t o
such a dr eadf ul shi pwr eck: t hat man i s not t r ul y one, but t r ul y t wo. I
say t wo, because t he st at e of my own knowl edge does not pass beyond t hat
poi nt . Ot her s wi l l f ol l ow, ot her s wi l l out st r i p me on t he same l i nes;
and I hazar d t he guess t hat man wi l l be ul t i mat el y known f or a mer e
pol i t y of mul t i f ar i ous, i ncongr uous and i ndependent deni zens. I , f or my
par t , f r omt he nat ur e of my l i f e, advanced i nf al l i bl y i n one di r ect i on
and i n one di r ect i on onl y. I t was on t he mor al si de, and i n my own
per son, t hat I l ear ned t o r ecogni se t he t hor ough and pr i mi t i ve dual i t y
of man; I saw t hat , of t he t wo nat ur es t hat cont ended i n t he f i el d of my
consci ousness, even i f I coul d r i ght l y be sai d t o be ei t her , i t was onl y
because I was r adi cal l y bot h; and f r oman ear l y dat e, even bef or e t he
cour se of my sci ent i f i c di scover i es had begun t o suggest t he most naked
possi bi l i t y of such a mi r acl e, I had l ear ned t o dwel l wi t h pl easur e, as
a bel oved daydr eam, on t he t hought of t he separ at i on of t hese el ement s.
I f each, I t ol d mysel f , coul d be housed i n separ at e i dent i t i es, l i f e
woul d be r el i eved of al l t hat was unbear abl e; t he unj ust mi ght go hi s
way, del i ver ed f r omt he aspi r at i ons and r emor se of hi s mor e upr i ght
t wi n; and t he j ust coul d wal k st eadf ast l y and secur el y on hi s upwar d
pat h, doi ng t he good t hi ngs i n whi ch he f ound hi s pl easur e, and no
l onger exposed t o di sgr ace and peni t ence by t he hands of t hi s ext r aneous
evi l . I t was t he cur se of manki nd t hat t hese i ncongr uous f aggot s wer e
t hus bound t oget her - - t hat i n t he agoni sed womb of consci ousness, t hese
pol ar t wi ns shoul d be cont i nuousl y st r uggl i ng. How, t hen wer e t hey
di ssoci at ed?

I was so f ar i n my r ef l ect i ons when, as I have sai d, a si de l i ght began
t o shi ne upon t he subj ect f r omt he l abor at or y t abl e. I began t o
per cei ve mor e deepl y t han i t has ever yet been st at ed, t he t r embl i ng
i mmat er i al i t y, t he mi st l i ke t r ansi ence, of t hi s seemi ngl y so sol i d body
i n whi ch we wal k at t i r ed. Cer t ai n agent s I f ound t o have t he power t o
shake and pl uck back t hat f l eshl y vest ment , even as a wi nd mi ght t oss
t he cur t ai ns of a pavi l i on. For t wo good r easons, I wi l l not ent er
deepl y i nt o t hi s sci ent i f i c br anch of my conf essi on. Fi r st , because I
have been made t o l ear n t hat t he doomand bur t hen of our l i f e i s bound
f or ever on man' s shoul der s, and when t he at t empt i s made t o cast
i t of f , i t but r et ur ns upon us wi t h mor e unf ami l i ar and mor e awf ul
pr essur e. Second, because, as my nar r at i ve wi l l make, al as! t oo evi dent ,
my di scover i es wer e i ncompl et e. Enough t hen, t hat I not onl y r ecogni sed
my nat ur al body f r omt he mer e aur a and ef f ul gence of cer t ai n of t he
power s t hat made up my spi r i t , but managed t o compound a dr ug by whi ch
t hese power s shoul d be det hr oned f r omt hei r supr emacy, and a second f or m
and count enance subst i t ut ed, none t he l ess nat ur al t o me because t hey
wer e t he expr essi on, and bor e t he st amp of l ower el ement s i n my soul .

I hesi t at ed l ong bef or e I put t hi s t heor y t o t he t est of pr act i ce. I
knew wel l t hat I r i sked deat h; f or any dr ug t hat so pot ent l y cont r ol l ed
and shook t he ver y f or t r ess of i dent i t y, mi ght , by t he l east scr upl e of
an over dose or at t he l east i noppor t uni t y i n t he moment of exhi bi t i on,
ut t er l y bl ot out t hat i mmat er i al t aber nacl e whi ch I l ooked t o i t t o
change. But t he t empt at i on of a di scover y so si ngul ar and pr of ound at
l ast over came t he suggest i ons of al ar m. I had l ong si nce pr epar ed my
t i nct ur e; I pur chased at once, f r oma f i r mof whol esal e chemi st s, a
l ar ge quant i t y of a par t i cul ar sal t whi ch I knew, f r ommy exper i ment s,
t o be t he l ast i ngr edi ent r equi r ed; and l at e one accur sed ni ght , I
compounded t he el ement s, wat ched t hemboi l and smoke t oget her i n t he
gl ass, and when t he ebul l i t i on had subsi ded, wi t h a st r ong gl ow of
cour age, dr ank of f t he pot i on.

The most r acki ng pangs succeeded: a gr i ndi ng i n t he bones, deadl y
nausea, and a hor r or of t he spi r i t t hat cannot be exceeded at t he hour
of bi r t h or deat h. Then t hese agoni es began swi f t l y t o subsi de, and
I came t o mysel f as i f out of a gr eat si ckness. Ther e was somet hi ng
st r ange i n my sensat i ons, somet hi ng i ndescr i babl y new and, f r omi t s ver y
novel t y, i ncr edi bl y sweet . I f el t younger , l i ght er , happi er i n body;
wi t hi n I was consci ous of a heady r eckl essness, a cur r ent of di sor der ed
sensual i mages r unni ng l i ke a mi l l r ace i n my f ancy, a sol ut i on of t he
bonds of obl i gat i on, an unknown but not an i nnocent f r eedomof t he soul .
I knew mysel f , at t he f i r st br eat h of t hi s new l i f e, t o be mor e wi cked,
t enf ol d mor e wi cked, sol d a sl ave t o my or i gi nal evi l ; and t he t hought ,
i n t hat moment , br aced and del i ght ed me l i ke wi ne. I st r et ched out my
hands, exul t i ng i n t he f r eshness of t hese sensat i ons; and i n t he act , I
was suddenl y awar e t hat I had l ost i n st at ur e.

Ther e was no mi r r or , at t hat dat e, i n my r oom; t hat whi ch st ands besi de
me as I wr i t e, was br ought t her e l at er on and f or t he ver y pur pose
of t hese t r ansf or mat i ons. The ni ght however , was f ar gone i nt o
t he mor ni ng- - t he mor ni ng, bl ack as i t was, was near l y r i pe f or t he
concept i on of t he day- - t he i nmat es of my house wer e l ocked i n t he most
r i gor ous hour s of sl umber ; and I det er mi ned, f l ushed as I was wi t h
hope and t r i umph, t o vent ur e i n my new shape as f ar as t o my bedr oom.
I cr ossed t he yar d, wher ei n t he const el l at i ons l ooked down upon me, I
coul d have t hought , wi t h wonder , t he f i r st cr eat ur e of t hat sor t t hat
t hei r unsl eepi ng vi gi l ance had yet di scl osed t o t hem; I st ol e t hr ough
t he cor r i dor s, a st r anger i n my own house; and comi ng t o my r oom, I saw
f or t he f i r st t i me t he appear ance of Edwar d Hyde.

I must her e speak by t heor y al one, sayi ng not t hat whi ch I know, but
t hat whi ch I suppose t o be most pr obabl e. The evi l si de of my nat ur e, t o
whi ch I had now t r ansf er r ed t he st ampi ng ef f i cacy, was l ess r obust and
l ess devel oped t han t he good whi ch I had j ust deposed. Agai n, i n t he
cour se of my l i f e, whi ch had been, af t er al l , ni ne t ent hs a l i f e of
ef f or t , vi r t ue and cont r ol , i t had been much l ess exer ci sed and much
l ess exhaust ed. And hence, as I t hi nk, i t came about t hat Edwar d Hyde
was so much smal l er , sl i ght er and younger t han Henr y J ekyl l . Even as
good shone upon t he count enance of t he one, evi l was wr i t t en br oadl y
and pl ai nl y on t he f ace of t he ot her . Evi l besi des ( whi ch I must st i l l
bel i eve t o be t he l et hal si de of man) had l ef t on t hat body an i mpr i nt
of def or mi t y and decay. And yet when I l ooked upon t hat ugl y i dol i n t he
gl ass, I was consci ous of no r epugnance, r at her of a l eap of wel come.
Thi s, t oo, was mysel f . I t seemed nat ur al and human. I n my eyes i t bor e
a l i vel i er i mage of t he spi r i t , i t seemed mor e expr ess and si ngl e, t han
t he i mper f ect and di vi ded count enance I had been hi t her t o accust omed
t o cal l mi ne. And i n so f ar I was doubt l ess r i ght . I have obser ved t hat
when I wor e t he sembl ance of Edwar d Hyde, none coul d come near t o me at
f i r st wi t hout a vi si bl e mi sgi vi ng of t he f l esh. Thi s, as I t ake i t , was
because al l human bei ngs, as we meet t hem, ar e commi ngl ed out of good
and evi l : and Edwar d Hyde, al one i n t he r anks of manki nd, was pur e evi l .

I l i nger ed but a moment at t he mi r r or : t he second and concl usi ve
exper i ment had yet t o be at t empt ed; i t yet r emai ned t o be seen i f I had
l ost my i dent i t y beyond r edempt i on and must f l ee bef or e dayl i ght f r oma
house t hat was no l onger mi ne; and hur r yi ng back t o my cabi net , I
once mor e pr epar ed and dr ank t he cup, once mor e suf f er ed t he pangs
of di ssol ut i on, and came t o mysel f once mor e wi t h t he char act er , t he
st at ur e and t he f ace of Henr y J ekyl l .

That ni ght I had come t o t he f at al cr oss- r oads. Had I appr oached my
di scover y i n a mor e nobl e spi r i t , had I r i sked t he exper i ment whi l e
under t he empi r e of gener ous or pi ous aspi r at i ons, al l must have been
ot her wi se, and f r omt hese agoni es of deat h and bi r t h, I had come f or t h
an angel i nst ead of a f i end. The dr ug had no di scr i mi nat i ng act i on;
i t was nei t her di abol i cal nor di vi ne; i t but shook t he door s of t he
pr i sonhouse of my di sposi t i on; and l i ke t he capt i ves of Phi l i ppi , t hat
whi ch st ood wi t hi n r an f or t h. At t hat t i me my vi r t ue sl umber ed; my evi l ,
kept awake by ambi t i on, was al er t and swi f t t o sei ze t he occasi on; and
t he t hi ng t hat was pr oj ect ed was Edwar d Hyde. Hence, al t hough I had now
t wo char act er s as wel l as t wo appear ances, one was whol l y evi l , and t he
ot her was st i l l t he ol d Henr y J ekyl l , t hat i ncongr uous compound of
whose r ef or mat i on and i mpr ovement I had al r eady l ear ned t o despai r . The
movement was t hus whol l y t owar d t he wor se.

Even at t hat t i me, I had not conquer ed my aver si ons t o t he dr yness of
a l i f e of st udy. I woul d st i l l be mer r i l y di sposed at t i mes; and as my
pl easur es wer e ( t o say t he l east ) undi gni f i ed, and I was not onl y wel l
known and hi ghl y consi der ed, but gr owi ng t owar ds t he el der l y man, t hi s
i ncoher ency of my l i f e was dai l y gr owi ng mor e unwel come. I t was on t hi s
si de t hat my new power t empt ed me unt i l I f el l i n sl aver y. I had but t o
dr i nk t he cup, t o dof f at once t he body of t he not ed pr of essor , and t o
assume, l i ke a t hi ck cl oak, t hat of Edwar d Hyde. I smi l ed at t he not i on;
i t seemed t o me at t he t i me t o be humour ous; and I made my pr epar at i ons
wi t h t he most st udi ous car e. I t ook and f ur ni shed t hat house i n Soho,
t o whi ch Hyde was t r acked by t he pol i ce; and engaged as a housekeeper
a cr eat ur e whomI knew wel l t o be si l ent and unscr upul ous. On t he ot her
si de, I announced t o my ser vant s t hat a Mr . Hyde ( whomI descr i bed)
was t o have f ul l l i ber t y and power about my house i n t he squar e; and t o
par r y mi shaps, I even cal l ed and made mysel f a f ami l i ar obj ect , i n
my second char act er . I next dr ew up t hat wi l l t o whi ch you so much
obj ect ed; so t hat i f anyt hi ng bef el l me i n t he per son of Dr . J ekyl l ,
I coul d ent er on t hat of Edwar d Hyde wi t hout pecuni ar y l oss. And t hus
f or t i f i ed, as I supposed, on ever y si de, I began t o pr of i t by t he
st r ange i mmuni t i es of my posi t i on.

Men have bef or e hi r ed br avos t o t r ansact t hei r cr i mes, whi l e t hei r own
per son and r eput at i on sat under shel t er . I was t he f i r st t hat ever di d
so f or hi s pl easur es. I was t he f i r st t hat coul d pl od i n t he publ i c eye
wi t h a l oad of geni al r espect abi l i t y, and i n a moment , l i ke a school boy,
st r i p of f t hese l endi ngs and spr i ng headl ong i nt o t he sea of l i ber t y.
But f or me, i n my i mpenet r abl e mant l e, t he saf et y was compl et e. Thi nk
of i t - - I di d not even exi st ! Let me but escape i nt o my l abor at or y door ,
gi ve me but a second or t wo t o mi x and swal l ow t he dr aught t hat I had
al ways st andi ng r eady; and what ever he had done, Edwar d Hyde woul d pass
away l i ke t he st ai n of br eat h upon a mi r r or ; and t her e i n hi s st ead,
qui et l y at home, t r i mmi ng t he mi dni ght l amp i n hi s st udy, a man who
coul d af f or d t o l augh at suspi ci on, woul d be Henr y J ekyl l .

The pl easur es whi ch I made hast e t o seek i n my di sgui se wer e, as I have
sai d, undi gni f i ed; I woul d scar ce use a har der t er m. But i n t he hands of
Edwar d Hyde, t hey soon began t o t ur n t owar d t he monst r ous. When I woul d
come back f r omt hese excur si ons, I was of t en pl unged i nt o a ki nd of
wonder at my vi car i ous depr avi t y. Thi s f ami l i ar t hat I cal l ed out of
my own soul , and sent f or t h al one t o do hi s good pl easur e, was a bei ng
i nher ent l y mal i gn and vi l l ai nous; hi s ever y act and t hought cent er ed on
sel f ; dr i nki ng pl easur e wi t h best i al avi di t y f r omany degr ee of t or t ur e
t o anot her ; r el ent l ess l i ke a man of st one. Henr y J ekyl l st ood at t i mes
aghast bef or e t he act s of Edwar d Hyde; but t he si t uat i on was apar t f r om
or di nar y l aws, and i nsi di ousl y r el axed t he gr asp of consci ence. I t was
Hyde, af t er al l , and Hyde al one, t hat was gui l t y. J ekyl l was no wor se;
he woke agai n t o hi s good qual i t i es seemi ngl y uni mpai r ed; he woul d even
make hast e, wher e i t was possi bl e, t o undo t he evi l done by Hyde. And
t hus hi s consci ence sl umber ed.

I nt o t he det ai l s of t he i nf amy at whi ch I t hus conni ved ( f or even now
I can scar ce gr ant t hat I commi t t ed i t ) I have no desi gn of ent er i ng; I
mean but t o poi nt out t he war ni ngs and t he successi ve st eps wi t h whi ch
my chast i sement appr oached. I met wi t h one acci dent whi ch, as i t br ought
on no consequence, I shal l no mor e t han ment i on. An act of cr uel t y t o a
chi l d ar oused agai nst me t he anger of a passer - by, whomI r ecogni sed
t he ot her day i n t he per son of your ki nsman; t he doct or and t he chi l d' s
f ami l y j oi ned hi m; t her e wer e moment s when I f ear ed f or my l i f e; and at
l ast , i n or der t o paci f y t hei r t oo j ust r esent ment , Edwar d Hyde had t o
br i ng t hemt o t he door , and pay t hemi n a cheque dr awn i n t he name of
Henr y J ekyl l . But t hi s danger was easi l y el i mi nat ed f r omt he f ut ur e, by
openi ng an account at anot her bank i n t he name of Edwar d Hyde hi msel f ;
and when, by sl opi ng my own hand backwar d, I had suppl i ed my doubl e wi t h
a si gnat ur e, I t hought I sat beyond t he r each of f at e.

Some t wo mont hs bef or e t he mur der of Si r Danver s, I had been out f or one
of my advent ur es, had r et ur ned at a l at e hour , and woke t he next day i n
bed wi t h somewhat odd sensat i ons. I t was i n vai n I l ooked about me; i n
vai n I saw t he decent f ur ni t ur e and t al l pr opor t i ons of my r oomi n t he
squar e; i n vai n t hat I r ecogni sed t he pat t er n of t he bed cur t ai ns and
t he desi gn of t he mahogany f r ame; somet hi ng st i l l kept i nsi st i ng t hat I
was not wher e I was, t hat I had not wakened wher e I seemed t o be, but i n
t he l i t t l e r oomi n Soho wher e I was accust omed t o sl eep i n t he body
of Edwar d Hyde. I smi l ed t o mysel f , and i n my psychol ogi cal way, began
l azi l y t o i nqui r e i nt o t he el ement s of t hi s i l l usi on, occasi onal l y, even
as I di d so, dr oppi ng back i nt o a comf or t abl e mor ni ng doze. I was st i l l
so engaged when, i n one of my mor e wakef ul moment s, my eyes f el l upon
my hand. Now t he hand of Henr y J ekyl l ( as you have of t en r emar ked) was
pr of essi onal i n shape and si ze: i t was l ar ge, f i r m, whi t e and comel y.
But t he hand whi ch I now saw, cl ear l y enough, i n t he yel l ow l i ght of a
mi d- London mor ni ng, l yi ng hal f shut on t he bedcl ot hes, was l ean, cor der ,
knuckl y, of a dusky pal l or and t hi ckl y shaded wi t h a swar t gr owt h of
hai r . I t was t he hand of Edwar d Hyde.

I must have st ar ed upon i t f or near hal f a mi nut e, sunk as I was i n t he
mer e st upi di t y of wonder , bef or e t er r or woke up i n my br east as sudden
and st ar t l i ng as t he cr ash of cymbal s; and boundi ng f r ommy bed I r ushed
t o t he mi r r or . At t he si ght t hat met my eyes, my bl ood was changed i nt o
somet hi ng exqui si t el y t hi n and i cy. Yes, I had gone t o bed Henr y J ekyl l ,
I had awakened Edwar d Hyde. How was t hi s t o be expl ai ned? I asked
mysel f ; and t hen, wi t h anot her bound of t er r or - - how was i t t o be
r emedi ed? I t was wel l on i n t he mor ni ng; t he ser vant s wer e up; al l my
dr ugs wer e i n t he cabi net - - a l ong j our ney down t wo pai r s of st ai r s,
t hr ough t he back passage, acr oss t he open cour t and t hr ough t he
anat omi cal t heat r e, f r omwher e I was t hen st andi ng hor r or - st r uck. I t
mi ght i ndeed be possi bl e t o cover my f ace; but of what use was t hat ,
when I was unabl e t o conceal t he al t er at i on i n my st at ur e? And t hen wi t h
an over power i ng sweet ness of r el i ef , i t came back upon my mi nd t hat t he
ser vant s wer e al r eady used t o t he comi ng and goi ng of my second sel f . I
had soon dr essed, as wel l as I was abl e, i n cl ot hes of my own si ze: had
soon passed t hr ough t he house, wher e Br adshaw st ar ed and dr ew back at
seei ng Mr . Hyde at such an hour and i n such a st r ange ar r ay; and t en
mi nut es l at er , Dr . J ekyl l had r et ur ned t o hi s own shape and was si t t i ng
down, wi t h a dar kened br ow, t o make a f ei nt of br eakf ast i ng.

Smal l i ndeed was my appet i t e. Thi s i nexpl i cabl e i nci dent , t hi s r ever sal
of my pr evi ous exper i ence, seemed, l i ke t he Babyl oni an f i nger on t he
wal l , t o be spel l i ng out t he l et t er s of my j udgment ; and I began t o
r ef l ect mor e ser i ousl y t han ever bef or e on t he i ssues and possi bi l i t i es
of my doubl e exi st ence. That par t of me whi ch I had t he power of
pr oj ect i ng, had l at el y been much exer ci sed and nour i shed; i t had seemed
t o me of l at e as t hough t he body of Edwar d Hyde had gr own i n st at ur e, as
t hough ( when I wor e t hat f or m) I wer e consci ous of a mor e gener ous t i de
of bl ood; and I began t o spy a danger t hat , i f t hi s wer e much pr ol onged,
t he bal ance of my nat ur e mi ght be per manent l y over t hr own, t he power of
vol unt ar y change be f or f ei t ed, and t he char act er of Edwar d Hyde become
i r r evocabl y mi ne. The power of t he dr ug had not been al ways equal l y
di spl ayed. Once, ver y ear l y i n my car eer , i t had t ot al l y f ai l ed me;
si nce t hen I had been obl i ged on mor e t han one occasi on t o doubl e, and
once, wi t h i nf i ni t e r i sk of deat h, t o t r ebl e t he amount ; and t hese r ar e
uncer t ai nt i es had cast hi t her t o t he sol e shadow on my cont ent ment .
Now, however , and i n t he l i ght of t hat mor ni ng' s acci dent , I was l ed t o
r emar k t hat wher eas, i n t he begi nni ng, t he di f f i cul t y had been t o
t hr ow of f t he body of J ekyl l , i t had of l at e gr adual l y but deci dedl y
t r ansf er r ed i t sel f t o t he ot her si de. Al l t hi ngs t her ef or e seemed t o
poi nt t o t hi s; t hat I was sl owl y l osi ng hol d of my or i gi nal and bet t er
sel f , and becomi ng sl owl y i ncor por at ed wi t h my second and wor se.

Bet ween t hese t wo, I now f el t I had t o choose. My t wo nat ur es had memor y
i n common, but al l ot her f acul t i es wer e most unequal l y shar ed
bet ween t hem. J ekyl l ( who was composi t e) now wi t h t he most sensi t i ve
appr ehensi ons, now wi t h a gr eedy gust o, pr oj ect ed and shar ed i n t he
pl easur es and advent ur es of Hyde; but Hyde was i ndi f f er ent t o J ekyl l , or
but r emember ed hi mas t he mount ai n bandi t r emember s t he caver n i n
whi ch he conceal s hi msel f f r ompur sui t . J ekyl l had mor e t han a f at her ' s
i nt er est ; Hyde had mor e t han a son' s i ndi f f er ence. To cast i n my l ot
wi t h J ekyl l , was t o di e t o t hose appet i t es whi ch I had l ong secr et l y
i ndul ged and had of l at e begun t o pamper . To cast i t i n wi t h Hyde, was
t o di e t o a t housand i nt er est s and aspi r at i ons, and t o become, at a bl ow
and f or ever , despi sed and f r i endl ess. The bar gai n mi ght appear unequal ;
but t her e was st i l l anot her consi der at i on i n t he scal es; f or whi l e
J ekyl l woul d suf f er smar t i ngl y i n t he f i r es of abst i nence, Hyde woul d be
not even consci ous of al l t hat he had l ost . St r ange as my ci r cumst ances
wer e, t he t er ms of t hi s debat e ar e as ol d and commonpl ace as man;
much t he same i nducement s and al ar ms cast t he di e f or any t empt ed and
t r embl i ng si nner ; and i t f el l out wi t h me, as i t f al l s wi t h so vast
a maj or i t y of my f el l ows, t hat I chose t he bet t er par t and was f ound
want i ng i n t he st r engt h t o keep t o i t .

Yes, I pr ef er r ed t he el der l y and di scont ent ed doct or , sur r ounded by
f r i ends and cher i shi ng honest hopes; and bade a r esol ut e f ar ewel l t o
t he l i ber t y, t he compar at i ve yout h, t he l i ght st ep, l eapi ng i mpul ses
and secr et pl easur es, t hat I had enj oyed i n t he di sgui se of Hyde. I made
t hi s choi ce per haps wi t h some unconsci ous r eser vat i on, f or I nei t her
gave up t he house i n Soho, nor dest r oyed t he cl ot hes of Edwar d Hyde,
whi ch st i l l l ay r eady i n my cabi net . For t wo mont hs, however , I was t r ue
t o my det er mi nat i on; f or t wo mont hs, I l ed a l i f e of such sever i t y as
I had never bef or e at t ai ned t o, and enj oyed t he compensat i ons of an
appr ovi ng consci ence. But t i me began at l ast t o obl i t er at e t he f r eshness
of my al ar m; t he pr ai ses of consci ence began t o gr ow i nt o a t hi ng of
cour se; I began t o be t or t ur ed wi t h t hr oes and l ongi ngs, as of Hyde
st r uggl i ng af t er f r eedom; and at l ast , i n an hour of mor al weakness, I
once agai n compounded and swal l owed t he t r ansf or mi ng dr aught .

I do not suppose t hat , when a dr unkar d r easons wi t h hi msel f upon hi s
vi ce, he i s once out of f i ve hundr ed t i mes af f ect ed by t he danger s t hat
he r uns t hr ough hi s br ut i sh, physi cal i nsensi bi l i t y; nei t her had I , l ong
as I had consi der ed my posi t i on, made enough al l owance f or t he compl et e
mor al i nsensi bi l i t y and i nsensat e r eadi ness t o evi l , whi ch wer e t he
l eadi ng char act er s of Edwar d Hyde. Yet i t was by t hese t hat I was
puni shed. My devi l had been l ong caged, he came out r oar i ng. I was
consci ous, even when I t ook t he dr aught , of a mor e unbr i dl ed, a mor e
f ur i ous pr opensi t y t o i l l . I t must have been t hi s, I suppose, t hat
st i r r ed i n my soul t hat t empest of i mpat i ence wi t h whi ch I l i st ened t o
t he ci vi l i t i es of my unhappy vi ct i m; I decl ar e, at l east , bef or e God, no
man mor al l y sane coul d have been gui l t y of t hat cr i me upon so pi t i f ul a
pr ovocat i on; and t hat I st r uck i n no mor e r easonabl e spi r i t t han t hat i n
whi ch a si ck chi l d may br eak a pl ayt hi ng. But I had vol unt ar i l y st r i pped
mysel f of al l t hose bal anci ng i nst i nct s by whi ch even t he wor st of us
cont i nues t o wal k wi t h some degr ee of st eadi ness among t empt at i ons; and
i n my case, t o be t empt ed, however sl i ght l y, was t o f al l .

I nst ant l y t he spi r i t of hel l awoke i n me and r aged. Wi t h a t r anspor t of
gl ee, I maul ed t he unr esi st i ng body, t ast i ng del i ght f r omever y bl ow;
and i t was not t i l l wear i ness had begun t o succeed, t hat I was suddenl y,
i n t he t op f i t of my del i r i um, st r uck t hr ough t he hear t by a col d t hr i l l
of t er r or . A mi st di sper sed; I saw my l i f e t o be f or f ei t ; and f l ed f r om
t he scene of t hese excesses, at once gl or yi ng and t r embl i ng, my l ust of
evi l gr at i f i ed and st i mul at ed, my l ove of l i f e scr ewed t o t he t opmost
peg. I r an t o t he house i n Soho, and ( t o make assur ance doubl y sur e)
dest r oyed my paper s; t hence I set out t hr ough t he l ampl i t st r eet s, i n
t he same di vi ded ecst asy of mi nd, gl oat i ng on my cr i me, l i ght - headedl y
devi si ng ot her s i n t he f ut ur e, and yet st i l l hast eni ng and st i l l
hear keni ng i n my wake f or t he st eps of t he avenger . Hyde had a song upon
hi s l i ps as he compounded t he dr aught , and as he dr ank i t , pl edged t he
dead man. The pangs of t r ansf or mat i on had not done t ear i ng hi m, bef or e
Henr y J ekyl l , wi t h st r eami ng t ear s of gr at i t ude and r emor se, had
f al l en upon hi s knees and l i f t ed hi s cl asped hands t o God. The vei l of
sel f - i ndul gence was r ent f r omhead t o f oot . I saw my l i f e as a whol e:
I f ol l owed i t up f r omt he days of chi l dhood, when I had wal ked wi t h my
f at her ' s hand, and t hr ough t he sel f - denyi ng t oi l s of my pr of essi onal
l i f e, t o ar r i ve agai n and agai n, wi t h t he same sense of unr eal i t y, at
t he damned hor r or s of t he eveni ng. I coul d have scr eamed al oud; I sought
wi t h t ear s and pr ayer s t o smot her down t he cr owd of hi deous i mages and
sounds wi t h whi ch my memor y swar med agai nst me; and st i l l , bet ween t he
pet i t i ons, t he ugl y f ace of my i ni qui t y st ar ed i nt o my soul . As t he
acut eness of t hi s r emor se began t o di e away, i t was succeeded by a
sense of j oy. The pr obl emof my conduct was sol ved. Hyde was t hencef or t h
i mpossi bl e; whet her I woul d or not , I was now conf i ned t o t he bet t er
par t of my exi st ence; and O, how I r ej oi ced t o t hi nk of i t ! wi t h what
wi l l i ng humi l i t y I embr aced anew t he r est r i ct i ons of nat ur al l i f e! wi t h
what si ncer e r enunci at i on I l ocked t he door by whi ch I had so of t en gone
and come, and gr ound t he key under my heel !

The next day, came t he news t hat t he mur der had not been over l ooked,
t hat t he gui l t of Hyde was pat ent t o t he wor l d, and t hat t he vi ct i mwas
a man hi gh i n publ i c est i mat i on. I t was not onl y a cr i me, i t had been a
t r agi c f ol l y. I t hi nk I was gl ad t o know i t ; I t hi nk I was gl ad t o have
my bet t er i mpul ses t hus but t r essed and guar ded by t he t er r or s of t he
scaf f ol d. J ekyl l was now my ci t y of r ef uge; l et but Hyde peep out an
i nst ant , and t he hands of al l men woul d be r ai sed t o t ake and sl ay hi m.

I r esol ved i n my f ut ur e conduct t o r edeemt he past ; and I can say wi t h
honest y t hat my r esol ve was f r ui t f ul of some good. You know your sel f how
ear nest l y, i n t he l ast mont hs of t he l ast year , I l abour ed t o r el i eve
suf f er i ng; you know t hat much was done f or ot her s, and t hat t he days
passed qui et l y, al most happi l y f or mysel f . Nor can I t r ul y say t hat I
wear i ed of t hi s benef i cent and i nnocent l i f e; I t hi nk i nst ead t hat I
dai l y enj oyed i t mor e compl et el y; but I was st i l l cur sed wi t h my dual i t y
of pur pose; and as t he f i r st edge of my peni t ence wor e of f , t he l ower
si de of me, so l ong i ndul ged, so r ecent l y chai ned down, began t o gr owl
f or l i cence. Not t hat I dr eamed of r esusci t at i ng Hyde; t he bar e i dea of
t hat woul d st ar t l e me t o f r enzy: no, i t was i n my own per son t hat I
was once mor e t empt ed t o t r i f l e wi t h my consci ence; and i t was as
an or di nar y secr et si nner t hat I at l ast f el l bef or e t he assaul t s of
t empt at i on.

Ther e comes an end t o al l t hi ngs; t he most capaci ous measur e i s f i l l ed
at l ast ; and t hi s br i ef condescensi on t o my evi l f i nal l y dest r oyed t he
bal ance of my soul . And yet I was not al ar med; t he f al l seemed nat ur al ,
l i ke a r et ur n t o t he ol d days bef or e I had made my di scover y. I t was a
f i ne, cl ear , J anuar y day, wet under f oot wher e t he f r ost had mel t ed, but
cl oudl ess over head; and t he Regent ' s Par k was f ul l of wi nt er chi r r upi ngs
and sweet wi t h spr i ng odour s. I sat i n t he sun on a bench; t he ani mal
wi t hi n me l i cki ng t he chops of memor y; t he spi r i t ual si de a l i t t l e
dr owsed, pr omi si ng subsequent peni t ence, but not yet moved t o begi n.
Af t er al l , I r ef l ect ed, I was l i ke my nei ghbour s; and t hen I smi l ed,
compar i ng mysel f wi t h ot her men, compar i ng my act i ve good- wi l l wi t h
t he l azy cr uel t y of t hei r negl ect . And at t he ver y moment of t hat
vai ngl or i ous t hought , a qual mcame over me, a hor r i d nausea and t he most
deadl y shudder i ng. These passed away, and l ef t me f ai nt ; and t hen as
i n i t s t ur n f ai nt ness subsi ded, I began t o be awar e of a change i n
t he t emper of my t hought s, a gr eat er bol dness, a cont empt of danger ,
a sol ut i on of t he bonds of obl i gat i on. I l ooked down; my cl ot hes hung
f or ml essl y on my shr unken l i mbs; t he hand t hat l ay on my knee was cor ded
and hai r y. I was once mor e Edwar d Hyde. A moment bef or e I had been saf e
of al l men' s r espect , weal t hy, bel oved- - t he cl ot h l ayi ng f or me i n t he
di ni ng- r oomat home; and now I was t he common quar r y of manki nd, hunt ed,
housel ess, a known mur der er , t hr al l t o t he gal l ows.

My r eason waver ed, but i t di d not f ai l me ut t er l y. I have mor e t han once
obser ved t hat i n my second char act er , my f acul t i es seemed shar pened t o
a poi nt and my spi r i t s mor e t ensel y el ast i c; t hus i t came about t hat ,
wher e J ekyl l per haps mi ght have succumbed, Hyde r ose t o t he i mpor t ance
of t he moment . My dr ugs wer e i n one of t he pr esses of my cabi net ; how
was I t o r each t hem? That was t he pr obl emt hat ( cr ushi ng my t empl es i n
my hands) I set mysel f t o sol ve. The l abor at or y door I had cl osed. I f
I sought t o ent er by t he house, my own ser vant s woul d consi gn me t o t he
gal l ows. I saw I must empl oy anot her hand, and t hought of Lanyon. How
was he t o be r eached? how per suaded? Supposi ng t hat I escaped capt ur e i n
t he st r eet s, how was I t o make my way i nt o hi s pr esence? and how shoul d
I , an unknown and di spl easi ng vi si t or , pr evai l on t he f amous physi ci an
t o r i f l e t he st udy of hi s col l eague, Dr . J ekyl l ? Then I r emember ed t hat
of my or i gi nal char act er , one par t r emai ned t o me: I coul d wr i t e my own
hand; and once I had concei ved t hat ki ndl i ng spar k, t he way t hat I must
f ol l ow became l i ght ed up f r omend t o end.

Ther eupon, I ar r anged my cl ot hes as best I coul d, and summoni ng a
passi ng hansom, dr ove t o an hot el i n Por t l and St r eet , t he name of
whi ch I chanced t o r emember . At my appear ance ( whi ch was i ndeed comi cal
enough, however t r agi c a f at e t hese gar ment s cover ed) t he dr i ver coul d
not conceal hi s mi r t h. I gnashed my t eet h upon hi mwi t h a gust of
devi l i sh f ur y; and t he smi l e wi t her ed f r omhi s f ace- - happi l y f or
hi m- - yet mor e happi l y f or mysel f , f or i n anot her i nst ant I had cer t ai nl y
dr agged hi mf r omhi s per ch. At t he i nn, as I ent er ed, I l ooked about me
wi t h so bl ack a count enance as made t he at t endant s t r embl e; not a l ook
di d t hey exchange i n my pr esence; but obsequi ousl y t ook my or der s,
l ed me t o a pr i vat e r oom, and br ought me wher ewi t hal t o wr i t e. Hyde
i n danger of hi s l i f e was a cr eat ur e new t o me; shaken wi t h i nor di nat e
anger , st r ung t o t he pi t ch of mur der , l ust i ng t o i nf l i ct pai n. Yet t he
cr eat ur e was ast ut e; mast er ed hi s f ur y wi t h a gr eat ef f or t of t he wi l l ;
composed hi s t wo i mpor t ant l et t er s, one t o Lanyon and one t o Pool e; and
t hat he mi ght r ecei ve act ual evi dence of t hei r bei ng post ed, sent t hem
out wi t h di r ect i ons t hat t hey shoul d be r egi st er ed. Thencef or war d, he
sat al l day over t he f i r e i n t he pr i vat e r oom, gnawi ng hi s nai l s; t her e
he di ned, si t t i ng al one wi t h hi s f ear s, t he wai t er vi si bl y quai l i ng
bef or e hi s eye; and t hence, when t he ni ght was f ul l y come, he set f or t h
i n t he cor ner of a cl osed cab, and was dr i ven t o and f r o about t he
st r eet s of t he ci t y. He, I say- - I cannot say, I . That chi l d of Hel l had
not hi ng human; not hi ng l i ved i n hi mbut f ear and hat r ed. And when at
l ast , t hi nki ng t he dr i ver had begun t o gr ow suspi ci ous, he di schar ged
t he cab and vent ur ed on f oot , at t i r ed i n hi s mi sf i t t i ng cl ot hes, an
obj ect mar ked out f or obser vat i on, i nt o t he mi dst of t he noct ur nal
passenger s, t hese t wo base passi ons r aged wi t hi n hi ml i ke a t empest .
He wal ked f ast , hunt ed by hi s f ear s, chat t er i ng t o hi msel f , skul ki ng
t hr ough t he l ess f r equent ed t hor oughf ar es, count i ng t he mi nut es t hat
st i l l di vi ded hi mf r ommi dni ght . Once a woman spoke t o hi m, of f er i ng, I
t hi nk, a box of l i ght s. He smot e her i n t he f ace, and she f l ed.

When I came t o mysel f at Lanyon' s, t he hor r or of my ol d f r i end per haps
af f ect ed me somewhat : I do not know; i t was at l east but a dr op i n
t he sea t o t he abhor r ence wi t h whi ch I l ooked back upon t hese hour s. A
change had come over me. I t was no l onger t he f ear of t he gal l ows,
i t was t he hor r or of bei ng Hyde t hat r acked me. I r ecei ved Lanyon' s
condemnat i on par t l y i n a dr eam; i t was par t l y i n a dr eamt hat I came
home t o my own house and got i nt o bed. I sl ept af t er t he pr ost r at i on
of t he day, wi t h a st r i ngent and pr of ound sl umber whi ch not even t he
ni ght mar es t hat wr ung me coul d avai l t o br eak. I awoke i n t he mor ni ng
shaken, weakened, but r ef r eshed. I st i l l hat ed and f ear ed t he t hought
of t he br ut e t hat sl ept wi t hi n me, and I had not of cour se f or got t en t he
appal l i ng danger s of t he day bef or e; but I was once mor e at home, i n my
own house and cl ose t o my dr ugs; and gr at i t ude f or my escape shone so
st r ong i n my soul t hat i t al most r i val l ed t he br i ght ness of hope.

I was st eppi ng l ei sur el y acr oss t he cour t af t er br eakf ast , dr i nki ng
t he chi l l of t he ai r wi t h pl easur e, when I was sei zed agai n wi t h t hose
i ndescr i babl e sensat i ons t hat her al ded t he change; and I had but t he
t i me t o gai n t he shel t er of my cabi net , bef or e I was once agai n r agi ng
and f r eezi ng wi t h t he passi ons of Hyde. I t t ook on t hi s occasi on a
doubl e dose t o r ecal l me t o mysel f ; and al as! si x hour s af t er , as I sat
l ooki ng sadl y i n t he f i r e, t he pangs r et ur ned, and t he dr ug had t o be
r e- admi ni st er ed. I n shor t , f r omt hat day f or t h i t seemed onl y by a gr eat
ef f or t as of gymnast i cs, and onl y under t he i mmedi at e st i mul at i on of t he
dr ug, t hat I was abl e t o wear t he count enance of J ekyl l . At al l hour s of
t he day and ni ght , I woul d be t aken wi t h t he pr emoni t or y shudder ; above
al l , i f I sl ept , or even dozed f or a moment i n my chai r , i t was al ways
as Hyde t hat I awakened. Under t he st r ai n of t hi s cont i nual l y i mpendi ng
doomand by t he sl eepl essness t o whi ch I now condemned mysel f , ay, even
beyond what I had t hought possi bl e t o man, I became, i n my own per son, a
cr eat ur e eat en up and empt i ed by f ever , l angui dl y weak bot h i n body and
mi nd, and sol el y occupi ed by one t hought : t he hor r or of my ot her sel f .
But when I sl ept , or when t he vi r t ue of t he medi ci ne wor e of f , I woul d
l eap al most wi t hout t r ansi t i on ( f or t he pangs of t r ansf or mat i on gr ew
dai l y l ess mar ked) i nt o t he possessi on of a f ancy br i mmi ng wi t h i mages
of t er r or , a soul boi l i ng wi t h causel ess hat r eds, and a body t hat seemed
not st r ong enough t o cont ai n t he r agi ng ener gi es of l i f e. The power s of
Hyde seemed t o have gr own wi t h t he si ckl i ness of J ekyl l . And cer t ai nl y
t he hat e t hat now di vi ded t hemwas equal on each si de. Wi t h J ekyl l , i t
was a t hi ng of vi t al i nst i nct . He had now seen t he f ul l def or mi t y
of t hat cr eat ur e t hat shar ed wi t h hi msome of t he phenomena of
consci ousness, and was co- hei r wi t h hi mt o deat h: and beyond t hese l i nks
of communi t y, whi ch i n t hemsel ves made t he most poi gnant par t of
hi s di st r ess, he t hought of Hyde, f or al l hi s ener gy of l i f e, as of
somet hi ng not onl y hel l i sh but i nor gani c. Thi s was t he shocki ng t hi ng;
t hat t he sl i me of t he pi t seemed t o ut t er cr i es and voi ces; t hat t he
amor phous dust gest i cul at ed and si nned; t hat what was dead, and had
no shape, shoul d usur p t he of f i ces of l i f e. And t hi s agai n, t hat t hat
i nsur gent hor r or was kni t t o hi mcl oser t han a wi f e, cl oser t han an eye;
l ay caged i n hi s f l esh, wher e he hear d i t mut t er and f el t i t st r uggl e
t o be bor n; and at ever y hour of weakness, and i n t he conf i dence of
sl umber , pr evai l ed agai nst hi m, and deposed hi mout of l i f e. The hat r ed
of Hyde f or J ekyl l was of a di f f er ent or der . Hi s t er r or of t he gal l ows
dr ove hi mcont i nual l y t o commi t t empor ar y sui ci de, and r et ur n t o hi s
subor di nat e st at i on of a par t i nst ead of a per son; but he l oat hed t he
necessi t y, he l oat hed t he despondency i nt o whi ch J ekyl l was now f al l en,
and he r esent ed t he di sl i ke wi t h whi ch he was hi msel f r egar ded. Hence
t he ape- l i ke t r i cks t hat he woul d pl ay me, scr awl i ng i n my own hand
bl asphemi es on t he pages of my books, bur ni ng t he l et t er s and dest r oyi ng
t he por t r ai t of my f at her ; and i ndeed, had i t not been f or hi s f ear of
deat h, he woul d l ong ago have r ui ned hi msel f i n or der t o i nvol ve me i n
t he r ui n. But hi s l ove of me i s wonder f ul ; I go f ur t her : I , who si cken
and f r eeze at t he mer e t hought of hi m, when I r ecal l t he abj ect i on and
passi on of t hi s at t achment , and when I know how he f ear s my power t o cut
hi mof f by sui ci de, I f i nd i t i n my hear t t o pi t y hi m.

I t i s usel ess, and t he t i me awf ul l y f ai l s me, t o pr ol ong t hi s
descr i pt i on; no one has ever suf f er ed such t or ment s, l et t hat suf f i ce;
and yet even t o t hese, habi t br ought - - no, not al l evi at i on- - but a
cer t ai n cal l ousness of soul , a cer t ai n acqui escence of despai r ; and my
puni shment mi ght have gone on f or year s, but f or t he l ast cal ami t y whi ch
has now f al l en, and whi ch has f i nal l y sever ed me f r ommy own f ace and
nat ur e. My pr ovi si on of t he sal t , whi ch had never been r enewed si nce t he
dat e of t he f i r st exper i ment , began t o r un l ow. I sent out f or a f r esh
suppl y and mi xed t he dr aught ; t he ebul l i t i on f ol l owed, and t he f i r st
change of col our , not t he second; I dr ank i t and i t was wi t hout
ef f i ci ency. You wi l l l ear n f r omPool e how I have had London r ansacked;
i t was i n vai n; and I amnow per suaded t hat my f i r st suppl y was i mpur e,
and t hat i t was t hat unknown i mpur i t y whi ch l ent ef f i cacy t o t he
dr aught .

About a week has passed, and I amnow f i ni shi ng t hi s st at ement under t he
i nf l uence of t he l ast of t he ol d powder s. Thi s, t hen, i s t he l ast t i me,
shor t of a mi r acl e, t hat Henr y J ekyl l can t hi nk hi s own t hought s or see
hi s own f ace ( now how sadl y al t er ed! ) i n t he gl ass. Nor must I del ay
t oo l ong t o br i ng my wr i t i ng t o an end; f or i f my nar r at i ve has hi t her t o
escaped dest r uct i on, i t has been by a combi nat i on of gr eat pr udence
and gr eat good l uck. Shoul d t he t hr oes of change t ake me i n t he act of
wr i t i ng i t , Hyde wi l l t ear i t i n pi eces; but i f some t i me shal l
have el apsed af t er I have l ai d i t by, hi s wonder f ul sel f i shness and
ci r cumscr i pt i on t o t he moment wi l l pr obabl y save i t once agai n f r omt he
act i on of hi s ape- l i ke spi t e. And i ndeed t he doomt hat i s cl osi ng on us
bot h has al r eady changed and cr ushed hi m. Hal f an hour f r omnow, when
I shal l agai n and f or ever r ei ndue t hat hat ed per sonal i t y, I know how I
shal l si t shudder i ng and weepi ng i n my chai r , or cont i nue, wi t h t he most
st r ai ned and f ear st r uck ecst asy of l i st eni ng, t o pace up and down t hi s
r oom( my l ast ear t hl y r ef uge) and gi ve ear t o ever y sound of menace.
Wi l l Hyde di e upon t he scaf f ol d? or wi l l he f i nd cour age t o r el ease
hi msel f at t he l ast moment ? God knows; I amcar el ess; t hi s i s my t r ue
hour of deat h, and what i s t o f ol l ow concer ns anot her t han mysel f . Her e
t hen, as I l ay down t he pen and pr oceed t o seal up my conf essi on, I
br i ng t he l i f e of t hat unhappy Henr y J ekyl l t o an end.

END

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