The Strange Cases of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde

THE STRANGE CASE OF

DR JEKYLL AND MR HYDE by Robert Louis Stevenson

Simplified by C. Kingsley Williams a n d A. G. Eyre General Editors: A n d y H o p k i n s and Jocelyn Potter

Addison Wesley Longman Limited Edinburgh Gate, Harlow, Essex CM20 2JE, England and Associated Companies throughout the world. © Addison Wesley Longman Limited 1996 All rights reserved; no part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without the prior written permission of the Publishers. First published in the Longman Simplified English Series 1978 First published in Longman Fiction 1993 This edition first published in 1996 Second impression 1997

ISBN 0 582 27501 6 Set in Adobe Granjon 10.5pt Produced through Longman Malaysia, GPS

Acknowledgements We are grateful to Addison Wesley Longman Limited for permission to use in the Word List definitions adapted from the third edition of the Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English © Longman G r o u p Limited (1995). Cover photograph © Addison Wesley Longman Limited/Gareth Boden

page Introduction

i

Chapter 1

T h e Story of the D o o r

1

Chapter 2

T h e Search for Mr H y d e

7

Chapter 3

D r Jekyll

14

Chapter 4

T h e C a r e w M u r d e r Case

16

Chapter 5

T h e Letter

20

Chapter 6

T h e Mysterious D e a t h o f D r L a n y o n

24

Chapter 7

T h e Face at the W i n d o w

28

Chapter 8

Dr Jekyll's Last N i g h t

30

Chapter 9

Dr Lanyon's Story

41

Chapter 10

H e n r y Jekyll's Full Statement of the Case

48

W o r d List

62

Activities

66

R o b e r t L o u i s S t e v e n s o n w a s b o r n i n E d i n b u r g h i n 1850. H e w a s t h e only son of T h o m a s Stevenson, a successful e n g i n e e r , a n d his wife M a r g a r e t Balfour, b o t h o f w h o m w e r e very strictly religious. I n his university years Stevenson g a v e u p t h e religion o f his p a r e n t s , b u t t h e t e a c h i n g h e received a s a child c o n t i n u e d t o influence h i m . H e w e n t t o E d i n b u r g h t o s t u d y e n g i n e e r i n g , b u t soon discovered t h a t h e h a d n o interest i n t h e subject a n d studied l a w instead. W h i l e a t university h e d e c i d e d , m u c h t o his father's d i s a p p o i n t m e n t , t h a t h e w a n t e d t o b e a w r i t e r . H e travelled widely after this, a n d w r o t e a b o u t his travels i n F r a n c e , B e l g i u m a n d California. Stevenson suffered from p o o r h e a l t h for m o s t of his life, b u t this d i d not stop h i m from l e a d i n g a life of travel a n d a d v e n t u r e . In 1876, in F r a n c e , h e m e t a n d fell i n love w i t h a n A m e r i c a n w o m a n called F a n n y O s b o u r n e . A s she w a s a m a r r i e d w o m a n , Stevenson's family w e r e shocked by t h e r e l a t i o n s h i p at first. In 1878 S t e v e n s o n w e n t to C a l i f o r n i a t o b e w i t h her. T r a v e l l i n g b y s h i p a n d t r a i n , h e h a d m a n y a d v e n t u r e s o n the journey, a t o n e p o i n t c o m i n g very close t o d e a t h . H e a r r i v e d i n California ill a n d w i t h no m o n e y at all. F a n n y O s b o u r n e h a d by n o w left h e r h u s b a n d a n d they w e r e s o o n a b l e t o g e t m a r r i e d . T h e m a r r i a g e pleased Stevenson's family, w h o offered t h e m s o m e financial s u p p o r t , so Stevenson a n d F a n n y r e t u r n e d t o S c o t l a n d w i t h L l o y d , t h e son o f F a n n y ' s first husband.

S o o n after t h a t t h e y s t a y e d

for a t i m e i n D a v o s ,

S w i t z e r l a n d , because S t e v e n s o n w a s by n o w seriously ill w i t h a l u n g disease. O v e r t h e n e x t few years t h e family m o v e d b e t w e e n F r a n c e , Scotland a n d E n g l a n d , a n d i n 1888 t h e y sailed to t h e Pacific Islands, on w h a t was originally p l a n n e d as a s h o r t p l e a s u r e t r i p . In fact, t h o u g h , Stevenson never r e t u r n e d t o E u r o p e . After m o n t h s e x p l o r i n g t h e S o u t h Sea islands, h e b o u g h t a h o u s e i n S a m o a w h e r e t h e w e a t h e r w a s g o o d for

The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde

his h e a l t h . H e lived t h e r e a n d w r o t e h a p p i l y u n t i l h e d i e d s u d d e n l y i n 1894; h e w a s b u r i e d o n t h e island, w h e r e h e h a d been k n o w n a s "Tusitala" o r " T h e Storyteller". Stevenson's early w r i t i n g consisted m a i n l y of s h o r t stories a n d accounts of his travels. H i s first full-length w o r k of fiction w a s t h e great a d v e n t u r e story Treasure Island (1883). T h i s w a s t h e b o o k w h i c h first b r o u g h t h i m f a m e . T h i s f a m e increased w h e n , t h r e e years later, The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde a p p e a r e d . After this he w r o t e three p o p u l a r Scottish stories, Kidnapped (1886), Catriona (1893) a n d The Master of Ballantrae (1889). W h i l e t r a v e l l i n g a n d living in t h e S o u t h Seas he b e c a m e very i n t e r e s t e d i n t h e local p e o p l e a n d their c u s t o m s . H e was a n g r y a b o u t t h e w a y t h a t E u r o p e a n s t r e a t e d t h e islands a n d w r o t e letters a n d l o n g e r w o r k s o n t h e subject, i n c l u d i n g t w o stories, " T h e Beach o f F a l e s a " (1893) a n d " T h e E b b - T i d e " (1894). O t h e r w o r k s i n c l u d e a book of p o e m s called A Child's Garden of Verses (1885). W h e n he d i e d Stevenson w a s w o r k i n g on t h e g r e a t u n f i n i s h e d w o r k Weir of Hermiston (1896). The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde, w h i c h has been m a d e into a n u m b e r of different films, w a s a success at t h e t i m e a n d h a s b e e n so ever since. M a n y p e o p l e living u n d e r Q u e e n Victoria believed t h a t h u m a n beings h a v e t o s t r u g g l e c o n t i n u a l l y against their lower, " a n i m a l " urges, a n d can only defeat t h e m by o b e y i n g strict rules of m o r a l i t y . T h i s account of t h e s t r u g g l e b e t w e e n t h e g o o d a n d evil sides of t h e s a m e p e r s o n is the m o r e serious subject of t h e story, a n d it is o n e t h a t S t e v e n s o n r e t u r n s to again a n d a g a i n . T h i s is, at least in p a r t , a result of his early religious u p b r i n g i n g , a n d t h e b o o k uses religious l a n g u a g e t o describe t h e f i g h t b e t w e e n Jekyll a n d H y d e , each t r y i n g t o defeat t h e other's values. But Stevenson also s h o w s s o m e s y m p a t h y for t h e respectable Dr Jekyll as he gives in to t h e desire for t h e f r e e d o m to enjoy his evil pleasures. T h e other m a i n v i e w p r e s e n t e d in t h e b o o k is t h a t science can achieve almost a n y t h i n g , b u t t h a t scientific e x p e r i m e n t a t i o n m u s t b e d o n e w i t h the greatest c a r e since it c a n just as easily be used for evil p u r p o s e s as to do

Introduction

good. T h i s is a n o t h e r subject t h a t i n t e r e s t e d V i c t o r i a n s , a n d it is o n e t h a t was discussed b y m a n y o t h e r w r i t e r s . Dr H e n r y Jekyll is a w e l l - r e s p e c t e d a n d w e a l t h y d o c t o r in L o n d o n . He does a g r e a t deal of g o o d w o r k a n d is l i k e d by m a n y , i n c l u d i n g his t w o oldest friends, M r U t t e r s o n ( a lawyer) a n d D r L a n y o n . T h e t w o friends are w o r r i e d w h e n they m e e t t h e u n p l e a s a n t a n d m y s t e r i o u s M r H y d e a n d discover t h a t he seems to h a v e s o m e terrible influence on Dr Jekyll. A series of nasty events, e n d i n g in a m u r d e r , a p p e a r to be t h e responsibility o f M r H y d e . T h e friends d e c i d e t o h e l p D r Jekyll, b u t a s they d o s o they discover a secret of u n i m a g i n a b l e h o r r o r .

The Story of the Door

Mr U t t e r s o n , t h e lawyer, w a s a m a n w i t h a severe expression t h a t w a s never b r i g h t e n e d by a smile. He felt a w k w a r d in c o n v e r s a t i o n , a n d his r e m a r k s w e r e s h o r t a n d cold. H e rarely s h o w e d his feelings. H e w a s tall, thin a n d dull, b u t still q u i t e lovable. A t friendly m e e t i n g s , a n d w h e n t h e w i n e w a s to his taste, a certain h u m a n k i n d n e s s s h o n e in his eye, t h o u g h it never found its w a y i n t o his c o n v e r s a t i o n ; it s h o w e d itself n o t only in this silent a f t e r - d i n n e r look b u t m o r e often a n d m o r e loudly in his actions. H e w a s strict w i t h himself: h e d r a n k spirits w h e n h e w a s a l o n e , t o destroy his taste for w i n e , a n d t h o u g h h e enjoyed t h e t h e a t r e h e h a d n o t seen a play for t w e n t y years. B u t he n e v e r j u d g e d o t h e r s so strictly; he w a s sometimes s u r p r i s e d , a l m o s t jealous, by t h e e n e r g y s h o w n in t h e i r less praiseworthy acts, a n d h e w a s a l w a y s r e a d i e r t o h e l p t h e m o u t o f t r o u b l e than to b l a m e t h e m . "I like C a i n ' s r e m a r k in t h e Bible, ' A m I my b r o t h e r ' s k e e p e r ? ' , " he used to say in his o w n s t r a n g e m a n n e r of speech. "I let my brother go to t h e devil in his o w n w a y . " So he w a s often t h e last respectable p e r s o n , a n d t h e last g o o d influence, i n t h e lives o f m e n w h o w e r e o n t h e p a t h t o r u i n . T o s u c h m e n a s these, w h e n they c a m e for his professional advice, he g a v e t h e s a m e a t t e n t i o n as to a n y o n e else. N o d o u b t this w a s easy for M r U t t e r s o n ; h e w a s g o o d - n a t u r e d i n everything he d i d . It is t h e m a r k of a m a n w i t h o u t a h i g h o p i n i o n of himself to accept t h e circle of friends t h a t c h a n c e m a k e s for h i m , a n d t h a t was the lawyer's way. H i s friends w e r e m e n o f his o w n b l o o d , o r those w h o m h e h a d k n o w n t h e longest. N o d o u b t this w a s t h e tie b e t w e e n h i m a n d M r R i c h a r d E n f i e l d , t h e w e l l - k n o w n m a n o f fashion a n d his d i s t a n t cousin. M a n y people could n o t u n d e r s t a n d w h a t these t w o c o u l d see i n each other, or w h a t subject they could find in c o m m o n . It w a s r e p o r t e d

The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde

b y those w h o m e t t h e m o n their S u n d a y w a l k s t h a t they said n o t h i n g , looked extremely bored, a n d would greet with obvious

relief the

a p p e a r a n c e of a friend. B u t t h e t w o m e n r e g a r d e d these w a l k s t o g e t h e r as t h e h i g h p o i n t o f e a c h w e e k , a n d n o t o n l y g a v e u p o t h e r pleasures but even left t h e calls of business so t h a t they could enjoy their w a l k s w i t h o u t interruption. It h a p p e n e d o n e S u n d a y t h a t their w a y led t h e m d o w n a side street in a busy p a r t o f L o n d o n . T h e street w a s small a n d q u i e t , b u t o n w e e k d a y s it d i d a busy t r a d e . T h e s h o p k e e p e r s w e r e all d o i n g well, it s e e m e d , and all h o p i n g t o d o b e t t e r still, a n d they w e r e s p e n d i n g p a r t o f t h e i r g a i n s o n m a k i n g t h e m s e l v e s look m o r e a t t r a c t i v e . S o t h e s h o p f r o n t s stood there w i t h a n air o f i n v i t a t i o n , l i k e r o w s o f s m i l i n g s a l e s w o m e n . E v e n o n S u n d a y , w h e n it w a s fairly e m p t y , t h e street s h o n e o u t in c o m p a r i s o n with its n e i g h b o u r h o o d , l i k e a fire in a forest; w i t h its freshly painted w o o d w o r k , its w e l l - p o l i s h e d d o o r h a n d l e s , a n d its g e n e r a l cleanliness and cheerfulness, i t i m m e d i a t e l y c a u g h t a n d pleased t h e eye o f t h o s e w h o passed t h a t way. T w o d o o r s f r o m o n e c o r n e r , o n t h e left side g o i n g east, t h e line was b r o k e n by t h e e n t r a n c e to a y a r d , a n d just at t h a t p o i n t stood a large, ugly building. It showed no windows, nothing but a door on the lower floor a n d t h e b l i n d face of a d i r t y wall on t h e u p p e r o n e ; its w h o l e appearance b o r e t h e m a r k s o f l o n g neglect. T h e door, w h i c h w a s f i t t e d w i t h neither bell n o r k n o c k e r , h a d n o t seen fresh p a i n t for m a n y years. B e g g a r s leaned carelessly a g a i n s t i t a n d s t r u c k m a t c h e s on it; c h i l d r e n k e p t s h o p on its steps; schoolboys t r i e d t h e i r k n i v e s on its w o o d e n f r a m e ; a n d for more t h a n t w e n t y y e a r s n o o n e h a d t r o u b l e d t o d r i v e s u c h visitors a w a y o r t o repair their d a m a g e . M r E n f i e l d a n d t h e l a w y e r w e r e o n t h e o t h e r side o f t h e street. W h e n they c a m e opposite this b u i l d i n g , Mr Enfield lifted his stick a n d pointed. " H a v e y o u e v e r n o t i c e d t h a t d o o r ? " h e a s k e d , a n d w h e n his c o m p a n i o n a g r e e d t h a t h e h a d h e a d d e d : "It's c o n n e c t e d i n m y m i n d with

The Story of the Door

a very s t r a n g e story." "Really!" said Mr U t t e r s o n , w i t h a slight c h a n g e of voice. " A n d w h a t was t h a t ? " "Well, i t w a s like this," replied M r Enfield. " I w a s c o m i n g h o m e from some distant place, at a b o u t t h r e e o'clock on a black w i n t e r m o r n i n g , a n d my way lay t h r o u g h a p a r t of L o n d o n w h e r e t h e r e w a s n o t h i n g to be seen but l a m p s . Street after street w i t h all t h e people asleep, street after street all lit up a n d all as e m p t y as a c h u r c h , u n t i l at last I g o t i n t o t h a t state of m i n d in w h i c h a m a n listens a n d listens a n d begins to p r a y for t h e sight of a policeman. S u d d e n l y , I s a w t w o figures: a little m a n w h o w a s w a l k i n g q u i c k l y a h e a d o f m e , a n d a girl o f e i g h t o r ten w h o w a s r u n n i n g as h a r d as she c o u l d d o w n a side street. W e l l , sir, t h e t w o r a n i n t o each other at the corner, a n d t h e n c a m e t h e h o r r i b l e p a r t of it; t h e m a n s t e p p e d calmly o n the child's b o d y a n d left h e r c r y i n g w i t h p a i n a n d s h o c k o n t h e ground. "It doesn't s o u n d very serious, b u t it w a s terrible to see. He w a s n ' t like a m a n — he w a s like s o m e pitiless g r e a t m a c h i n e . I cried o u t a n d r a n after h i m a n d c a u g h t h i m , a n d I b r o u g h t h i m b a c k t o t h e place w h e r e t h e r e was already q u i t e a g r o u p r o u n d t h e u n h a p p y child. H e w a s perfectly relaxed a n d p u t u p n o f i g h t , b u t h e g a v e m e o n e look, s o ugly t h a t i t m a d e m e t r e m b l e . T h e people w h o h a d c o m e o u t into t h e street w e r e t h e girl's o w n family, a n d soon t h e doctor, for w h o m t h e little girl h a d been sent, appeared. "Well, t h e child w a s n ' t b a d l y i n j u r e d ; she w a s m o r e f r i g h t e n e d t h a n hurt, according t o t h e doctor. You m i g h t h a v e s u p p o s e d t h a t t h a t w o u l d be the e n d of t h e m a t t e r , b u t t h e r e w a s o n e s t r a n g e t h i n g a b o u t it. I h a d been f i l l e d w i t h violent h a t r e d o f t h e m a n a t f i r s t sight. S o h a d t h e child's family, w h i c h w a s only n a t u r a l . W h a t s t r u c k m e w a s his effect o n t h e doctor, w h o w a s a very o r d i n a r y m a n , s p e a k i n g E n g l i s h like a S c o t s m a n and extremely u n e m o t i o n a l . W e l l , sir, he w a s like t h e rest of us. E v e r y time h e looked a t m y prisoner, t h a t d o c t o r t u r n e d sick a n d w h i t e w i t h t h e

The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde

desire to kill h i m . I k n e w w h a t w a s in his m i n d , just as h e k n e w w h a t was i n m i n e ; a s k i l l i n g w a s i m p o s s i b l e , w e d i d t h e n e x t best t h i n g . W e told the m a n w e c o u l d a n d w o u l d m a k e such a story o f this t h a t his n a m e w o u l d f i l l e v e r y o n e w i t h d i s g u s t f r o m o n e e n d o f L o n d o n t o t h e other. I f h e had any friends o r respectability, w e p r o m i s e d t h a t h e w o u l d lose t h e m . A n d all t h e t i m e , a s w e w e r e t h r e a t e n i n g h i m , w e w e r e d o i n g o u r best t o k e e p t h e w o m e n off h i m , because they w e r e as w i l d as she-devils. " I ' d n e v e r seen faces f i l l e d w i t h such w i l d h a t e . A n d m y m a n was t h e r e in t h e m i d d l e , w i t h a cold scornful look on his face. I could see that he w a s f r i g h t e n e d too; b u t he s p o k e to us, sir, like t h e devil himself. " 'If you choose to t a k e a d v a n t a g e of this accident,' said h e , 'of course I ' m helpless. L i k e any g e n t l e m a n , I prefer to avoid a scene. Please state your figure.' " W e l l , we forced h i m to pay o u t a h u n d r e d p o u n d s to t h e child's family. H e w o u l d clearly h a v e l i k e d t o refuse. B u t h e c o u l d see t h e r e was s o m e t h i n g d a n g e r o u s i n o u r a n g e r , s o a t last h e a g r e e d . T h e n e x t t h i n g w a s t o get t h e m o n e y . A n d w h e r e d o you t h i n k h e t o o k us? T o t h a t door! He p u l l e d a key o u t of his p o c k e t , w e n t in, a n d soon c a m e b a c k w i t h ten p o u n d s in gold a n d a c h e q u e for t h e rest. T h e c h e q u e w a s payable to 'the b e a r e r ' at C o u t t s ' s B a n k , a n d it w a s signed w i t h a n a m e t h a t I can't m e n t i o n , t h o u g h it's o n e of t h e p o i n t s of my story, a very w e l l - k n o w n n a m e . T h e f i g u r e w a s h i g h , b u t t h e s i g n a t u r e , i f i t w a s real, w o u l d have b e e n good e n o u g h for m u c h m o r e . "I p o i n t e d o u t to h i m t h a t a m a n d o e s n ' t usually w a l k i n t o a h o u s e at four i n t h e m o r n i n g a n d c o m e o u t w i t h a n o t h e r m a n ' s c h e q u e for ninety pounds. But he wasn't worried. " ' T o set y o u r m i n d at rest,' he said scornfully. 'I'll stay w i t h you until t h e b a n k o p e n s a n d p r e s e n t t h e c h e q u e myself.' So we all set off — the doctor, t h e child's father, this m a n a n d myself — a n d we passed t h e rest o f t h e n i g h t a t m y h o u s e . N e x t day, after breakfast, we w e n t t o g e t h e r t o t h e b a n k . I h a n d e d t h e c h e q u e in myself, a n d said I h a d every reason to

The Story of the Door

believe t h a t t h e s i g n a t u r e w a s false. B u t it w a s n ' t . It w a s perfectly g o o d . " "Well, w e l l ! " said M r U t t e r s o n . "I see you feel as I d o , " said Mr Enfield. "Yes, it's a nasty story. My m a n was s o m e o n e w h o n o b o d y w o u l d w a n t t o h a v e d e a l i n g s w i t h , a really unpleasant m a n ; a n d t h e p e r s o n w h o w r o t e t h e c h e q u e i s a n e x t r e m e l y respectable g e n t l e m a n , a n d ( w h a t m a k e s it worse) he is o n e of those w h o really does do g o o d in t h e w o r l d . I s u p p o s e it's a case of b l a c k m a i l ; an honest m a n is h a v i n g to pay heavily for s o m e t h i n g s t u p i d he d i d in his youth. But even t h a t , y o u k n o w , i s far f r o m e x p l a i n i n g e v e r y t h i n g . " A n d with these w o r d s he fell i n t o a t h o u g h t f u l silence. I t was b r o k e n b y M r U t t e r s o n , a s k i n g r a t h e r s u d d e n l y : " Y o u d o n ' t k n o w w h e t h e r t h e m a n w h o w r o t e t h e c h e q u e lives t h e r e ? " "A likely place, isn't i t ? " replied Mr Enfield. " B u t I h a p p e n to h a v e noticed his a d d r e s s . It w a s in s o m e s q u a r e or other, n o t in a street." " A n d you n e v e r a s k e d a b o u t t h a t place w i t h t h e d o o r ? " " N o , sir, I d i d n ' t like t o , " w a s t h e reply. "I feel very strongly a b o u t p u t t i n g q u e s t i o n s . You start o n e , a n d it's like s t a r t i n g to roll a stone. You sit quietly on t h e t o p of a hill, a n d a w a y t h e stone goes, s t a r t i n g o t h e r s ; a n d soon some k i n d - l o o k i n g old m a n (the last p e r s o n you w o u l d h a v e suspected of any c r i m e ) is k n o c k e d on t h e h e a d in his o w n b a c k g a r d e n , and the family h a v e to c h a n g e t h e i r n a m e . N o , sir, I m a k e it a rule; the stranger a n y t h i n g looks, the less I ask." "A very g o o d rule, t o o , " said t h e lawyer. "But I've s t u d i e d t h e place for myself," c o n t i n u e d Mr E n f i e l d . "It hardly seems like a h o u s e . T h e r e ' s no o t h e r door, a n d n o b o d y goes in or out of that one except, very occasionally, t h e g e n t l e m a n I m e t t h a t n i g h t . T h e r e are t h r e e w i n d o w s o n t h e u p p e r floor, a b o v e t h e y a r d , t h o u g h n o n e below; a n d those w i n d o w s a r e a l w a y s s h u t , b u t t h e y ' r e clean. A n d there's a chimney, w h i c h is generally s m o k i n g , so s o m e b o d y m u s t live t h e r e . B u t I'm not quite sure, as the b u i l d i n g s a r e so p a c k e d t o g e t h e r t h a t it's h a r d to say w h e r e one e n d s a n d a n o t h e r b e g i n s . "

The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde

T h e y w a l k e d o n t o g e t h e r for s o m e t i m e i n silence, u n t i l M r Utterson said: " E n f i e l d , that's a g o o d r u l e of y o u r s . " "Yes, I t h i n k it is," replied Enfield. " B u t in spite of t h a t , " c o n t i n u e d t h e lawyer, "there's o n e q u e s t i o n I w a n t t o ask. I w a n t t o ask t h e n a m e o f t h a t m a n w h o s t e p p e d o n the child." " W e l l , " said Mr E n f i e l d , "I c a n ' t see w h a t h a r m it could do if I told you. It w a s a m a n called H y d e . " " O h , " said M r U t t e r s o n . " A n d w h a t d i d h e look l i k e ? " " H e isn't easy t o d e s c r i b e . T h e r e ' s s o m e t h i n g w r o n g w i t h his a p p e a r a n c e , s o m e t h i n g u n p l e a s a n t , s o m e t h i n g terrible. H e ' s t h e nastiest m a n I ever saw, b u t I c a n ' t really say w h y . T h e r e m u s t be something w r o n g w i t h t h e s h a p e of his body, that's w h a t I feel, t h o u g h I can't explain my feeling. H e ' s a very u n u s u a l - l o o k i n g m a n , b u t I c a n ' t describe him. A n d that's n o t for lack of m e m o r y — I can see h i m clearly in my m i n d at this m o m e n t . " Mr U t t e r s o n a g a i n w a l k e d s o m e w a y in silence, a n d plainly in deep thought. " Y o u ' r e sure he used a k e y ? " he i n q u i r e d at last. " M y d e a r sir .. ." b e g a n Mr Enfield, too s u r p r i s e d to say m o r e . "Yes, I k n o w , " said Mr U t t e r s o n . " M y q u e s t i o n m u s t seem strange. A n d if I don't ask you the n a m e of the m a n w h o wrote the cheque, it is because I k n o w it already. You see, R i c h a r d , y o u r story concerns me closely. If y o u ' v e b e e n inexact on any p o i n t , y o u ' d better correct it." " I t h i n k y o u s h o u l d h a v e w a r n e d m e , " his cousin replied, sounding r a t h e r offended. " B u t I've been perfectly exact. T h e m a n h a d a key, and if you w a n t to k n o w , he still has it. I saw h i m use it less t h a n a w e e k ago." Mr U t t e r s o n let o u t a l o n g b r e a t h b u t said n o t h i n g , a n d Mr Enfield soon w e n t on: "I've l e a r n t a n o t h e r lesson. I s h o u l d n ' t h a v e s p o k e n . N o w I ' m a s h a m e d of my overactive t o n g u e . Let's m a k e a p r o m i s e , never to m e n t i o n this m a t t e r a g a i n . "

The Search for Mr Hyde

" W i t h all m y h e a r t , " said t h e lawyer. "I'll s h a k e h a n d s w i t h y o u o n that, R i c h a r d . "

The Search for Mr Hyde

T h a t e v e n i n g M r U t t e r s o n c a m e h o m e i n l o w spirits, a n d sat d o w n t o dinner w i t h o u t any desire for food. He h a d no family, a n d it w a s his custom on S u n d a y s , w h e n this m e a l w a s over, to sit by t h e fire w i t h a religious book until t h e clock o n t h e n e i g h b o u r i n g c h u r c h s t r u c k t w e l v e , and then he w o u l d go q u i e t l y a n d gratefully to b e d . B u t on this n i g h t , as soon as he h a d finished his d i n n e r , he t o o k a c a n d l e a n d w e n t to his study. T h e r e he o p e n e d his safe a n d f r o m a l o c k e d d r a w e r in t h e safe he t o o k o u t a n envelope w i t h " D r Jekyll's W i l l " w r i t t e n o n it. T h e n h e sat d o w n w i t h an anxious face to s t u d y t h e d o c u m e n t . I t was i n D r Jekyll's o w n h a n d w r i t i n g ; M r U t t e r s o n , t h o u g h h e t o o k charge of it w h e n it h a d b e e n m a d e , h a d refused to give any h e l p in m a k i n g it. It said t h a t , in t h e case of t h e d e a t h of H e n r y Jekyll, M . D . , D.C.L., F.R.S., etc., all his possessions w e r e to pass into t h e h a n d s of his "friend E d w a r d H y d e " . B u t t h a t w a s n o t all. I n t h e case o f D r Jekyll's "disappearance o r absence for a n y p e r i o d o f m o r e t h a n t h r e e m o n t h s " , t h e same E d w a r d H y d e s h o u l d t a k e his place w i t h o u t delay, just as if he h a d died, and w i t h o u t any d u t i e s except t h a t o f p a y i n g certain a m o u n t s t o t h e people w o r k i n g i n t h e doctor's h o u s e . T h i s will h a d always offended the lawyer's professional feelings. U p t o n o w h e h a d been a n n o y e d because h e k n e w too little o f M r H y d e . N o w , b y a s u d d e n t u r n o f e v e n t s , h e k n e w too m u c h . I t was bad e n o u g h w h e n t h e n a m e w a s only a n a m e a b o u t w h i c h h e could learn n o m o r e . I t w a s w o r s e w h e n t h a t n a m e b e g a n t o b e c l o t h e d

The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde

w i t h hateful qualities, a n d , o u t of the mists t h a t h a d s u r r o u n d e d it for so l o n g , t h e r e s u d d e n l y a p p e a r e d t h e figure of a devil. "I t h o u g h t it w a s m a d n e s s , " he said to himself, as he replaced t h e will in t h e safe, " a n d n o w I b e g i n to fear t h a t it is s h a m e a n d d i s h o n o u r . " W i t h t h a t he b l e w o u t his c a n d l e , p u t on a coat, a n d set o u t in the d i r e c t i o n o f C a v e n d i s h S q u a r e , w h e r e his friend, t h e g r e a t D r L a n y o n , lived. " L a n y o n will k n o w a b o u t this, i f a n y o n e d o e s , " h e t h o u g h t . T h e old b u t l e r k n e w a n d w e l c o m e d h i m . H e w a s led straight into the d i n i n g r o o m , w h e r e D r L a n y o n sat a l o n e over his w i n e . A t t h e sight o f M r U t t e r s o n h e g o t u p f r o m his c h a i r a n d w e l c o m e d h i m w i t h both h a n d s . F o r these t w o w e r e old friends w h o h a d been a t school a n d college t o g e t h e r ; they n o t only held each o t h e r in g r e a t respect b u t also t h o r o u g h l y enjoyed each o t h e r ' s c o m p a n y . After a s h o r t discussion of o t h e r m a t t e r s , t h e l a w y e r b r o u g h t up the subject t h a t w a s t r o u b l i n g h i m . "I s u p p o s e , L a n y o n , " he said, "you a n d I m u s t be t h e oldest friends t h a t H e n r y Jekyll h a s ? " " I w i s h w e w e r e y o u n g e r friends," D r L a n y o n replied w i t h a laugh. " B u t I s u p p o s e y o u ' r e r i g h t . A n y w a y , it m a k e s no difference, I rarely see h i m these d a y s . " " R e a l l y ! " r e p l i e d M r U t t e r s o n . " I t h o u g h t t h a t a s d o c t o r s y o u had c o m m o n interests." " W e h a d , " w a s t h e reply. " B u t it's m o r e t h a n ten years since H e n r y Jekyll b e c a m e too fanciful for m e . H e b e g a n t o g o w r o n g , w r o n g i n his ideas; a n d t h o u g h of c o u r s e I still t a k e an interest in h i m because of the past I h a r d l y see h i m at all. S u c h unscientific n o n s e n s e , " a d d e d t h e doctor, t u r n i n g s u d d e n l y p u r p l e w i t h a n g e r a t t h e m e m o r y o f it, " w o u l d have s e p a r a t e d even s u c h friends a s D a v i d a n d J o n a t h a n . " T h i s little s h o w of t e m p e r w a s a relief to Mr U t t e r s o n . " T h e y ' v e only q u a r r e l l e d o n s o m e scientific p o i n t , " h e t h o u g h t . "It's

The Search for Mr Hyde

n o t h i n g w o r s e t h a n t h a t . " H e g a v e his friend a few s e c o n d s t o recover a n d then asked t h e q u e s t i o n t h a t h a d b r o u g h t h i m t h e r e . " D i d you ever c o m e across a friend of his, called H y d e ? " he a s k e d . " H y d e ? " r e p e a t e d D r L a n y o n . " N o , I've n e v e r h e a r d o f h i m . H e m u s t be a n e w friend." T h a t w a s all t h e i n f o r m a t i o n t h a t t h e l a w y e r c a r r i e d b a c k w i t h h i m t o the great d a r k bed w h e r e h e lay restless a n d a w a k e until d a y l i g h t c a m e . W h e n t h e c h u r c h clock s t r u c k six h e w a s still a w a k e , a n d h e h a d c o m e n o nearer to solving his p r o b l e m . F r o m t h e n o n , M r U t t e r s o n b e g a n t o w a t c h t h a t d o o r i n t h e side street. Before office h o u r s in t h e m o r n i n g , at m i d d a y w h e n business w a s heavy and t i m e w a s short, at n i g h t i n t h e city fog or u n d e r t h e m o o n , by all lights and at all h o u r s t h e l a w y e r w a s at his c h o s e n post. A n d at last his patience w a s r e w a r d e d . It was a fine d r y n i g h t , t h e air w a s cold, t h e streets w e r e as clean as a b a t h r o o m floor, a n d t h e gas l a m p s , u n s h a k e n b y a n y w i n d , d r e w a r e g u l a r pattern of light a n d s h a d o w . By ten o'clock, w h e n t h e last shops w e r e closed, the street w a s silent. S m a l l s o u n d s travelled a l o n g way, a n d t h e footsteps of any p e r s o n c o m i n g in his d i r e c t i o n r e a c h e d Mr U t t e r s o n ' s ear long before t h e p e r s o n c o u l d be seen. He had been s t a n d i n g t h e r e for s o m e m i n u t e s w h e n he h e a r d a strange, light footstep c o m i n g t o w a r d s h i m . In t h e course of his nightly watches he h a d g r o w n used to t h e s t r a n g e w a y in w h i c h t h e footsteps of a single person, w h i l e he is still a l o n g w a y off, a r e s u d d e n l y so l o u d a n d so clear. But his attention h a d never before b e e n so sharply attracted. W i t h a mysterious feeling t h a t his efforts w e r e a b o u t to succeed, he stepped back into the entrance to t h e yard. T h e steps c a m e r a p i d l y n e a r e r , a n d g r e w s u d d e n l y e v e n l o u d e r a s t h e y turned the corner of the street. T h e lawyer, l o o k i n g o u t from t h e shadows, could see t h e sort o f p e r s o n t h a t h e h a d t o deal w i t h . H e w a s small and very plainly d r e s s e d , a n d t h e l o o k o f h i m , even at t h a t d i s t a n c e ,

The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde

s o m e h o w f i l l e d t h e w a t c h i n g l a w y e r w i t h disgust. N o w t h e m a n was crossing t h e r o a d , t o w a r d s t h e d o o r ; a n d as he crossed he pulled a key f r o m his p o c k e t , l i k e s o m e o n e r e t u r n i n g h o m e . M r U t t e r s o n s t e p p e d o u t into t h e l a m p l i g h t a n d t o u c h e d h i m o n the s h o u l d e r as he passed. "Mr Hyde, I think?" M r H y d e j u m p e d w i t h s u r p r i s e a n d b r e a t h e d i n sharply. B u t his fear passed in a m o m e n t a n d , t h o u g h he d i d n o t look t h e l a w y e r in t h e face, he a n s w e r e d : " T h a t i s m y n a m e . W h a t d o you w a n t ? " "I see t h a t y o u ' r e g o i n g in," replied t h e lawyer. " I ' m an old friend of D r Jekyll's, M r U t t e r s o n o f G a u n t Street. You m u s t h a v e h e a r d m y n a m e , a n d m e e t i n g y o u s o c o n v e n i e n t l y I t h o u g h t you m i g h t let m e in." " Y o u w o n ' t f i n d D r Jekyll," replied M r H y d e . " H e isn't a t h o m e . " A n d t h e n s u d d e n l y , b u t still w i t h o u t l o o k i n g u p , h e a s k e d : " H o w d i d you know me?" "I'll a n s w e r t h a t i f you'll d o s o m e t h i n g for m e , " said M r U t t e r s o n . " W i t h p l e a s u r e . W h a t shall i t b e ? " " W i l l y o u let m e see y o u r face?" t h e l a w y e r a s k e d . M r H y d e s e e m e d t o p a u s e , t h e n h e s u d d e n l y m a d e u p his m i n d and t u r n e d confidently t o w a r d s his q u e s t i o n e r . F o r a few seconds t h e two m e n l o o k e d closely a t each o t h e r . " N o w I shall k n o w you w h e n w e m e e t a g a i n , " said M r U t t e r s o n . "It m a y be useful." "Yes," Mr H y d e a g r e e d , "it w a s necessary for us to m e e t . Y o u ' d better h a v e my a d d r e s s as w e l l . " A n d he g a v e t h e n u m b e r of a h o u s e in a street in S o h o . " G o o d G o d ! " t h o u g h t M r U t t e r s o n . "Is h e , too, t h i n k i n g a b o u t the w i l l ? " B u t he k e p t his feelings to himself. " A n d n o w , " said M r H y d e , "tell m e h o w you k n e w m e . " "By d e s c r i p t i o n . " "Whose description?"

The Search for Mr Hyde

" W e h a v e c o m m o n friends," said M r U t t e r s o n . " C o m m o n f r i e n d s ! " said M r H y d e . " A n d w h o a r e t h e y ? " "Jekyll, for e x a m p l e , " said t h e lawyer. " H e never told y o u , " cried M r H y d e , w i t h a b u r s t o f a n g e r . " I d i d n ' t think you w o u l d lie to m e . " " C o m e , sir," said M r U t t e r s o n , " t h a t i s n o t p r o p e r l a n g u a g e . " M r H y d e g a v e a scornful l a u g h , a n d i n t h e n e x t m o m e n t , w i t h unbelievable speed, h e h a d u n l o c k e d t h e d o o r a n d d i s a p p e a r e d into t h e house. T h e lawyer stood w h e r e M r H y d e h a d left h i m , l o o k i n g a n x i o u s a n d confused. T h e n h e w e n t slowly u p t h e street, p a u s i n g every step o r t w o t o think things through.

A s E n f i e l d h a d said, t h e r e w a s s o m e t h i n g

u n n a t u r a l a b o u t the m a n ' s body. H e h a d a n ugly smile. H e h a d t r e a t e d the lawyer w i t h a m u r d e r o u s m i x t u r e o f fear a n d confidence. He s p o k e in a strange, r o u g h voice. All these w e r e p o i n t s a g a i n s t h i m , b u t t h e y could not explain t h e disgust a n d fear w i t h w h i c h M r U t t e r s o n r e g a r d e d him. " T h e r e m u s t be s o m e t h i n g else," he said to himself. " T h e r e is something, b u t I can't find a n a m e for it. G o d save m e , t h e m a n seems hardly h u m a n ! O r i s it o n l y a n evil soul t h a t poisons a n d twists his w h o l e appearance? I t m u s t b e t h a t , I t h i n k . O h , my p o o r old H a r r y Jekyll, I've never read the devil's h a n d w r i t i n g m o r e clearly on a n y m a n ' s face t h a n on that of your n e w friend." R o u n d the c o r n e r t h e r e w a s a s q u a r e o f g r a n d a n d a n c i e n t houses, most of w h i c h h a d lost t h e i r h o n o u r e d place in society a n d w e r e let as rooms or offices to all sorts of p e o p l e . B u t o n e h o u s e , t h e s e c o n d f r o m t h e corner, was still occupied by a single o w n e r a n d h a d an a p p e a r a n c e of wealth a n d comfort. I t n o w s h o w e d n o light except ov e r t h e front d o o r a t which Mr U t t e r s o n s t o p p e d a n d k n o c k e d . A w e l l - d r e s s e d old b u t l e r opened the door. "Is D r Jekyll a t h o m e , P o o l e ? " a s k e d t h e lawyer.

The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde

"I will see, Mr U t t e r s o n , " said P o o l e , a d m i t t i n g t h e visitor to a large, c o m f o r t a b l e hall full of v a l u a b l e old f u r n i t u r e , w h i c h w a s w a r m e d (as in a g e n t l e m a n ' s c o u n t r y house) by a b r i g h t w o o d fire. " W i l l y o u w a i t h e r e by t h e fire, sir? Or shall I give you a light in the dining room?" " H e r e , t h a n k y o u , " said t h e lawyer, a n d h e w e n t t o w a r m himself b y the fire. T h i s hall, in w h i c h he w a s n o w left a l o n e , w a s a special fancy of his friend t h e doctor, a n d U t t e r s o n h i m s e l f used to speak of it as the pleasantest r o o m in L o n d o n . B u t t o n i g h t t h e r e w a s a coldness in his b l o o d , t h e face of H y d e w a s still fresh in his m e m o r y , a n d he felt (as he rarely d i d ) a sick distaste for life. In these l o w spirits he s e e m e d to feel a t h r e a t o f d a n g e r i n t h e d a n c i n g o f t h e firelight on the polished furniture, a n d i n t h e s h a d o w s t h a t m o v e d restlessly across t h e ceiling. H e was a s h a m e d o f his relief w h e n P o o l e r e t u r n e d t o a n n o u n c e t h a t D r Jekyll had gone out. "I s a w Mr H y d e go in by t h e old l a b o r a t o r y door, Poole. Is t h a t right, w h e n D r Jekyll i s n o t a t h o m e ? " h e a s k e d . "It's q u i t e right, Mr U t t e r s o n , sir," replied t h e butler. " M r H y d e has a key." " Y o u r m a s t e r seems to place a g r e a t deal of t r u s t in t h a t g e n t l e m a n . " "Yes, sir, he does. We all h a v e o r d e r s to obey h i m . " " I d o n ' t t h i n k I've ever m e t M r H y d e h e r e , h a v e I ? " U t t e r s o n asked. " O h n o , sir. He n e v e r eats h e r e , " replied Poole. " I n fact, we rarely see h i m i n this p a r t o f t h e h o u s e . H e mostly c o m e s a n d goes b y t h e laboratory door." "Well, good night, Poole." "Good night, Mr Utterson." A n d t h e l a w y e r set o u t for h o m e w i t h a very heavy h e a r t . " P o o r H a r r y Jekyll," h e w a s t h i n k i n g , " I ' m afraid he's i n serious t r o u b l e ! H e w a s w i l d w h e n h e w a s y o u n g . O f c o u r s e , t h a t w a s a l o n g time

The Search for Mr Hyde

ago, b u t in G o d ' s l a w t i m e does n o t m a k e a p e r s o n less guilty. Yes, it m u s t be that: s o m e old offence, s o m e h i d d e n s h a m e t h a t is e a t i n g a w a y his life like a deadly disease. A n d p u n i s h m e n t has c o m e , slowly b u t surely, years after m e m o r y has f o r g o t t e n t h e fault a n d self-love has excused it." F r i g h t e n e d b y t h a t t h o u g h t , h e b e g a n t o w o r r y a b o u t h i s o w n past, and searched all t h e c o r n e r s of his m e m o r y for any w r o n g d o i n g t h a t m i g h t s u d d e n l y c o m e t o light. H i s past w a s fairly blameless; few m e n could read t h e record of their lives w i t h less fear. B u t he w a s a s h a m e d of the many m i s t a k e s h e h a d m a d e a n d grateful for the m e m o r y o f o t h e r mistakes t h a t h e h a d a l m o s t m a d e b u t h a d a v o i d e d . T h e n his m i n d w e n t back to Jekyll's t r o u b l e , a n d a light of h o p e s u d d e n l y s h o n e t h r o u g h t h e darkness of his t h o u g h t s . "If someone l o o k e d into t h e past of this Mr H y d e , " he said to himself, "they w o u l d surely find t h a t he has secrets of his o w n . D a r k secrets. Secrets that w o u l d m a k e p o o r Jekyll's w o r s t ones seem c o m p l e t e l y u n i m p o r t a n t i n c o m p a r i s o n . T h i n g s c a n n o t c o n t i n u e a s they a r e . I t m a k e s m y blood g o cold t o t h i n k o f this m a n m o v i n g q u i e t l y r o u n d H a r r y ' s house like a thief. A n d t h i n k o f t h e d a n g e r o f it! I f this H y d e k n o w s anything a t all a b o u t t h e will, h e m a y g r o w i m p a t i e n t t o g e t a t H a r r y ' s money a n d property. Yes, I m u s t m a k e every effort to d e s t r o y this m a n , if Harry will let me — if H a r r y will only let m e , " he a d d e d , as he s a w a g a i n in his m i n d , as clearly as in a m i r r o r , t h e s t r a n g e details of his friend's will.

Dr Jekyll

T w o w e e k s later, by excellent g o o d f o r t u n e , t h e d o c t o r g a v e o n e of his pleasantest d i n n e r s to five or six old friends, a n d Mr U t t e r s o n m a n a g e d t o r e m a i n b e h i n d after t h e o t h e r s h a d g o n e h o m e . T h i s w a s n o new a r r a n g e m e n t ; i t h a d often h a p p e n e d before. W h e r e U t t e r s o n w a s liked, h e w a s l i k e d very m u c h . T h o s e w h o invited h i m loved t o k e e p t h e serious l a w y e r a little longer, w h e n t h e i r l i g h t - h e a r t e d a n d l o o s e - t o n g u e d guests w e r e r e a d y t o leave. Dr Jekyll a l w a y s followed this c u s t o m . As he n o w sat on t h e o p p o s i t e side of t h e fire, a large, well-built, s m o o t h - f a c e d m a n of fifty, s o m e t i m e s l o o k i n g a little t o o clever p e r h a p s , b u t t h o r o u g h l y kind a n d able, you could see by his looks t h a t he w a s sincerely fond of Mr Utterson. "I've b e e n w a n t i n g to s p e a k to you, Jekyll," t h e l a w y e r b e g a n . "You r e m e m b e r t h a t will o f y o u r s ? " S o m e o n e w a t c h i n g t h e d o c t o r closely m i g h t h a v e noticed that he f o u n d t h e subject r a t h e r u n p l e a s a n t , b u t h e a n s w e r e d q u i t e cheerfully. " M y p o o r U t t e r s o n , " said h e , " y o u ' r e u n f o r t u n a t e i n h a v i n g t o advise a m a n like m e . I n e v e r s a w a n y o n e so upset as you w e r e by my will." "You k n o w I n e v e r a p p r o v e d of it, d o n ' t y o u ? " "Yes, certainly. I k n o w t h a t , " t h e d o c t o r replied, a little sharply. " Y o u ' v e told me so several t i m e s . " " W e l l , I'll tell you so a g a i n , " c o n t i n u e d t h e lawyer. "I've been learning s o m e t h i n g a b o u t y o u r friend H y d e . " Dr Jekyll's big h e a l t h y face t u r n e d pale a n d an a n g r y look c a m e into his eyes. "I d o n ' t w a n t to h e a r any m o r e , " said he. "I t h o u g h t w e ' d agreed t o d r o p this m a t t e r . " " W h a t I h e a r d w a s s h a m e f u l , " said U t t e r s o n . "It can m a k e n o difference. You d o n ' t u n d e r s t a n d m y position," the

Dr Jekyll

doctor replied, w i t h a certain confusion of m a n n e r . " I ' m in a delicate situation, U t t e r s o n , a very s t r a n g e s i t u a t i o n . It's o n e of t h o s e p r o b l e m s that cannot be solved by t a l k i n g . " "Jekyll," said U t t e r s o n , "you k n o w m e . I ' m a m a n t h a t y o u c a n trust. Tell me w h a t has h a p p e n e d , in confidence. I ' m sure I can h e l p y o u o u t of your trouble." "My dear U t t e r s o n , " said t h e doctor, "this is e x t r e m e l y k i n d of you, and I can't find t h e w o r d s to express my t h a n k s . I w o u l d t r u s t y o u m o r e than any m a n alive, even m o r e t h a n myself, if I c o u l d m a k e t h e choice. But my trouble is n o t w h a t y o u i m a g i n e ; it isn't as b a d as t h a t . Just to p u t your good h e a r t at rest, I'll tell you o n e t h i n g : I can be rid of Mr H y d e whenever I choose. I p r o m i s e you t h a t . A n d I t h a n k you a g a i n a n d a g a i n for your concern. B u t I'll just a d d o n e little w o r d , U t t e r s o n , a n d I ' m sure you won't be offended. T h i s is a p r i v a t e m a t t e r , a n d I b e g you to let it rest." Utterson c o n s i d e r e d this a little, l o o k i n g into t h e fire. "I've no d o u b t y o u ' r e perfectly r i g h t , " he said at last, g e t t i n g to his feet. "Good. But since w e ' v e t o u c h e d on this business, for t h e last t i m e I hope," c o n t i n u e d t h e doctor, "there's o n e p o i n t I s h o u l d like you to understand. I really h a v e a very g r e a t interest in p o o r H y d e . I k n o w you've seen h i m ; he told me so, a n d I fear he w a s r u d e to you. B u t I do sincerely take a g r e a t interest in h i m . A n d if I ' m t a k e n away, U t t e r s o n , I want you t o p r o m i s e m e t h a t you'll be p a t i e n t w i t h h i m a n d get his r i g h t s for him. I t h i n k y o u ' d do t h a t if you k n e w e v e r y t h i n g . It w o u l d t a k e a weight off my m i n d if you w o u l d p r o m i s e . " "I can't p r e t e n d t h a t I shall ever like h i m , " said t h e lawyer. "I don't ask t h a t , " b e g g e d Jekyll, l a y i n g his h a n d on his friend's a r m , "I only ask for justice. I only ask you to h e l p h i m w h e n I ' m no l o n g e r here." Utterson looked at h i m closely. "Very well," he said. "I p r o m i s e . "

The Carew Murder Case N e a r l y a year later, o n e cold O c t o b e r m o r n i n g , L o n d o n w a s shocked by an u n u s u a l l y h o r r i b l e c r i m e , a c r i m e t h a t a t t r a c t e d p a r t i c u l a r attention because of t h e h i g h social position of t h e victim. T h e details w e r e few and s u r p r i s i n g . A s e r v a n t girl, living a l o n e in a h o u s e n o t far from the river, h a d g o n e u p s t a i r s to b e d at a b o u t eleven o'clock. A l t h o u g h a thick fog rolled over t h e city before d a y b r e a k , t h e early p a r t of t h e n i g h t h a d been cloudless, a n d t h e n a r r o w street b e l o w this girl's w i n d o w w a s brightly lit by t h e full m o o n . B e i n g a fanciful girl, she sat d o w n by t h e w i n d o w and fell i n t o a d r e a m . N e v e r (she used to say, w i t h s t r e a m i n g tears, w h e n she d e s c r i b e d t h a t e x p e r i e n c e ) , n e v e r h a d she felt h a p p i e r or m o r e at peace. As she sat t h e r e , she n o t i c e d a p l e a s a n t - l o o k i n g old g e n t l e m a n w i t h white h a i r w h o w a s c o m i n g a l o n g t h e n a r r o w street; a n d w a l k i n g t o w a r d s him t h e r e w a s a n o t h e r g e n t l e m a n , a very small one, of w h o m at first she took less notice. W h e n they m e t , just b e l o w t h e girl's w i n d o w , t h e o l d e r m a n greeted t h e o t h e r very politely. It d i d n o t seem as if he h a d a n y t h i n g very i m p o r t a n t to say; in fact he a p p e a r e d from his p o i n t i n g only to be asking t h e w a y s o m e w h e r e . B u t t h e m o o n s h o n e o n his face a s h e s p o k e , a n d the girl w a s h a p p y to w a t c h it. It s h o w e d such o l d - f a s h i o n e d k i n d n e s s , but t h e r e w a s s o m e t h i n g finer in it too, a sort of c o n f i d e n t self-respect. T h e n h e r eye w a n d e r e d t o t h e o t h e r g e n t l e m a n , a n d she w a s surprised to recognise a certain Mr H y d e , w h o h a d once visited h e r employer. On t h a t occasion she h a d t a k e n a n i m m e d i a t e dislike t o h i m . H e h a d i n his h a n d a heavy w a l k i n g stick, w h i c h he w a s p l a y i n g w i t h i m p a t i e n t l y as he listened to t h e old m a n . All of a s u d d e n , w i t h o u t a n s w e r i n g , he started s h o u t i n g in a b u r s t of w i l d a n g e r , s t a m p i n g w i t h his foot, wildly waving his stick, a n d b e h a v i n g (as t h e girl described it) like a m a d m a n . T h e old

The Carew Murder Case

gentleman t o o k a step b a c k , as if he w e r e very m u c h s u r p r i s e d a n d perhaps r a t h e r offended, a n d a t t h a t M r H y d e c o m p l e t e l y lost his t e m p e r and struck h i m t o t h e g r o u n d . T h e n e x t m o m e n t , h e w a s s t a m p i n g o n him like a wild a n i m a l a n d r a i n i n g such violent b l o w s on t h e fallen b o d y that the girl c o u l d h e a r t h e b o n e s c r a c k i n g . At t h e h o r r o r of these sights and sounds she t h e n fainted. It was t w o o'clock w h e n she r e c o v e r e d consciousness a n d called t h e police. T h e m u r d e r e r h a d g o n e l o n g a g o , b u t t h e r e lay his victim i n t h e street, indescribably b r o k e n a n d c r u s h e d . T h e stick w h i c h t h e m u r d e r e r had used, a l t h o u g h it w a s m a d e of a r a r e a n d very h a r d w o o d , h a d b e e n broken in t h e m i d d l e by this m a d cruelty; o n e h a l f lay by t h e body, t h e other had doubtless b e e n carried a w a y b y t h e m u r d e r e r . S o m e m o n e y a n d a gold watch w e r e f o u n d on t h e victim, b u t no c a r d s or p a p e r s except a sealed and s t a m p e d e n v e l o p e t h a t h e h a d p r o b a b l y b e e n t a k i n g t o t h e post. I t bore t h e n a m e a n d a d d r e s s o f M r U t t e r s o n . This was b r o u g h t t o t h e l a w y e r t h e n e x t m o r n i n g before h e w a s o u t o f bed. As soon as he s a w it a n d h e a r d a b o u t t h e s i t u a t i o n , he l o o k e d very worried. "I shall say n o t h i n g u n t i l I've seen t h e body," he told t h e p o l i c e m a n . "This may be very serious. Please w a i t d o w n s t a i r s w h i l e I d r e s s . " W i t h the s a m e a n x i o u s look o n his face, h e h u r r i e d t h r o u g h his breakfast a n d d r o v e t o t h e police station w h e r e t h e b o d y h a d been t a k e n . "Yes," he said, "I recognise h i m . I ' m sorry to say t h a t this is Sir Danvers C a r e w . " "Good G o d , sir!" said t h e police officer. "Is it possible?" T h e next moment his eyes lit up w i t h professional interest. " T h i s affair will cause a great deal of e x c i t e m e n t , " he said. " P e r h a p s you can h e l p us to find t h e m u r d e r e r ? " A n d h e described w h a t t h e girl h a d seen, a n d p r o d u c e d t h e broken stick. Mr Utterson h a d a l r e a d y felt a n x i o u s at t h e m e n t i o n of t h e n a m e Hyde. W h e n the stick w a s laid in front of h i m , he h a d no m o r e d o u b t s

The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde

a b o u t w h o h a d u s e d it, for he recognised it as o n e t h a t he h i m s e l f had p r e s e n t e d m a n y years before t o H e n r y Jekyll. "Is this M r H y d e a s h o r t p e r s o n ? " h e i n q u i r e d . " P a r t i c u l a r l y small a n d p a r t i c u l a r l y evil-looking, that's w h a t t h e girl told u s , " said t h e officer. Mr U t t e r s o n c o n s i d e r e d this, a n d t h e n , raising his h e a d , said "If you'll c o m e w i t h me in my c a r r i a g e , I t h i n k I can t a k e you to his h o u s e . " A s t h e c a r r i a g e s t o p p e d i n front o f t h e S o h o a d d r e s s t h a t H y d e had g i v e n h i m , t h e fog cleared a little a n d Mr U t t e r s o n l o o k e d a r o u n d . He s a w a d u l l a n d d i r t y street, a beer s h o p , a c h e a p foreign r e s t a u r a n t , a n u m b e r o f p o o r l y c l o t h e d c h i l d r e n t r e m b l i n g w i t h cold i n t h e doorways, a n d w o m e n o f m a n y different nationalities m a k i n g their w a y t o t h e shop for a m o r n i n g glass of beer. T h e n e x t m o m e n t t h e fog settled d o w n again a n d c u t h i m off f r o m his evil s u r r o u n d i n g s . H e r e w a s t h e h o m e o f Henry Jekyll's favourite, t h e m a n w h o w o u l d be a q u a r t e r of a m i l l i o n pounds r i c h e r o n Jekyll's d e a t h . A silver-haired old w o m a n o p e n e d t h e door. She h a d an evil face, but h e r m a n n e r s w e r e excellent. Yes, she said, this w a s Mr H y d e ' s house, but he w a s n o t a t h o m e . H e h a d c o m e i n very late i n the n i g h t a n d h a d g o n e again in less t h a n an h o u r ; t h e r e w a s n o t h i n g strange in that, since his habits were very i r r e g u l a r a n d he w a s often away for long periods. Yesterday, for e x a m p l e , w a s t h e f i r s t t i m e she h a d seen h i m for t w o m o n t h s . "Very well t h e n , we w i s h to see his r o o m s , " said t h e lawyer. A n d when t h e w o m a n said t h a t it w a s impossible, he a d d e d : "I'd better tell you who this p e r s o n is. T h i s is I n s p e c t o r N e w c o m e , of S c o t l a n d Y a r d . " A flash of cruel joy a p p e a r e d on t h e w o m a n ' s face. " A h ! " said she. " H e ' s i n t r o u b l e ! W h a t has h e d o n e ? " M r U t t e r s o n a n d t h e inspector e x c h a n g e d looks. " H e d o e s n ' t s e e m a very p o p u l a r character," t h e p o l i c e m a n remarked. " A n d n o w , m y g o o d w o m a n , just let m e a n d this g e n t l e m a n h a v e a look round."

The Carew Murder Case

I n the w h o l e h o u s e , w h i c h w a s e m p t y except for t h e old w o m a n , M r Hyde h a d used only t w o r o o m s , b u t these c o n t a i n e d e x p e n s i v e f u r n i t u r e and w e r e d e c o r a t e d in g o o d taste. A c u p b o a r d w a s filled w i t h w i n e , t h e spoons a n d forks w e r e o f silver, a n d several g o o d p i c t u r e s h u n g o n t h e walls (gifts from Jekyll, U t t e r s o n s u p p o s e d ) . B u t at this m o m e n t t h e rooms s h o w e d every sign of a r e c e n t a n d h u r r i e d search. C l o t h e s lay on the f l o o r , w i t h their pockets inside o u t , d r a w e r s w e r e o p e n , a n d i n t h e fireplace t h e r e w a s a pile of grey ashes, as if m a n y p a p e r s h a d been burned. F r o m these t h e inspector p i c k e d o u t t h e t h i c k e n d o f a g r e e n chequebook w h i c h h a d failed t o b u r n . T h e o t h e r h a l f o f t h e b r o k e n stick was found b e h i n d t h e door, a n d as this r e m o v e d all d o u b t s , t h e officer said that he w a s h a p p y . A visit to t h e b a n k , w h e r e several t h o u s a n d pounds were found to be lying in t h e m u r d e r e r ' s a c c o u n t , c o m p l e t e d his satisfaction. " I have h i m i n m y h a n d s , sir," h e told M r U t t e r s o n . " Y o u can d e p e n d o n that. H e m u s t h a v e been m a d w i t h fear, o r h e w o u l d n e v e r h a v e left that b r o k e n stick a n d b u r n e d t h a t c h e q u e b o o k . H e ' l l n e e d m o n e y , s o w e have n o t h i n g t o d o b u t w a i t for h i m a t t h e b a n k , a n d p u t o u t s o m e public notices a n n o u n c i n g t h a t he is w a n t e d for m u r d e r . " But describing h i m i n t h e notices w a s n o t s o easy. M r H y d e w a s known t o few; even t h e girl's e m p l o y e r h a d only seen h i m tw i c e . H e seemed to have no family, he h a d n e v e r b e e n p h o t o g r a p h e d , a n d different people gave widely different d e s c r i p t i o n s , a s they usually d o . O n l y on o n e point did they all a g r e e : t h e r e w a s s o m e t h i n g m y s t e r i o u s l y u n n a t u r a l about his a p p e a r a n c e .

The Letter

I t w a s late i n t h e a f t e r n o o n w h e n M r U t t e r s o n r e a c h e d D r Jekyll's door, w h e r e h e w a s a t o n c e a d m i t t e d b y Poole, a n d led d o w n past t h e kitchen a n d across a g a r d e n t o t h e b u i l d i n g t h a t w a s k n o w n a s t h e laboratory. I t w a s t h e f i r s t t i m e t h a t t h e l a w y e r h a d been received t h e r e , instead o f i n t h e h o u s e . H e e x a m i n e d t h e dirty, u n w e l c o m i n g b u i l d i n g with interest, a n d felt s t r a n g e l y u n c o m f o r t a b l e as he passed t h r o u g h t h e silent l a b o r a t o r y itself; c h e m i c a l e q u i p m e n t covered its tables, o p e n packing cases w e r e scattered a r o u n d t h e floor, a n d a w e a k light fell t h r o u g h a d u s t y w i n d o w h i g h in t h e roof. At t h e far e n d , stairs led up to t h e doctor's study. T h i s w a s a l a r g e r o o m , lit by t h r e e old w i n d o w s w i t h iron bars that l o o k e d o u t across a y a r d . Its f u r n i t u r e i n c l u d e d a d e s k , several glassfronted c u p b o a r d s , a n d a l o n g m i r r o r fixed to t h e wall. A fire was b u r n i n g a n d t h e l a m p w a s a l r e a d y lit on a shelf a b o v e it, a n d t h e r e , close to t h e w a r m t h , sat Dr Jekyll, l o o k i n g as sick as a m a n on his d e a t h b e d . He d i d n o t rise to g r e e t his visitor, b u t h e l d o u t a cold h a n d a n d welcomed h i m in a c h a n g e d voice. " A n d n o w , " said Mr U t t e r s o n , as soon as t h e b u t l e r h a d left them, "you've heard the n e w s ? " T h e d o c t o r t r e m b l e d . " T h e y w e r e c r y i n g it in t h e s q u a r e , " he said. "I heard them from my dining room." " O n e w o r d , " said t h e lawyer. "I w a s C a r e w ' s professional adviser, as I a m y o u r s , a n d I w a n t t o k n o w w h a t I ' m d o i n g . You h a v e n ' t been mad e n o u g h t o h i d e this m a n ? " " U t t e r s o n , I s w e a r to G o d , " cried t h e doctor, "I s w e a r to G o d I will n e v e r see h i m a g a i n . I p r o m i s e you on my h o n o u r t h a t I've finished with h i m in this w o r l d . It's all at an e n d . In fact, he d o e s n ' t w a n t my h e l p . You d o n ' t k n o w h i m as I d o . H e ' s safe, q u i t e safe. H e ' l l n e v e r be h e a r d of

The Letter

again, you can d e p e n d on t h a t . " T h e l a w y e r listened anxiously; he d i d not like his friend's feverish manner. "You seem s u r e of t h a t , " said h e , " a n d I h o p e y o u ' r e r i g h t . If he w e r e tried in court, y o u r n a m e m i g h t a p p e a r . " "I'm q u i t e s u r e of it," Jekyll replied. "I h a v e reasons to be c e r t a i n t h a t I can't share w i t h a n y o n e . B u t there's o n e t h i n g o n w h i c h you m a y advise me. I have — I h a v e received a letter, a n d I ' m w o n d e r i n g w h e t h e r I should s h o w it to t h e police. I'd like to leave it in y o u r h a n d s , U t t e r s o n . You'll j u d g e wisely, I k n o w . I h a v e such g r e a t t r u s t in y o u . " "You're afraid, I s u p p o s e , t h a t it m i g h t lead to his d i s c o v e r y ? " a s k e d the lawyer. " N o . I d o n ' t really care w h a t h a p p e n s t o H y d e ; I've f i n i s h e d w i t h h i m . I was t h i n k i n g o f m y o w n g o o d n a m e , w h i c h this h o r r i b l e business has rather p u t in d a n g e r . " Utterson t h o u g h t for a m o m e n t . He w a s s u r p r i s e d at his friend's words, a n d yet relieved by t h e m . "Well," he said at last, "let me see t h e letter." T h e letter w a s w r i t t e n i n a n u n u s u a l u p r i g h t h a n d , a n d signed, " E d w a r d H y d e " . I t stated, i n very few w o r d s , t h a t t h e w r i t e r ' s friend, Dr Jekyll, w h o m he h a d so shamefully t r e a t e d in r e t u r n for a t h o u s a n d kindnesses, n e e d n o t be w o r r i e d a b o u t his safety, as he h a d a c o m p l e t e l y dependable m e a n s of escape. T h e lawyer w a s fairly pleased w i t h this letter. I t m a d e t h e f r i e n d s h i p seem less shameful t h a n he h a d t h o u g h t , a n d he b l a m e d h i m s e l f for s o m e of his past suspicions. "Do you h a v e t h e e n v e l o p e ? " h e a s k e d . "I b u r n e d it," Jekyll replied, "before I realised w h a t I w a s d o i n g . B u t it had no p o s t m a r k ; it w a s b r o u g h t by h a n d . " "Shall I k e e p i t a n d m a k e u p m y m i n d i n t h e m o r n i n g ? " U t t e r s o n asked.

The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde

"I w i s h y o u to j u d g e for m e , " w a s t h e reply. "I've lost confidence in myself." " W e l l , I shall t h i n k a b o u t it," replied t h e lawyer. " A n d n o w o n e word m o r e . W a s i t H y d e w h o m a d e you p u t t h a t s e n t e n c e i n y o u r will about 'disappearance'? " T h e d o c t o r s u d d e n l y l o o k e d terribly w e a k ; h e s h u t his m o u t h tightly b u t his expression m a d e it clear t h a t his friend's g u e s s w a s correct. " I k n e w it," said U t t e r s o n . " H e m e a n t t o m u r d e r you. You've had a n a r r o w escape." "I've h a d s o m e t h i n g far m o r e i m p o r t a n t t h a n t h a t , " replied the doctor. "I've h a d a lesson, U t t e r s o n . O h , my G o d , w h a t a lesson I've had!" A n d h e c o v e r e d his face for a m o m e n t w i t h his h a n d s . O n his w a y o u t , t h e l a w y e r s t o p p e d a n d h a d a w o r d o r t w o w i t h Poole. " A letter c a m e today, b y h a n d , " h e said. " W h a t w a s t h e m e s s e n g e r like?" B u t P o o l e w a s c e r t a i n t h a t n o t h i n g h a d c o m e except b y post. "And t h a t w a s only a bill," he a d d e d . T h i s n e w s b r o u g h t b a c k all U t t e r s o n ' s fears. Plainly t h e letter h a d come t h r o u g h the laboratory d o o r in the side street. Possibly it h a d even been w r i t t e n in the doctor's study. If t h a t w e r e so, it w o u l d h a v e to be differently j u d g e d a n d h a n d l e d w i t h g r e a t care. T h e n e w s p a p e r boys, a s h e went, w e r e c r y i n g loudly a l o n g t h e streets: "Special n e w s ! S h o c k i n g m u r d e r ! " Soon he w o u l d be at t h e funeral of o n e old friend, a n d he could not h e l p b e i n g r a t h e r afraid t h a t t h e g o o d n a m e o f a n o t h e r w o u l d b e buried in t h e s a m e g r a v e . It w a s a very delicate decision t h a t he h a d to make a b o u t t h e letter, a n d he b e g a n to feel t h e n e e d for s o m e advice. He could not ask for it directly, b u t p e r h a p s he could get it in an indirect way. H a l f an h o u r later he w a s sitting at o n e side of t h e fire in his study, w i t h M r G u e s t , his h e a d clerk, a t t h e o t h e r side. H a l f w a y b e t w e e n them stood a bottle of a p a r t i c u l a r old w i n e t h a t he k e p t for r a t h e r special occasions. O u t s i d e t h e w i n d o w s a cold fog h a d settled over the city, but inside t h e r o o m w a s b r i g h t w i t h firelight.

The Letter

A t f i r s t h e felt a w k w a r d , n o t k n o w i n g h o w t o i n t r o d u c e t h e subject. With the w a r m t h o f t h e f i r e a n d t h e g o o d r e d w i n e , this a w k w a r d n e s s gradually m e l t e d away. T h e r e w a s n o m a n h e t r u s t e d m o r e t h a n G u e s t with professional secrets; in fact, he h a d s o m e t i m e s told h i m m o r e t h a n he m e a n t to. G u e s t h a d often b e e n on business to t h e doctor's h o u s e ; he knew Poole; he could h a r d l y h a v e failed to h e a r of Mr H y d e ' s s t r a n g e position t h e r e ; h e m i g h t already h a v e his o w n suspicions. Surely, t h e n , h e had better see a letter t h a t h e l p e d to e x p l a i n t h e m y s t e r y ? Besides, his professional o p i n i o n w a s w o r t h h e a r i n g . H e w o u l d h a r d l y read such a strange letter w i t h o u t m a k i n g s o m e r e m a r k s , a n d those r e m a r k s m i g h t guide Mr U t t e r s o n ' s course in d e a l i n g w i t h it. "This is a sad business a b o u t Sir D a n v e r s , " he said. "Yes, sir, it is. It has caused s t r o n g p u b l i c feeling," G u e s t replied. " T h e man, of course, w a s m a d . " "I should like to h e a r y o u r views on t h a t . I've a letter h e r e in his handwriting. It's a secret b e t w e e n ourselves, as I h a r d l y k n o w w h a t to do about it. W h a t e v e r it m a y m e a n , it's a nasty business. B u t t h e r e it is, a n d it will interest you: a m u r d e r e r ' s h a n d w r i t i n g ! " Guest's eyes b r i g h t e n e d , a n d he sat back a n d s t u d i e d t h e letter excitedly. " N o , sir," he said after a m o m e n t . " T h e m a n is n o t m a d , b u t it's very strange w r i t i n g . " " A n d a very s t r a n g e w r i t e r , by all a c c o u n t s , " a d d e d t h e lawyer. Just then a s e r v a n t e n t e r e d w i t h a n o t e . "Is that from Dr Jekyll, s i r ? " i n q u i r e d t h e clerk. "It is? I t h o u g h t I recognised t h e w r i t i n g . A n y t h i n g p r i v a t e , M r U t t e r s o n ? " "Only a n invitation t o d i n n e r . W h y ? D o y o u w a n t t o see i t ? " "For a m o m e n t , sir, if I m a y . " A n d t h e clerk laid t h e t w o pieces of paper d o w n n e x t t o each o t h e r a n d carefully c o m p a r e d t h e m . " T h a n k you, sir," he said at last. "It's very i n t e r e s t i n g h a n d w r i t i n g . " T h e r e was a p a u s e w h i l e M r U t t e r s o n s t r u g g l e d w i t h himself. " W h y did you c o m p a r e t h e m , G u e s t ? " h e a s k e d s u d d e n l y .

The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde

" W e l l , sir," t h e c l e r k a n s w e r e d , "there's a r a t h e r s t r a n g e likeness b e t w e e n t h e m . In m a n y w a y s t h e y ' r e t h e s a m e , except for being differently sloped." " R a t h e r u n u s u a l , " said U t t e r s o n . "It is, as y o u say, r a t h e r u n u s u a l , " G u e s t a g r e e d . "It w o u l d be u n w i s e to speak of this, G u e s t , " said his employer. "Yes, sir," t h e clerk replied, "I u n d e r s t a n d . " N o sooner w a s M r U t t e r s o n a l o n e t h a t n i g h t t h a n h e locked the letter s i g n e d " E d w a r d H y d e " i n his safe, w h e r e i t lay f r o m t h e n on. " W h a t ! " he w h i s p e r e d to himself. " W o u l d H e n r y Jekyll w r i t e a false n o t e a n d sign it w i t h t h e n a m e of a m u r d e r e r ? "

The Mysterious Death of Dr Lanyon

T i m e passed. T h o u s a n d s of p o u n d s w e r e offered as a r e w a r d for any i n f o r m a t i o n , b u t M r H y d e h a d d i s a p p e a r e d a s i f h e h a d never existed. M u c h of his past w a s d u g u p , a n d it w a s all s h a m e f u l . Stories w e r e told of his pitiless cruelty a n d violence, of his i m m o r a l life, of his strange b e h a v i o u r , of t h e h a t r e d t h a t s e e m e d to h a v e s u r r o u n d e d h i m . But not a w h i s p e r w a s h e a r d of his p r e s e n t h i d i n g place. F r o m t h e t i m e he left the h o u s e i n S o h o o n t h e m o r n i n g o f t h e m u r d e r , h e h a d s i m p l y melted into t h e L o n d o n fog. G r a d u a l l y , as t h e w e e k s passed, Mr U t t e r s o n b e g a n to forget his fears. T h e d e a t h of Sir D a n v e r s w a s , in his o p i n i o n , fully paid for by the d i s a p p e a r a n c e of H y d e . At t h e s a m e t i m e a n e w life b e g a n for Dr Jekyll, n o w t h a t H y d e ' s evil influence h a d been r e m o v e d . H e w e n t out more frequently, s t r e n g t h e n e d his ties w i t h old friends, a n d b e c a m e once more

The Mysterious Death of Dr Lanyon

their familiar g u e s t a n d e n t e r t a i n e r . H e h a d a l w a y s b e e n k n o w n for his generosity to t h e poor; he w a s n o w equally recognised for t h e s t r e n g t h of his religious beliefs. He w a s busy; he spent a g r e a t deal of t i m e in t h e o p e n air instead of s h u t t i n g h i m s e l f up in his l a b o r a t o r y ; he w a s k i n d a n d generous to people, a n d he did good. T h e expression on his face w a s brighter a n d m o r e sincere, as if w i t h consciousness of service, a n d for more than t w o m o n t h s t h e d o c t o r w a s a t peace. O n J a n u a r y 8th U t t e r s o n h a d h a d d i n n e r at t h e doctor's w i t h a number o f o t h e r s . L a n y o n h a d b e e n t h e r e , a n d t h e i r host's eyes h a d turned from o n e to t h e o t h e r as in t h e old days w h e n t h e t h r e e w e r e t h e closest friends. B u t on t h e 12th, a n d a g a i n on t h e 14th, t h e l a w y e r w a s refused entry to t h e h o u s e . "Dr Jekyll," said Poole, "will go n o w h e r e a n d see no o n e . " On the 15th U t t e r s o n tried a g a i n , a n d w a s a g a i n refused. F o r t h e last two m o n t h s he h a d been seeing his friend a l m o s t daily; n o w he m i s s e d his company a n d felt u n h a p p y w i t h o u t it. T h e n e x t n i g h t he invited G u e s t to have dinner w i t h h i m , a n d t h e n i g h t after t h a t h e w e n t t o see D r L a n y o n . T h e r e a t least he w a s n o t refused entry, b u t w h e n he w e n t in he w a s shocked a t t h e c h a n g e t h a t h a d t a k e n place i n t h e doctor's a p p e a r a n c e . H e looked like s o m e o n e w h o has b e e n t h r e a t e n e d w i t h d e a t h . H i s rosy face had g r o w n pale, he h a d lost a lot of w e i g h t a n d m o s t of his hair, a n d he looked very m u c h older. B u t w h a t s t r u c k t h e l a w y e r w a s n o t just these signs of s u d d e n decay in his friend's b o d y ; he w a s s t r u c k e v e n m o r e by a look in the eye a n d a s t r a n g e n e s s of m a n n e r t h a t could only be caused by some deep-seated t e r r o r of t h e m i n d . It w a s u n l i k e l y t h a t t h e d o c t o r would fear d e a t h , b u t t h a t w a s w h a t U t t e r s o n w a s t e m p t e d to suspect. "Yes," h e t h o u g h t , "he's a d o c t o r a n d h e m u s t k n o w his o w n condition. T h e k n o w l e d g e o f his c o m i n g d e a t h i s m o r e t h a n h e can bear." But w h e n U t t e r s o n r e m a r k e d h o w ill h e l o o k e d , t h e d o c t o r d e c l a r e d in a perfectly firm a n d n a t u r a l m a n n e r t h a t he w a s a d y i n g m a n . "I've had a s h o c k , " he said, " a n d I shall n e v e r recover. It's a q u e s t i o n

The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde

of w e e k s . W e l l , life h a s been pleasant. I liked it; yes, sir, I used to like it. I s o m e t i m e s t h i n k t h a t if we k n e w e v e r y t h i n g , w e ' d be m o r e pleased to get away." "Jekyll's ill, t o o , " U t t e r s o n told h i m . " H a v e you seen h i m since we had dinner there?" L a n y o n ' s face c h a n g e d , a n d he h e l d up a t r e m b l i n g h a n d . "I don't w i s h to see or h e a r a n y m o r e of H e n r y Jekyll," he said in a l o u d , unsteady voice. "I've q u i t e finished w i t h t h a t p e r s o n . I b e g y o u to m a k e no further m e n t i o n of s o m e o n e w h o I r e g a r d as d e a d . " Mr U t t e r s o n w a s s h o c k e d by L a n y o n ' s w o r d s . T h e n , after a pause, he a s k e d : " C a n ' t I do a n y t h i n g ? W e ' r e t h r e e very old friends, Lanyon. We s h a n ' t m a k e such friends a g a i n . " " N o t h i n g can b e d o n e , " L a n y o n replied. " A s k Jekyll himself." " H e refuses t o see m e , " said t h e lawyer. " I ' m n o t s u r p r i s e d at t h a t , " w a s t h e reply. " S o m e day, Utterson, after I ' m d e a d , y o u m a y p e r h a p s l e a r n t h e t r u t h . I c a n n o t tell you. N o w , if you can sit a n d talk w i t h me a b o u t o t h e r t h i n g s , stay a n d do so. B u t if you can't avoid this u n p l e a s a n t subject, t h e n in G o d ' s n a m e go, because I cannot bear it." As soon as he g o t h o m e , U t t e r s o n sat d o w n a n d w r o t e to Jekyll, c o m p l a i n i n g t h a t he w a s n o t a l l o w e d to see h i m a n d a s k i n g the cause of his q u a r r e l w i t h L a n y o n . T h e n e x t d a y b r o u g h t h i m a l o n g answer, often very pitifully expressed a n d s o m e t i m e s d a r k l y m y s t e r i o u s . " T h e q u a r r e l w i t h L a n y o n c a n n o t b e m a d e t o g o away," Jekyll wrote. "I d o n ' t b l a m e o u r old friend, b u t I s h a r e his v i e w t h a t we m u s t never m e e t . F r o m n o w o n , I m e a n to live q u i t e alone. You m u s t n ' t be surprised, n o r m u s t you d o u b t my f r i e n d s h i p , if my d o o r is often shut even to you. You m u s t let me go my o w n d a r k way. I've b r o u g h t on myself a p u n i s h m e n t a n d a d a n g e r t h a t I c a n n o t n a m e . If I h a v e been the most evil of m e n , I h a v e also suffered t h e m o s t for my evil. I n e v e r imagined that such suffering a n d t e r r o r w e r e possible in this w o r l d . T h e r e ' s only one

The Mysterious Death of Dr Lanyon

thing that you can d o , U t t e r s o n , t o h e l p m e bear w h a t has h a p p e n e d , a n d that is to ask me n o t h i n g a b o u t it." Utterson could h a r d l y believe w h a t h e w a s r e a d i n g . Since H y d e ' s dark influence h a d b e e n r e m o v e d , t h e d o c t o r h a d r e t u r n e d t o his old duties and friendships. A w e e k ago he h a d b e e n l o o k i n g f o r w a r d to a bright and h o n o u r e d f u t u r e . B u t n o w , in a m o m e n t , f r i e n d s h i p a n d peace of mind a n d t h e w h o l e course of his life w e r e d e s t r o y e d . S u c h a s u d d e n and unexpected c h a n g e s e e m e d at first like a sign of m a d n e s s , b u t w h e n Utterson r e m e m b e r e d L a n y o n ' s m a n n e r a n d w o r d s , h e realised t h a t t h e r e must be some d e e p e r cause. A week a f t e r w a r d s , Dr L a n y o n w a s too ill to leave his b e d ; a n d less than two w e e k s later h e w a s d e a d . T h e n i g h t after t h e funeral, at w h i c h he had almost cried, U t t e r s o n l o c k e d t h e d o o r of his s t u d y a n d , sitting there by the light of o n e m i s e r a b l e c a n d l e , he t o o k an e n v e l o p e from his pocket. It was sealed w i t h his d e a d friend's seal a n d w a s a d d r e s s e d in t h e dead man's w r i t i n g : " P R I V A T E : for G. J. U t t e r s o n A L O N E , a n d to be destroyed unread if he dies before m e . " T h e lawyer h a r d l y d a r e d to o p e n it. "I've b u r i e d o n e friend today," he thought. " S u p p o s i n g this w e r e to cost me a n o t h e r ! " T h e n he felt a s h a m e d of his fear, a n d b r o k e t h e seal. I n s i d e , t h e r e w a s a n o t h e r e n v e l o p e , also sealed, and m a r k e d : " N o t t o b e o p e n e d u n t i l t h e d e a t h o r d i s a p p e a r a n c e of H e n r y Jekyll." Utterson

could

hardly

believe

his

eyes.

Yes,

the

word

was

"disappearance". H e r e a g a i n , a s i n t h e m a d will t h a t h e h a d l o n g a g o given back to Jekyll, h e r e a g a i n w a s t h e s u g g e s t i o n t h a t Jekyll m i g h t disappear. W r i t t e n b y t h e h a n d o f L a n y o n , w h a t c o u l d i t m e a n ? H i s desire to k n o w u r g e d h i m strongly to ignore L a n y o n ' s wishes a n d get to the bottom of this m y s t e r y ; b u t professional h o n o u r a n d loyalty to his dead friend p r e v e n t e d h i m , a n d t h e e n v e l o p e w a s p u t t o rest in t h e drawer of his p r i v a t e safe. It is doubtful w h e t h e r U t t e r s o n w a s so eager, after t h a t day, for t h e

The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde

c o m p a n y of his r e m a i n i n g friend. He t h o u g h t of h i m kindly, but his t h o u g h t s w e r e a n x i o u s a n d fearful. W h e n h e w e n t t o call, p e r h a p s h e was r a t h e r relieved to be refused entry. P e r h a p s , in his h e a r t , he preferred to s p e a k w i t h P o o l e on t h e d o o r s t e p , s u r r o u n d e d by t h e fresh air and familiar s o u n d s of t h e city. P o o l e h a d , in fact, no pleasant n e w s to give h i m . T h e d o c t o r h a r d l y e v e r left his s t u d y i n t h e l a b o r a t o r y building, and s o m e t i m e s h e even slept t h e r e . H e w a s m i s e r a b l e , h e h a d g r o w n very silent, he d i d n o t r e a d ; it s e e m e d as if he h a d s o m e t h i n g on his mind. U t t e r s o n b e c a m e so u s e d to t h e u n c h a n g i n g n a t u r e of these reports that his visits g r a d u a l l y b e c a m e less f r e q u e n t .

The Face at the Window

I t h a p p e n e d o n e S u n d a y w h e n M r U t t e r s o n w a s o n his usual walk with M r E n f i e l d , t h a t t h e i r w a y lay o n c e a g a i n t h r o u g h t h e side street, and w h e n they r e a c h e d t h e l a b o r a t o r y d o or, they b o t h s t o p p e d to look at it. " W e l l , " said Enfield, " t h a t story's at an e n d , at least. We shall never see Mr H y d e again." "I h o p e n o t , " said U t t e r s o n . " D i d I ever tell you t h a t I once saw him a n d s h a r e d y o u r feeling o f d i s g u s t ? " "It w a s impossible to feel a n y t h i n g else," Enfield replied. "But you m u s t h a v e t h o u g h t me s t u p i d for n o t k n o w i n g t h a t this w a s a back way i n t o Dr Jekyll's! It w a s partly y o u r o w n fault t h a t I ever f o u n d that out." "So you f o u n d it o u t , d i d y o u ? " said U t t e r s o n . " I n t h a t case, let's step i n t o this y a r d a n d t a k e a look at t h e w i n d o w s . To tell y o u t h e t r u t h , I'm a n x i o u s a b o u t p o o r Jekyll; e v e n o u t s i d e , t h e p r e s e n c e of a friend might do him good."

The Face at the Window

T h e yard w a s very cool a n d r a t h e r d a r k , t h o u g h t h e sky, h i g h overhead, w a s still b r i g h t w i t h sunset. T h e m i d d l e o n e o f t h e t h r e e windows w a s h a l f o p e n ; a n d t h e p e r s o n sitting beside it, t a k i n g t h e air with a miserable look on his face like s o m e hopeless prisoner, w a s Dr Jekyll. " W h a t ! Jekyll!" U t t e r s o n cried. " I h o p e y o u ' r e b e t t e r ? " "I'm in a very p o o r state," replied t h e d o c t o r in a t i r e d voice. " B u t it won't last long, I t h a n k G o d for that." "You stay inside too m u c h , " said t h e lawyer. " Y o u s h o u l d be o u t s i d e , taking exercise, like M r Enfield a n d m e . L e t m e i n t r o d u c e you: m y cousin M r Enfield, D r Jekyll. C o m e n o w . G e t y o u r h a t , a n d t a k e a q u i c k w a l k with us." "You're very k i n d , a n d I'd like t o very m u c h , " t h e d o c t o r s i g h e d . " B u t , no, no, n o , it's q u i t e impossible. I d o n ' t d a r e to. B u t I ' m very g l a d to see you, Utterson; this is really a g r e a t pleasure. I'd ask you a n d Mr Enfield to come in, if this place w e r e fit for guests. I ' m afraid it isn't." " W h y t h e n , " said t h e l a w y e r g o o d - n a t u r e d l y , " t h e best t h i n g w e c a n do is to stay o u t h e r e , a n d speak w i t h you from w h e r e we a r e . " "That's just w h a t I w a s g o i n g to suggest," t h e d o c t o r replied, w i t h a smile. But t h e w o r d s w e r e h a r d l y s p o k e n w h e n t h e smile w a s s u d d e n l y struck from his face, a n d it w a s followed by an expression of c o m p l e t e terror and u n c o n t r o l l a b l e m i s e r y t h a t froze t h e b l o o d o f t h e t w o gentlemen below t h e w i n d o w . T h e y only s a w it for a m o m e n t , as t h e window was i m m e d i a t e l y closed; b u t t h a t m o m e n t h a d b e e n e n o u g h , a n d they t u r n e d a n d left t h e y a r d w i t h o u t a w o r d . In silence, too, they w a l k e d along until they t u r n e d t h e c o r n e r into t h e n e x t street, w h e r e even on a Sunday there w e r e p e o p l e a b o u t . T h e n M r U t t e r s o n s t o p p e d a n d l o o k e d at his c o m p a n i o n . T h e y w e r e b o t h pale, a n d each s a w his o w n h o r r o r in the other's eyes. "God forgive us! G o d forgive u s ! " said M r U t t e r s o n . T h e t w o m e n w a l k e d o n once m o r e i n silence.

Dr Jekyll's Last Night

Mr U t t e r s o n w a s sitting by his fireside o n e e v e n i n g after d i n n e r when he w a s s u r p r i s e d to receive a visit from P o o l e . " G o o d h e a v e n s , P o o l e , w h a t b r i n g s you h e r e ? " h e cried. T h e n , taking a second look, he a d d e d : " W h a t ' s t h e m a t t e r ? Is t h e d o c t o r ill?" " M r U t t e r s o n , " said t h e butler, "there's s o m e t h i n g w r o n g . " " T a k e a seat, a n d here's a glass of w i n e for y o u , " t h e l a w y e r answered k i n d l y . " N o w , there's n o h u r r y ; just tell m e plainly w h a t you w a n t . " "You k n o w t h e doctor's w a y s , sir," Poole b e g a n . "You k n o w how he s h u t s h i m s e l f u p . W e l l , he's s h u t up a g a i n in his study, a n d I d o n ' t like it, sir, I s w e a r I d o n ' t like it. Mr U t t e r s o n , sir, I ' m afraid." " N o w , m y g o o d m a n , " said t h e lawyer, "tell m e plainly. W h a t are you afraid o f ? " "I've b e e n afraid for a b o u t a w e e k , " t h e b u t l e r told h i m , without a n s w e r i n g t h e q u e s t i o n , " a n d I can't bear it any longer." T h e m a n ' s a p p e a r a n c e p r o v e d t h e t r u t h o f his w o r d s . H i s m a n n e r was u n u s u a l l y n e r v o u s , a n d except w h e n he first a n n o u n c e d his fear he had n o t l o o k e d t h e l a w y e r in t h e face. E v e n n o w , he sat w i t h t h e glass of wine u n t a s t e d in his h a n d , a n d w i t h his eyes d i r e c t e d to a c o r n e r of the floor. "I can't bear it any longer," he r e p e a t e d . " C o m e , " said t h e lawyer, "I see you h a v e s o m e g o o d reason to be afraid, Poole. I see there's s o m e t h i n g seriously w r o n g . T r y to tell me w h a t it is." "I t h i n k there's b e e n a h o r r i b l e c r i m e , " said P o o l e in a b r o k e n voice. "A h o r r i b l e c r i m e ! " cried t h e lawyer, a g o o d deal frightened, and r a t h e r a n g r y w i t h h i m s e l f because o f t h a t . " W h a t h o r r i b l e crime? What do you m e a n ? " "I d a r e n ' t say w h a t I m e a n , sir," w a s t h e a n s w e r . " B u t will you come

DrJekyll's Last Night

along w i t h me a n d see for y o u r s e l f ? " M r U t t e r s o n ' s only reply w a s to rise a n d get his h a t a n d coat. B u t he noticed w i t h w o n d e r t h e look o f relief o n t h e butler's face a n d , w i t h n o less w o n d e r , t h e fact t h a t t h e w i n e w a s still u n t a s t e d w h e n P o o l e p u t down his glass. It was a w i l d , cold n i g h t w i t h a pale m o o n , w h i c h w a s l y i n g on its b a c k as if the w i n d h a d b l o w n it over. It certainly s e e m e d to h a v e s w e p t everyone off t h e streets; M r U t t e r s o n h a d n e v e r k n o w n t h e m t o b e s o empty, just w h e n he w o u l d r a t h e r h a v e seen t h e m c r o w d e d . In spite of all his efforts to r e m a i n calm, his m i n d w a s filled w i t h fear t h a t s o m e terrible thing was a b o u t to h a p p e n . T h e s q u a r e , w h e n they got t h e r e , w a s full o f w i n d a n d d u s t . Poole, who had k e p t a few steps a h e a d , n o w s t o p p e d o u t s i d e t h e h o u s e , a n d in spite of t h e freezing w e a t h e r he t o o k off his h a t a n d w i p e d his h o t face. But it was hot from fear, n o t from violent exercise; his face w a s w h i t e , a n d when he s p o k e his voice w a s w e a k a n d n e r v o u s . "Well, sir," he said, " h e r e we a r e , a n d I p r a y t h a t my fears h a v e b e e n mistaken." "So do I, P o o l e , " said t h e lawyer. T h e butler k n o c k e d gently on t h e door, a n d a voice inside a s k e d : "Is that you, P o o l e ? " "Yes, it's all r i g h t , " said Poole. " O p e n the door." T h e hall, w h e n they e n t e r e d it, w a s b r i g h t l y lit. All t h e servants, m e n and w o m e n , w e r e c r o w d e d t o g e t h e r t h e r e like f r i g h t e n e d sheep. At t h e sight of Mr U t t e r s o n , t h e s e r v a n t girl b u r s t into a flood of tears, a n d t h e cook, crying o u t , " T h a n k G o d ! It's Mr U t t e r s o n , " r a n f o r w a r d as if to throw her a r m s a r o u n d h i m . "What, w h a t ? A r e you all h e r e ? " said t h e lawyer, in a n n o y a n c e . "Very irregular, very i m p r o p e r . Y o u r m a s t e r w o u l d be far from pleased." "They're all afraid," said Poole. Silence followed. It w a s an a d m i s s i o n of their fear. T h e n t h e cook

The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde

g a v e a w i l d cry a n d s t a r t e d c r y i n g a g a i n . Poole told h e r to be quiet, in an a n g r y voice t h a t s h o w e d t h e state of his o w n n e r v e s , because when the w o m a n h a d cried o u t they h a d all t u r n e d s u d d e n l y t o w a r d s the inner d o o r w i t h f r i g h t e n e d faces. " A n d n o w , " c o n t i n u e d t h e butler, a d d r e s s i n g t h e k i t c h e n boy, "bring me a c a n d l e , a n d we'll get this d o n e i m m e d i a t e l y . " T h e n he begged Mr U t t e r s o n t o follow h i m , a n d led t h e w a y t o t h e back g a r d e n . " N o w , sir," said h e , " c o m e as quietly as you can. I w a n t you to hear, a n d I d o n ' t w a n t you to be h e a r d . A n d see h e r e , sir, if by any chance he asks you in, d o n ' t g o . " Mr U t t e r s o n ' s n e r v e s , at this u n e x p e c t e d e n d i n g , g a v e a j u m p that n e a r l y t h r e w h i m off b a l a n c e ; b u t h e r e c o v e r e d his c o u r a g e a n d followed t h e b u t l e r i n t o t h e l a b o r a t o r y b u i l d i n g a n d u p t o t h e foot o f t h e stairs. H e r e P o o l e signalled to h i m to s t a n d on o n e side a n d listen, while he himself, p u t t i n g d o w n t h e c a n d l e , w e n t slowly u p t h e steps a n d knocked w i t h a r a t h e r u n c e r t a i n h a n d on t h e study door. " M r U t t e r s o n , sir, a s k i n g to see y o u , " he called, a n d once more he signalled violently to t h e l a w y e r to listen. A voice a n s w e r e d f r o m inside. "Tell h i m I c a n ' t see a n y o n e , " it said complainingly. " T h a n k you, sir," said P o o l e , w i t h a n o t e of satisfaction in his voice. T a k i n g u p his c a n d l e , h e led M r U t t e r s o n b a c k across t h e g a r d e n a n d into t h e g r e a t k i t c h e n , w h e r e t h e f i r e w a s o u t a n d m i c e w e r e r u n n i n g across the floor. "Sir," h e said, l o o k i n g M r U t t e r s o n i n t h e eyes, " w a s t h a t m y master's voice?" "It seems m u c h c h a n g e d , " replied t h e lawyer, very pale, b u t returning the look. " C h a n g e d ? W e l l , yes, 1 t h i n k it is," said t h e butler. " W h e n I've been t w e n t y years in this m a n ' s h o u s e , could I be deceived a b o u t his voice? No, sir. My m a s t e r ' s b e e n g o t rid of. He w a s g o t rid of e i g h t days ago, when

Dr Jekyll's Last Night

we heard h i m cry o u t in t h e n a m e of G o d . "And who's in t h e r e instead of h i m , a n d w h y it stays t h e r e , is a question that cries to h e a v e n for an a n s w e r , Mr U t t e r s o n ! " "This is a very s t r a n g e story, Poole. T h i s is r a t h e r a w i l d story, my man," said Mr U t t e r s o n , b i t i n g his finger. " S u p p o s e it w e r e as you suggest. S u p p o s i n g D r Jekyll t o h a v e b e e n , well, m u r d e r e d . W h a t c o u l d persuade t h e m u r d e r e r to stay?

T h a t d o e s n ' t m a k e sense, it isn't

reasonable." "Well, Mr U t t e r s o n , y o u ' r e a h a r d m a n to satisfy, b u t I'll do it," said Poole. "All this last w e e k h e , or it, or w h a t e v e r lives in t h a t study, h a s b e e n crying night a n d day for s o m e sort of m e d i c i n e , a n d c a n n o t get w h a t he wants. It was s o m e t i m e s his c u s t o m , my master's t h a t is, to w r i t e his o r d e r s on a sheet of p a p e r a n d t h r o w it on t h e stairs. W e ' v e h a d n o t h i n g else this week: n o t h i n g b u t p a p e r s on t h e stairs, a n d a closed d o o r , a n d e v e n his meals have h a d to be left t h e r e for h i m to t a k e in w h e n no o n e w a s l o o k i n g . Well, sir, every day, a n d t w o or t h r e e t i m e s a day, t h e r e h a v e b e e n o r d e r s and complaints, a n d I've been r u s h i n g off to all t h e chemists in L o n d o n . Every time I b r o u g h t t h e o r d e r back, t h e r e w o u l d be a n o t e telling me to return it because it w a s n ' t p u r e , a n d t h e n a n o t h e r o r d e r to a different chemist. W h a t e v e r this d r u g ' s for, sir, it's w a n t e d terribly urgently." "Do you have any o f these p a p e r s ? " a s k e d M r U t t e r s o n . Poole felt in his p o c k e t a n d b r o u g h t o u t a n o t e , w h i c h t h e lawyer, bending n e a r e r t o t h e c a n d l e , carefully e x a m i n e d . I t said: " D r Jekyll thanks M a w & C o . for t h e i r a t t e n t i o n . H e i s sorry to i n f o r m t h e m t h a t t h e drug they sent h i m is i m p u r e a n d q u i t e useless for his p r e s e n t p u r p o s e . Two years ago, Dr J. b o u g h t q u i t e a large q u a n t i t y of it from M a w & C o . H e now begs t h e m t o s e a r c h w i t h t h e g r e a t e s t c a r e , a n d i f a n y o f t h e s a m e quality is left, to send it to h i m n o w , w h a t e v e r it costs. T h e i m p o r t a n c e of this to Dr J. c a n n o t be o v e r s t a t e d . " So far t h e letter h a d r u n quietly, b u t here, with s u d d e n w i l d m o v e m e n t s from t h e p e n , t h e w r i t e r ' s feelings had broken loose. " I n G o d ' s n a m e , " h e h a d a d d e d , "find m e s o m e o f t h e

The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde

old m e d i c i n e . " " T h i s is a s t r a n g e n o t e , ' said Mr U t t e r s o n . T h e n he a d d e d sharply: " W h y is the envelope o p e n ? " " T h e m a n at M a w ' s w a s very a n g r y , sir, a n d he t h r e w it b a c k t o m e a s if it w a s d i r t , " P o o l e replied. " T h i s is u n q u e s t i o n a b l y t h e doctor's w r i t i n g , isn't i t ? " asked the lawyer. "I t h o u g h t it l o o k e d like it," said t h e butler, r a t h e r bitterly. T h e n , in a different voice: "It d o e s n ' t m a t t e r w h a t t h e w r i t i n g ' s l i k e , " he said. "I've seen h i m ! " "Seen h i m ? " r e p e a t e d M r U t t e r s o n . " W e l l ? " "It w a s l i k e t h i s , " said P o o l e . " I c a m e s u d d e n l y i n t o t h e laboratory from t h e g a r d e n . It seems t h a t he h a d slipped o u t to look for this drug. T h e s t u d y d o o r w a s o p e n , a n d t h e r e h e w a s , a t t h e far e n d o f the room, d i g g i n g a m o n g t h e boxes. He l o o k e d up w h e n I c a m e in, gave a kind of cry, a n d r u s h e d u p s t a i r s i n t o t h e study. I only s a w h i m for a m i n u t e , but t h e h a i r stood up on my h e a d . Sir, if t h a t w a s my master, w h y did he have a m a s k on his face? If it w a s my m a s t e r , w h y d i d he cry o u t a n d r u n from m e ? I've served h i m l o n g e n o u g h t o b e t r u s t e d . A n d t h e n . . . " h e paused, a n d passed his h a n d o v e r his face. " T h i s is all very s t r a n g e , " said Mr U t t e r s o n , " b u t I t h i n k I begin to see d a y l i g h t . Y o u r m a s t e r , P o o l e , has plainly c a u g h t o n e of those diseases that b o t h give t h e sufferer t e r r i b l e p a i n a n d slowly destroy his whole body. T h a t e x p l a i n s it all: t h e c h a n g e in his voice, his w e a r i n g a m a s k and a v o i d i n g his friends, a n d his e a g e r n e s s to find this d r u g by means of w h i c h t h e p o o r m a n still h o p e s to recover his h e a l t h . I p r a y G o d that he m a y n o t be d i s a p p o i n t e d ! T h e r e ' s my e x p l a n a t i o n . It's a sad one, Poole, a n d t e r r i b l e t o c o n s i d e r ; b u t it's p l a i n a n d n a t u r a l a n d m a k e s g o o d sense, a n d delivers us from all fanciful fears." "Sir," said t h e butler, t u r n i n g paler, " t h a t t h i n g w a s n ' t my master, and there's t h e t r u t h . M y m a s t e r , " h e r e h e l o o k e d r o u n d h i m , a n d began t o

DrJekyll'sLast Night

whisper, "is a tall, well-built m a n , a n d this t h i n g w a s q u i t e s h o r t . " Utterson a t t e m p t e d to i n t e r r u p t . " O h , sir," cried P o o l e , " d o y o u t h i n k I don't k n o w m y m a s t e r after t w e n t y years? D o you t h i n k I d o n ' t k n o w where his h e a d reaches to in t h e study d o o r w a y , w h e r e I s a w h i m every morning o f m y life h e r e ? N o , sir, t h a t t h i n g i n t h e m a s k w a s n e v e r D r Jekyll; G o d k n o w s w h a t it w a s , b u t it w a s never Dr Jekyll. It's t h e belief of my heart that he has been m u r d e r e d . " "Poole," replied t h e lawyer, "if you say t h a t , it will b e c o m e my d u t y to make certain. A l t h o u g h I have no desire to upset y o u r master, a n d although this n o t e to t h e c h e m i s t seems to p r o v e h i m to be still alive, I shall consider it my d u t y to b r e a k in t h a t door." "Ah, M r U t t e r s o n , n o w y o u ' r e t a l k i n g ! " cried t h e butler. " A n d h e r e c o m e s t h e second q u e s t i o n , " U t t e r s o n c o n t i n u e d . " W h o ' s going to do i t ? " "Why, you a n d I, sir," w a s t h e reply. " T h a t is very well said," t h e l a w y e r told h i m , " a n d w h a t e v e r h a p p e n s , I shall take care t h a t you a r e n o t b l a m e d . " "There's an axe in t h e laboratory," said P o o l e , " a n d y o u m i g h t t a k e this iron bar for yourself." T h e lawyer p i c k e d u p t h e i r o n b a r a n d b a l a n c e d i t i n his h a n d . "Do you k n o w , P o o l e , " h e said, l o o k i n g u p , " t h a t you a n d I a r e a b o u t to place ourselves in a position of s o m e d a n g e r ? " "You m a y say so, sir." " T h e n w e ' d b e t t e r b e h o n e s t w i t h each other," said t h e lawyer. " W e both think m o r e t h a n w e ' v e said. N o w let's say just w h a t w e t h i n k . T h i s masked figure t h a t y o u saw, d i d you recognise i t ? " "Well, sir, it w e n t so quickly, a n d its b o d y w a s so strangely b e n t , t h a t I could hardly s w e a r to a n y t h i n g , " t h e b u t l e r a n s w e r e d . " B u t if you m e a n 'Was it Mr H y d e ? ' , w h y , yes, I t h i n k it w a s ! You see, it w a s r o u g h l y his size, and it h a d t h e s a m e q u i c k light w a y of m o v i n g , a n d w h o else could have got in by t h e l a b o r a t o r y d o o r ? Y o u ' v e n o t forgotten, sir, that at the

The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde

t i m e o f t h e m u r d e r h e still h a d t h e key w i t h h i m . B u t that's n o t all. I don't k n o w , M r U t t e r s o n , i f y o u ever m e t this M r H y d e ? " "Yes," said t h e lawyer, "I once s p o k e w i t h h i m . " " T h e n y o u m u s t k n o w , as well as t h e rest of us d o , that there was s o m e t h i n g s t r a n g e a b o u t t h a t g e n t l e m a n , s o m e t h i n g t h a t m a d e you feel q u i t e ill w i t h shock. I d o n ' t really k n o w h o w to describe it, sir, beyond this: it w a s s o m e t h i n g you felt in y o u r bones, s o m e t h i n g cold a n d thin." "I a d m i t I felt s o m e t h i n g of w h a t you d e s c r i b e , " said Mr Utterson. " Q u i t e so, sir," replied Poole. " W e l l , w h e n t h a t m a s k e d t h i n g like a m o n k e y j u m p e d from a m o n g t h e c h e m i c a l s a n d r u s h e d into the study, it w e n t d o w n my b a c k b o n e like ice. O h , I k n o w it isn't proof, Mr Utterson; I ' m e d u c a t e d e n o u g h for t h a t . B u t a m a n h a s his feelings, a n d I give you m y w o r d o n t h e Bible t h a t i t w a s M r H y d e . " "Yes, yes," said t h e lawyer. " M y feelings t e n d t h e s a m e way. Evil, I fear, b r o u g h t h i m a n d y o u r m a s t e r together, a n d evil w a s sure to come of s u c h a c o n n e c t i o n . Yes, truly, I believe you. I believe p o o r H a r r y is killed, a n d I believe his m u r d e r e r (for w h a t p u r p o s e , G o d alone can tell) is still h i d i n g i n his r o o m . W e l l , w e m u s t catch h i m . Call B r a d s h a w . " T h e s e r v a n t a n s w e r e d Poole's call, l o o k i n g very pale a n d frightened. " C a l m yourself, B r a d s h a w , " said t h e lawyer. " T h i s fearful uncertainty has been bad for the nerves of all of you, I k n o w ; b u t we n o w intend to p u t an e n d to it. P o o l e a n d I a r e g o i n g to force o u r w a y into the study. If all is well in t h e r e , I ' m q u i t e r e a d y to b e a r t h e b l a m e . B u t in case anything is really w r o n g , or in case a n y c r i m i n a l tries to escape, y o u a n d the boy m u s t go r o u n d t h e c o r n e r w i t h a pair of g o o d sticks, a n d t a k e your post at t h e l a b o r a t o r y door. We give you ten m i n u t e s to be ready at your places." A s B r a d s h a w left, t h e l a w y e r l o o k e d a t his w a t c h . " A n d now, Poole, let's g e t to o u r s , " he said. A n d t a k i n g t h e iron b a r u n d e r his a r m , he led t h e w a y t h r o u g h t h e g a r d e n into t h e laboratory, w h e r e they sat down silently to w a i t . T h e faint s o u n d s of L o n d o n w e n t on all a r o u n d ; but n e a r e r a t h a n d t h e stillness w a s b r o k e n only b y t h e s o u n d o f footsteps

Dr Jekyll's Last Night going u p a n d d o w n t h e s t u d y f l o o r . "It w a l k s like t h a t all day, sir," w h i s p e r e d Poole, " a n d for the g r e a t e r part of the n i g h t as well. O n l y w h e n a fresh d r u g c o m e s from th e c h e m i s t is there any b r e a k . A h , sir, there's t h e blood of a m u r d e r e d m a n in every step! But listen a g a i n , a little closer. P u t y o u r h e a r t in y o u r ears, Mr Utterson, a n d tell me if that's t h e doctor's footstep." T h e steps fell lightly a n d strangely, w i t h a certain s w i n g , a l t h o u g h they w e n t so slowly; they w e r e very different from t h e heavy noisy footsteps of H e n r y Jekyll. U t t e r s o n sighed. "Is t h e r e n e v e r a n y t h i n g else?" he a s k e d . " O n c e , " P o o l e a n s w e r e d , " o n c e I h e a r d it c r y i n g ! " "Crying? W h a t k i n d of c r y i n g ? " a s k e d t h e lawyer, conscious of a sudden icy feeling of h o r r o r . " C r y i n g like a w o m a n or a lost soul," said t h e butler. "I c a m e a w a y so upset that I too could h a v e cried." But n o w t h e ten m i n u t e s h a d c o m e t o a n e n d . P o o l e p u l l e d o u t t h e axe from u n d e r a p a c k i n g case; t h e c a n d l e w a s placed on the nearest table to provide light for their a t t a c k ; a n d , h a r d l y b r e a t h i n g , they w e n t slowly towards t h e r o o m w h e r e t h a t p a t i e n t foot w a s still w a l k i n g u p a n d d o w n , up and d o w n , in t h e q u i e t of t h e n i g h t . "Jekyll," cried U t t e r s o n , in a l o u d voice, "I d e m a n d to see y o u . " He paused a m o m e n t , b u t t h e r e w a s no reply. "I give you fair w a r n i n g , we think there's s o m e t h i n g w r o n g , a n d I m u s t a n d shall see y o u , " he w e n t on; "if not by fair m e a n s , t h e n by unfair ones. If n o t by y o u r invitation, t h e n by force!" " U t t e r s o n , " said t h e voice, "in G o d ' s n a m e , d o n ' t c o m e i n ! " "Ah, that's n o t Jekyll's voice, it's H y d e ' s ! " cried U t t e r s o n . " B r e a k the door d o w n , P o o l e ! " Poole s w u n g t h e axe over his s h o u l d e r ; t h e b l o w s h o o k t h e b u i l d i n g , and the d o o r j u m p e d against t h e lock. A terrible cry, as of p u r e a n i m a l terror, r a n g t h r o u g h t h e study. U p w e n t t h e axe a g a i n , a n d a g a i n t h e d o o r

The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde

j u m p e d . F o u r t i m e s t h e b l o w fell, b u t t h e w o o d w a s h a r d a n d t h e f i t t i n g s w e r e excellently m a d e , a n d it w a s n o t until t h e f i f t h b l o w t h a t t h e lock b u r s t a p a r t , a n d t h e w r e c k o f t h e d o o r fell i n w a r d s o n t h e floor. T h e a t t a c k e r s , h o r r o r - s t r u c k b y their o w n violence a n d b y t h e stillness t h a t followed it, stood b a c k a little a n d l o o k e d into t h e r o o m . T h e r e it lay in t h e q u i e t l a m p l i g h t , a g o o d fire b u r n i n g cheerfully w i t h w a t e r heating o v e r it, a d r a w e r or t w o lying o p e n , p a p e r s neatly set o u t on t h e d e s k and, n e a r e r t h e f i r e , t h e t h i n g s a r r a n g e d for tea; t h e q u i e t e s t r o o m i n L o n d o n t h a t n i g h t , y o u w o u l d h a v e said, a n d , except for t h e glass-fronted c u p b o a r d s full o f c h e m i c a l s , t h e m o s t o r d i n a r y o n e . R i g h t i n t h e m i d d l e t h e r e lay t h e b o d y o f a m a n , h o r r i b l y t w i s t e d and n o t yet q u i t e still. T h e y w e n t t o w a r d s it carefully, t u r n e d it on its back, a n d recognised t h e face o f E d w a r d H y d e . H e w a s dressed i n clothes that w e r e far t o o b i g for h i m , clothes o f t h e d o c t o r ' s size. T h e m u s c l e s o f his face still m o v e d as if he w e r e alive, b u t life w a s q u i t e g o n e ; a n d by the b r o k e n bottle i n t h e h a n d a n d t h e s t r o n g smell t h a t h u n g i n t h e air, U t t e r s o n k n e w t h a t h e w a s l o o k i n g a t t h e b o d y o f a self-destroyer. " W e h a v e c o m e t o o late," h e said sadly, "either t o save o r t o p u n i s h . H y d e h a s p a i d for his c r i m e s w i t h his o w n life. I t only r e m a i n s for u s t o find the body of your master." T h e y n o w t h o r o u g h l y e x a m i n e d t h e w h o l e b u i l d i n g . Besides the l a b o r a t o r y a n d t h e s t u d y t h e r e w e r e o n l y s t o r e r o o m s a n d a few big d a r k c u p b o a r d s . E a c h n e e d e d only a q u i c k look, for they w e r e all e m p t y , a n d t h e d u s t t h a t fell from t h e i r d o o r s s h o w e d t h a t all h a d l o n g r e m a i n e d u n o p e n e d . N o w h e r e w a s t h e r e any sign o f H e n r y Jekyll, d e a d o r alive. P o o l e s t a m p e d o n t h e floor o f t h e passage. " H e m u s t b e b u r i e d h e r e , " h e said, listening t o the s o u n d . " O r h e m a y h a v e r u n a w a y , " said U t t e r s o n , a n d h e t u r n e d t o e x a m i n e t h e d o o r into t h e side street. It w a s l o c k e d , a n d a rusty key w a s lying near it on t h e floor. " T h i s d o e s n ' t l o o k as if it has b e e n u s e d for a l o n g t i m e , " t h e lawyer

Dr Jekylls Last Night

remarked. " U s e d ! " cried Poole. " D o n ' t you see, sir? It's b r o k e n , just as if a m a n had s t a m p e d on it." " A h , " said U t t e r s o n , " a n d t h e b r o k e n e d g e s a r e rusty t o o . " T h e t w o m e n l o o k e d a t each other, w o n d e r i n g w h a t this m e a n t . " T h i s i s b e y o n d m e , P o o l e , " t h e l a w y e r c o n t i n u e d . "Let's g o b a c k t o t h e s t u d y . " T h e y w e n t u p t h e stairs i n silence, a n d w i t h a n occasional f r i g h t e n e d look a t t h e d e a d b o d y they e x a m i n e d e v e r y t h i n g i n t h e r o o m , e v e n m o r e t h o r o u g h l y t h a n before. A t o n e table t h e r e w e r e signs o f c h e m i c a l w o r k with various m e a s u r e d piles of s o m e w h i t e salt on s o m e small glass plates, as if the u n h a p p y m a n had been interrupted d u r i n g some experiment. " T h a t ' s t h e s a m e d r u g t h a t I w a s a l w a y s b r i n g i n g h i m , " said P o o l e . A n d a s h e s p o k e , t h e w a t e r h e a t i n g a b o v e t h e f i r e s u d d e n l y boiled over. T h i s brought t h e m to the fireside, w h e r e the chair was d r a w n up and the tea t h i n g s stood beside it, even w i t h s u g a r in t h e c u p . T h e r e w e r e several b o o k s on a shelf, a n d o n e lay o p e n beside t h e tea t h i n g s . U t t e r s o n was s u r p r i s e d to see t h a t it w a s a religious w o r k w h i c h Jekyll h a d several times u r g e d h i m t o read, a n d t h a t s o m e s u r p r i s i n g l y irreligious notes h a d been w r i t t e n on it in t h e doctor's o w n w r i t i n g . N e x t , t h e searchers c a m e t o t h e l o n g m i r r o r a n d l o o k e d into its d e p t h s w i t h n e r v o u s fear. B u t it s h o w e d t h e m n o t h i n g except t h e firelight shining endlessly from t h e glass-fronted c u p b o a r d s , a n d their o w n pale and f r i g h t e n e d faces l o o k i n g in. " T h i s m i r r o r has seen s o m e s t r a n g e t h i n g s , sir," w h i s p e r e d Poole. " A n d surely n o n e w a s s t r a n g e r t h a n itself," replied t h e lawyer, also in a whisper. " W h a t did J e k y l l . . . " he p a u s e d , h a l f afraid to ask h i m s e l f t h e question, " w h a t could Jekyll w a n t it f o r ? " "I h a v e no idea," said Poole. N e x t they t u r n e d t o t h e d e s k . A m o n g t h e n e a t piles o f p a p e r s t h e r e was a n e n v e l o p e o n w h i c h w a s w r i t t e n , i n t h e doctor's w r i t i n g , t h e n a m e of Mr U t t e r s o n . T h e l a w y e r o p e n e d it, a n d several p a p e r s fell to t h e floor.

The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde

T h e first w a s a will, as strangely w o r d e d as t h e o n e he h a d r e t u r n e d to the d o c t o r six m o n t h s before; b u t in place of t h e n a m e of E d w a r d H y d e , the l a w y e r r e a d , w i t h i n d e s c r i b a b l e s u r p r i s e , t h e n a m e of Gabriel John U t t e r s o n . He l o o k e d at Poole, a n d t h e n back at t h e will, a n d last of all at t h e d e a d m a n s t r e t c h e d o n t h e floor. "I d o n ' t u n d e r s t a n d , " he said. " H e has b e e n h e r e for days. He had no cause t o like m e . H e m u s t h a v e b e e n a n g r y t o see m y n a m e instead o f his. B u t h e h a s n o t d e s t r o y e d this p a p e r . " He p i c k e d up t h e n e x t o n e . It w a s a s h o r t n o t e in t h e doctor's writing, and dated at the top. " O h , P o o l e ! " t h e l a w y e r cried. " H e w a s alive a n d h e r e today. H i s body c a n ' t h a v e been r e m o v e d in such a s h o r t t i m e . He m u s t still be alive, he m u s t h a v e r u n a w a y ! B u t t h e n , w h y w o u l d h e r u n a w a y ? A n d h o w ? And if he d i d , can we safely say t h a t this m a n killed himself? O h , we must be careful. I've a feeling t h a t we m a y still cause y o u r m a s t e r to suffer some terrible e n d . " " W h y d o n ' t y o u r e a d t h a t n o t e , s i r ? " a s k e d Poole. " B e c a u s e I ' m afraid t o , " replied t h e lawyer. "I p r a y G o d that I may find no cause for my fears!" A n d w i t h t h a t he fixed his eyes on the paper a n d r e a d as follows:

My dear U t t e r s o n , W h e n this c o m e s i n t o y o u r h a n d s , I shall have disappeared. I cannot be certain as to h o w t h a t will h a p p e n , b u t my feelings and all t h e suspicions of my situation tell me that the end is sure and m u s t c o m e soon. Go then, and first read t h e story w h i c h , Lanyon w a r n e d m e , he was going to place in your hands; and if you wish to hear m o r e , t u r n to the story of, Your ashamed and unhappy friend, HENRY JEKYLL.

" T h e r e was a third paper?" asked Utterson.

Dr Lanyon's Story

" H e r e , sir." said Poole, a n d h a n d e d to h i m a fat e n v e l o p e t h a t w a s sealed in several places. T h e l a w y e r p u t i t i n his p o c k e t . " W e ' d better say n o t h i n g a b o u t this. If y o u r m a s t e r has r u n a w a y or is dead, w e m a y a t least save his g o o d n a m e . It's n o w t e n o'clock. I m u s t g o home a n d r e a d these p a p e r s in q u i e t ; b u t I shall be b a c k before m i d n i g h t , w h e n we shall s e n d for t h e police." T h e y w e n t out, locking the door of the laboratory behind t h e m . A n d U t t e r s o n , l e a v i n g t h e s e r v a n t s o n c e m o r e r o u n d t h e f i r e i n t h e hall, w a l k e d slowly back to his o w n study to read the t w o stories in w h i c h this mystery w a s n o w t o b e e x p l a i n e d .

Dr Lanyon's Story On J a n u a r y 9 t h , n o w four days a g o , I received by t h e e v e n i n g post an envelope addressed

in

the

h a n d w r i t i n g of my colleague and

old

schoolfriend, H e n r y Jekyll. I w a s a g o o d deal s u r p r i s e d by this, for we w e r e by no m e a n s in t h e h a b i t of w r i t i n g to each other. I h a d seen t h e m a n , a n d h a d d i n n e r w i t h h i m , t h e n i g h t before, a n d I could i m a g i n e n o reason w h y he s h o u l d s e n d me a letter. T h e subject of it increased my w o n d e r , for this is h o w t h e letter r a n :

10th December D e a r Lanyon, You are one of my oldest friends, and although we may have disagreed at t i m e s on scientific questions, I cannot r e m e m b e r any break in o u r

The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde

friendship. T h e r e was never a day w h e n , if you had said to m e , "Jekyll, my life, my h o n o u r , my balance of m i n d , all d e p e n d on you," I would not have given my f o r t u n e or my left hand to help you. Lanyon, my life, my honour, my balance of m i n d are all in your hands; if you fail me tonight, I am lost. I w a n t you to delay all o t h e r plans for tonight, yes, even if you were called to t h e bedside of a q u e e n ; I w a n t you to hire a carriage and, with this l e t t e r in y o u r h a n d , to drive straight to my h o u s e . Poole, my butler, has his o r d e r s ; you will find h i m waiting for you w i t h a locksmith. T h e d o o r of my study is t h e n to be forced o p e n . You are to go in alone: to o p e n the glass d o o r of t h e c u p b o a r d ( m a r k e d w i t h an E) on t h e left side, breaking the lock if necessary; and to take o u t , w i t h everything in it, t h e f o u r t h drawer from t h e t o p or (which is the same thing) the third from t h e b o t t o m . In my e x t r e m e state of m i n d , I have a t e r r i b l e fear of misdirecting you. But even if I am mistaken, you will k n o w t h e right d r a w e r by w h a t it contains: some p o w d e r s , a small glass b o t t l e , and a n o t e b o o k . I b e g you to carry this drawer back w i t h you to Cavendish Square, just as it is. T h a t is t h e first p a r t of my r e q u e s t ; n o w c o m e s t h e s e c o n d . You should be b a c k , if you set o u t as s o o n as you receive this, long before midnight. At m i d n i g h t , t h e n , I have to ask you to be alone in y o u r study, to admit w i t h y o u r o w n h a n d i n t o t h e h o u s e a m a n w h o will p r e s e n t himself in my n a m e , and to place in his hands t h e d r a w e r that you will have brought from my study. T h e n you will have played y o u r p a r t and e a r n e d my u n d y i n g t h a n k s . Five m i n u t e s a f t e r w a r d s , if you d e m a n d an explanation, you will have u n d e r s t o o d t h a t t h e s e a r r a n g e m e n t s are of t h e greatest possible i m p o r t a n c e , and that by failing to do any o n e of t h e m , regardless of h o w s t r a n g e it s e e m s , you m i g h t have caused my d e a t h or t h e loss of my mind. T h o u g h I am confident that you will t r e a t this despairing r e q u e s t with all s e r i o u s n e s s , my h e a r t sinks and my h a n d t r e m b l e s at t h e possibility of y o u r failing m e . T h i n k of me at this h o u r , in a strange place, in darker hopelessness than t h e w i l d e s t fancy could d e s c r i b e , b u t k n o w i n g that, if

Dr Lanyon's Story

you will h e l p m e , my t r o u b l e s will roll away like a s t o r y t h a t is t o l d . H e l p m e , my d e a r Lanyon, and save, Your friend, H. J. P. S. I had already sealed this w h e n a fresh t e r r o r s t r u c k my soul. It is possible that the post office may fail m e , and that this l e t t e r may n o t c o m e into your hands until t o m o r r o w m o r n i n g . In that case, d e a r Lanyon, do what I have asked w h e n it shall be m o s t convenient for you in t h e c o u r s e of the day, and once m o r e e x p e c t my m e s s e n g e r at m i d n i g h t . It may t h e n already be t o o late; and if that night passes w i t h o u t event, you will k n o w that you will never see H e n r y Jekyll again.

O n r e a d i n g this letter, I w a s s u r e m y friend w a s m a d . B u t u n t i l t h a t was p r o v e d b e y o n d t h e possibility of d o u b t , I felt I h a d to do as he r e q u e s t e d . T h e less I u n d e r s t o o d of this w i l d story, t h e less I could j u d g e its i m p o r t a n c e ; a n d a r e q u e s t m a d e i n s u c h w o r d s could n o t lightly b e ignored. So I left my d i n n e r table, called a c a r r i a g e , a n d d r o v e s t r a i g h t to Jekyll's h o u s e . T h e b u t l e r w a s e x p e c t i n g m e ; h e h a d received b y t h e s a m e post as m i n e a letter c o n t a i n i n g his o r d e r s , a n d h a d sent i m m e d i a t e l y for a l o c k s m i t h a n d a c a r p e n t e r . T h e s e m e n c a m e w h i l e we w e r e still s p e a k i n g , a n d w e m o v e d t o g e t h e r t o t h e laboratory. T h e d o o r o f t h e study w a s very s t r o n g , a n d its lock w a s excellent; t h e c a r p e n t e r t h o u g h t h e w o u l d h a v e g r e a t t r o u b l e , a n d w o u l d h a v e to do a lot of d a m a g e , if force w e r e used; a n d t h e l o c k s m i t h w a s n e a r despair. B u t he w a s a skilful m a n , a n d after t w o h o u r s ' w o r k t h e d o o r stood o p e n . T h e c u p b o a r d m a r k e d E was u n l o c k e d ; a n d I t o o k o u t t h e d r a w e r , h a d it p a c k e d up a n d tied in a sheet, a n d r e t u r n e d w i t h it to my h o u s e . H e r e I e x a m i n e d w h a t i t c o n t a i n e d . T h e p o w d e r s w e r e q u i t e carefully p a c k e d , b u t n o t w i t h t h e neatness of a c h e m i s t ; so it w a s p l a i n t h a t Jekyll had m a d e t h e m u p himself, a n d w h e n I o p e n e d o n e o f t h e w r a p p e r s I f o u n d s o m e t h i n g t h a t s e e m e d t o b e a s i m p l e w h i t e salt. T h e bottle, t o

The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde

w h i c h I n e x t t u r n e d my a t t e n t i o n , w a s p e r h a p s a b o u t h a l f full of a bloodr e d l i q u i d . T h e b o o k w a s a n o r d i n a r y n o t e b o o k a n d c o n t a i n e d little but a list of dates. T h e s e c o v e r e d a p e r i o d of m a n y years, b u t I noticed t h a t they h a d s t o p p e d q u i t e s u d d e n l y a year a g o . H e r e a n d t h e r e a s h o r t remark w a s a d d e d to a d a t e , usually no m o r e t h a n a single w o r d : "double" a p p e a r e d p e r h a p s six t i m e s in a total of several h u n d r e d notes; a n d once, very early in t h e list, "total failure! ! !". A l l t h i s , t h o u g h i t s h a r p e n e d m y interest, told m e little. H o w could t h e p r e s e n c e of these t h i n g s in my h o u s e affect e i t h e r t h e h o n o u r , the m i n d or t h e life of my fanciful friend? If this m e s s e n g e r could come to o n e place, w h y c o u l d h e n o t g o t o a n o t h e r ? A n d w h y w a s this gentleman to be received by me in secret? T h e m o r e I t h o u g h t a b o u t it, the more certain I g r e w t h a t I w a s d e a l i n g w i t h a case of b r a i n disease. T h o u g h I sent my s e r v a n t s to b e d , I l o a d e d an o l d g u n , so t h a t I w o u l d be ready to d e f e n d myself. T w e l v e o'clock h a d h a r d l y r u n g o u t over L o n d o n w h e n t h e knocker s o u n d e d very gently on t h e front door. I o p e n e d it myself a n d found a small m a n l e a n i n g m i s e r a b l y a g a i n s t t h e d o o r p o s t . " H a v e you c o m e f r o m D r J e k y l l ? " I a s k e d . H e q u i c k l y a n s w e r e d , "Yes", a n d w h e n I r e q u e s t e d h i m t o enter, h e d i d so w i t h a s e a r c h i n g b a c k w a r d l o o k i n t o t h e d a r k n e s s of t h e square. T h e r e w a s a p o l i c e m a n n o t far off, w i t h a l a m p in his h a n d , a n d at the sight o f h i m m y visitor s e e m e d t o c o m e inside w i t h increased urgency. T h e s e details m a d e me a n x i o u s , a n d as I followed h i m i n t o t h e bright light of my study, I k e p t my h a n d ready on my w e a p o n . H e r e , at last, I h a d a c h a n c e to see h i m clearly. I h a d n e v e r seen h i m before, that was q u i t e c e r t a i n . He w a s s m a l l , as I h a v e said. I also noticed t h e shocking expression on his face, t h e m u s c u l a r activity of his o t h e r w i s e w e a k body, a n d , last b u t n o t least, t h e u n p l e a s a n t effect t h a t his closeness h a d on my feelings. T h i s p e r s o n w a s dressed in a fashion t h a t w o u l d h a v e m a d e an

Dr Lanyon's Story

ordinary p e r s o n l a u g h a b l e ; his clothes, a l t h o u g h they w e r e of fine material, w e r e far too large for h i m in every m e a s u r e m e n t . T h e t r o u s e r s hung away from his legs a n d w e r e rolled u p t o k e e p t h e m off t h e g r o u n d ; the waist of t h e coat c a m e b e l o w his s t o m a c h , a n d t h e collar w a s s p r e a d wide across his s h o u l d e r s . F o r s o m e s t r a n g e reason this l a u g h a b l e appearance w a s far from m o v i n g m e t o l a u g h t e r . T o m y i n t e r e s t i n his nature a n d character, t h e r e w a s a d d e d a desire to k n o w s o m e t h i n g of his origin, his life, his f o r t u n e a n d position in t h e w o r l d . T h e s e t h o u g h t s , t h o u g h they h a v e t a k e n s o m u c h space i n w r i t i n g , were the w o r k only of a few seconds. My visitor w a s on fire w i t h excitement. " H a v e you g o t i t ? " h e cried. " H a v e you got i t ? " A n d his i m p a t i e n c e was so great t h a t he even laid a h a n d on my a r m a n d tried to s h a k e m e . I was conscious, as he t o u c h e d m e , of a certain icy p a i n r u n n i n g through my blood. I p u s h e d h i m away. " C o m e , sir," said I. "You forget t h a t I h a v e n o t yet t h e p l e a s u r e of k n o w i n g you. Be seated, if you please." A n d I set h i m an e x a m p l e , sitting down i n m y usual seat a n d w i t h a s m u c h o f m y o r d i n a r y professional m a n n e r a s the late h o u r , t h e n a t u r e o f m y t h o u g h t s , a n d m y h o r r o r o f m y visitor, w o u l d let me show. " I beg y o u r p a r d o n , D r L a n y o n , " h e replied, q u i t e politely. " W h a t you say is perfectly t r u e ; my i m p a t i e n c e has m a d e me forget my m a n n e r s . I come here a t t h e r e q u e s t o f y o u r friend, D r H e n r y Jekyll, o n business o f great i m p o r t a n c e , a n d I u n d e r s t o o d . . ." he p a u s e d a n d p u t a h a n d to his throat, a n d I could see, in spite of his c a l m m a n n e r , t h a t he w a s s t r u g g l i n g against some u n c o n t r o l l a b l e feelings, "I u n d e r s t o o d t h a t a d r a w e r . . ." But h e r e I t o o k pity on my visitor's anxiety, a n d also p e r h a p s on my own g r o w i n g desire for an e x p l a n a t i o n . " T h e r e it is, sir," said I, p o i n t i n g to t h e d r a w e r , w h i c h lay on t h e floor behind a table a n d w a s still covered w i t h a sheet. He r u s h e d to it, a n d t h e n p a u s e d a n d laid his h a n d on his h e a r t . I

The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde

could h e a r his teeth m o v i n g against each other, a n d his face was so pale a n d so full of h o r r o r t h a t I g r e w e x t r e m e l y w o r r i e d . " C a l m yourself," I said. He g a v e me a h o r r i b l e smile a n d t h e n , as if w i t h t h e decision of despair, h e p u l l e d a w a y t h e sheet. W h e n h e s a w w h a t w a s u n d e r it, h e g a v e o n e l o u d cry of such relief t h a t I sat t h e r e speechless. A n d the next m o m e n t , in a voice t h a t w a s a l r e a d y fairly well u n d e r c o n t r o l , " H a v e you a glass m e a s u r e ? " he a s k e d . I rose f r o m my place w i t h q u i t e an effort, a n d g a v e h i m w h a t he a s k e d . He t h a n k e d me w i t h a smile, m e a s u r e d o u t a few d r o p s of the red liquid a n d a d d e d o n e o f t h e p o w d e r s . T h e m i x t u r e , w h i c h w a s a t f i r s t a d a r k r e d , soon b e g a n to b r i g h t e n in c o l o u r a n d to g i v e off a little gas. S u d d e n l y , a n d at t h e s a m e m o m e n t , t h e m i x t u r e c h a n g e d to a dark p u r p l e , a n d t h e n m o r e slowly to a w a t e r y g r e e n . My visitor, w h o had w a t c h e d t h i s w i t h a n e a g e r eye, s m i l e d , p u t t h e glass d o w n o n t h e table, a n d t h e n t u r n e d a n d e x a m i n e d m y face. " A n d n o w , " he said, "let's settle w h a t is to be d o n e . W i l l you be wise? W i l l y o u b e g u i d e d ? W i l l y o u let m e t a k e this glass i n m y h a n d a n d leave y o u r h o u s e w i t h o u t f u r t h e r t a l k ? O r has y o u r desire t o k n o w too strong a h o l d on y o u ? T h i n k before you a n s w e r ; it shall be d o n e as you decide. If you w i s h , you shall be left as you w e r e before, n e i t h e r richer n o r wiser, unless t h e sense of service d o n e to a m a n in terrible p a i n m a y be counted as riches of t h e soul. O r , if you prefer it, n e w k n o w l e d g e a n d n e w roads t o f a m e a n d p o w e r shall b e o p e n e d t o y o u , h e r e i n this room, i m m e d i a t e l y ; a n d y o u r eyes will be b l i n d e d w i t h w o n d e r at a sight that w o u l d f r i g h t e n t h e devil himself." "Sir," said I, p r e t e n d i n g to be m u c h c a l m e r t h a n I really was, "you speak mysteriously, a n d you will p e r h a p s n o t be s u r p r i s e d if I hardly believe you. B u t I h a v e g o n e too far in t h e w a y of s t r a n g e services to pause n o w before I see t h e e n d . " "Very well," replied m y visitor. " L a n y o n , r e m e m b e r y o u r professional

Dr Lanyon's Story

h o n o u r ; w h a t follows m u s t be a secret b e t w e e n us, as d o c t o r s . A n d n o w , you w h o h a v e s o l o n g h e l d t h e m o s t n a r r o w a n d t r a d i t i o n a l views, you w h o h a v e s c o r n e d t h e idea t h a t m e d i c i n e can go b e y o n d t h e laws of nature, you w h o h a v e l a u g h e d a t wiser m e n , w a t c h t h i s ! " He p u t t h e glass to his lips a n d d r a n k . A cry followed. He lost his balance a n d half fell, t h e n c a u g h t at t h e table a n d h e l d o n , his eyes red a n d wild, b r e a t h i n g heavily. A n d as I w a t c h e d t h e r e c a m e , I t h o u g h t , a change; he s e e m e d to swell, his face b e c a m e s u d d e n l y black, a n d its shape seemed t o m e l t a n d r e a r r a n g e itself, a n d t h e n e x t m o m e n t I h a d j u m p e d t o m y feet a n d back against the wall, w i t h m y a r m raised t o h i d e m e from that u n n a t u r a l sight a n d w i t h m y m i n d full o f terror. " O h , G o d ! " I cried, a n d " O h , G o d ! " a g a i n a n d a g a i n . F o r t h e r e i n front o f m y eyes, pale a n d suffering from s h o c k , a n d h a l f f a i n t i n g , a n d feeling blindly a r o u n d h i m w i t h his h a n d s , like a d e a d m a n w h o h a s c o m e back to life, t h e r e stood H e n r y Jekyll! M y m i n d i s too confused t o w r i t e d o w n w h a t h e told m e i n t h e n e x t hour. I s a w w h a t I saw, I h e a r d w h a t I h e a r d , a n d it m a d e my soul sick. But n o w , w h e n t h a t sight has d i s a p p e a r e d from my eyes, I ask m y s e l f if I believe it, a n d I c a n n o t a n s w e r . My life is s h a k e n to its roots; sleep has left m e , a n d t e r r o r sits by me at all h o u r s of t h e day a n d n i g h t . I feel t h a t my last day is c o m i n g , a n d t h a t I m u s t die; b u t still I shall die in disbelief. As for t h e evil t h a t t h a t m a n has m a d e k n o w n to m e , I c a n n o t t h i n k of it w i t h o u t a s h o c k e d feeling of h o r r o r , even t h o u g h I cry w i t h s h a m e at t h e m e m o r y of it. I will tell you only o n e t h i n g , U t t e r s o n , a n d t h a t (if you can force y o u r m i n d t o believe it) will b e m o r e t h a n e n o u g h . T h e p e r s o n w h o c a m e t o m y h o u s e t h a t n i g h t w a s , b y Jekyll's o w n a d m i s s i o n , k n o w n b y t h e n a m e o f H y d e a n d h u n t e d for i n every c o r n e r o f t h e l a n d a s the murderer of Carew. HASTIE LANYON

Henry Jekyll's Full statement of the Case

I w a s b o r n i n t o a rich family a n d w a s also gifted w i t h excellent abilities, I h a d a n a t u r a l taste for h a r d w o r k , a n d I v a l u e d t h e respect of t h e wise and t h e g o o d a m o n g those a r o u n d m e ; so I w a s certain, you m i g h t have t h o u g h t , to b e c o m e a respected a n d h o n o u r a b l e m a n . T h e w o r s t of my faults w a s a k i n d of i m p a t i e n t e x c i t e m e n t a n d desire for entertainment, such as h a s m a d e m a n y m e n h a p p y ; b u t I f o u n d it h a r d to c o m b i n e this w i t h m y s t r o n g d e s i r e t o c a r r y m y h e a d h i g h a n d t o w e a r a serious expression in public. So I k e p t my pleasures secret; a n d w h e n I g r e w old e n o u g h to t h i n k deeply a n d to consider my progress a n d position in the w o r l d , I f o u n d myself a l r e a d y l i v i n g a d o u b l e life. M a n y m e n w o u l d even h a v e s p o k e n p r o u d l y o f such w r o n g d o i n g s a s I w a s guilty of; b u t from the h i g h s t a n d a r d t h a t I h a d openly set for myself, I r e g a r d e d t h e m w i t h a d e e p sense of s h a m e . T h o u g h I led this d o u b l e life, b o t h sides of my c h a r a c t e r w e r e completely sincere. I was no m o r e m y s e l f w h e n I a l l o w e d my self-control to slide a n d s a n k into secret s h a m e , t h a n w h e n I publicly d i r e c t e d all my efforts to scientific studies a n d to t h e relief of suffering. I h a d r e a c h e d this stage w h e n my l a b o r a t o r y e x p e r i m e n t s began to t h r o w light on t h e m a t t e r . I b e g a n to realise, m o r e deeply t h a n anyone has yet stated, h o w c h a n g e a b l e a n d h o w insubstantial this solid-looking body is in w h i c h we w a l k . I f o u n d t h a t certain d r u g s h a v e t h e p o w e r to shake a n d pull a p a r t o u r c o v e r i n g of flesh, just as t h e w i n d m i g h t b l o w a curtain to o n e side. At last I even m a n a g e d to m i x a d r u g t h a t w o u l d c h a n g e the w h o l e substance of my b o d y a n d m i n d , a n d w o u l d r e s h a p e t h e m in a new way t h a t w o u l d be no less n a t u r a l because it w a s t h e clear expression of t h e lowest qualities in my soul. I w a i t e d for a l o n g t i m e before I tested this idea experimentally.

Henry Jekyll's Full Statement of the Case

I k n e w well t h a t I r i s k e d d e a t h ; any d r u g t h a t so p o w e r f u l l y c o n t r o l l e d my i n n e r n a t u r e m i g h t , if I t o o k too m u c h of it, c o m p l e t e l y destroy the body t h a t I w a n t e d it to c h a n g e . B u t t h e t h o u g h t of such a p o w e r f u l discovery a t last m a d e m e o v e r c o m e m y fears. I h a d a l r e a d y p r e p a r e d t h e liquid; I n o w b o u g h t a large q u a n t i t y of a p a r t i c u l a r salt f r o m a c h e m i s t , which I k n e w , from my e x p e r i m e n t s , to be t h e o n e t h i n g still n e e d e d , a n d late o n e n i g h t I m i x e d t h e d r u g s . I w a t c h e d t h e m boil a n d s t e a m in a glass, a n d , w i t h a b u r s t of c o u r a g e , I s w a l l o w e d t h e m i x t u r e . T h e m o s t terrible pains followed: I e x p e r i e n c e d a c h i n g b o n e s , violent sickness, a n d a sense of h o r r o r t h a t c a n n o t be w o r s e at t h e h o u r of b i r t h or d e a t h . T h e n these p a i n s q u i c k l y b e g a n to pass, a n d I r e c o v e r e d as if I h a d b e e n suffering from a serious illness. I felt s o m e t h i n g s t r a n g e in my blood, s o m e t h i n g indescribably n e w , unbelievably sweet. I felt y o u n g e r , lighter a n d h a p p i e r in body; in my m i n d , I w a s conscious of a w i l d c u r r e n t o f d i s o r d e r e d fancies a n d o f a n u n k n o w n a n d slightly evil f r e e d o m o f t h e soul. I k n e w , at t h e first b r e a t h of this n e w life, t h a t I w a s t h e slave of my original evil, b u t m u c h w o r s e , ten t i m e s w o r s e ; a n d t h e t h o u g h t o f this s t r e n g t h e n e d a n d pleased m e like w i n e . I s t r e t c h e d o u t m y h a n d s , t a k i n g pleasure in t h e freshness of these feelings, a n d as I d i d I s u d d e n l y realised t h a t I h a d lost h e i g h t . T h e r e w a s n o m i r r o r i n m y s t u d y a t t h a t t i m e . Filled w i t h h o p e a n d w i t h t h e p r i d e of success, I d e c i d e d to go o u t in my n e w s h a p e as far as my b e d r o o m . I crossed t h e y a r d ; I w a l k e d softly a l o n g t h e passages, a s t r a n g e r i n m y o w n h o u s e ; a n d w h e n I a r r i v e d at my r o o m I s a w for t h e first t i m e the a p p e a r a n c e o f E d w a r d H y d e . I s p e n t only a m o m e n t in front of t h e m i r r o r . T h e second a n d decisive e x p e r i m e n t h a d still to be a t t e m p t e d . It r e m a i n e d to be seen w h e t h e r I h a d lost myself b e y o n d recovery a n d m u s t escape before d a y l i g h t from a h o u s e t h a t w a s n o l o n g e r m i n e . H u r r y i n g b a c k t o m y study, I p r e p a r e d a n d d r a n k t h e m i x t u r e once m o r e ; o n c e m o r e I suffered t h e p a i n s o f d e a t h , a n d once m o r e I r e c o v e r e d , b u t w i t h t h e c h a r a c t e r a n d t h e

The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde

a p p e a r a n c e o f H e n r y Jekyll. T h a t n i g h t I h a d c o m e to a d e a d l y c r o s s r o a d s . If I h a d c o n s i d e r e d my discovery in a b e t t e r f r a m e of m i n d , if I h a d carried o u t t h e experiment w h i l e u n d e r t h e influence of g o o d i n t e n t i o n s , e v e r y t h i n g w o u l d have been different; from these pains of d e a t h a n d b i r t h I w o u l d h a v e c o m e out as a s e r v a n t of G o d a n d n o t of t h e devil. T h e d r u g itself w a s neither bad n o r g o o d . It simply shook the d o o r s of t h e prison of my character, and the evil spirits t h a t h a d b e e n locked t h e r e w e r e s u d d e n l y freed. At that time all g o o d n e s s i n m e w a s asleep; m y evil w a s r e a d y t o seize its opportunity, a n d t h e t h i n g t h a t i t p r o d u c e d w a s E d w a r d H y d e . S o a l t h o u g h I n o w had t w o c h a r a c t e r s as well as t w o a p p e a r a n c e s , o n e w a s completely evil; the o t h e r w a s still t h e old H e n r y Jekyll, t h a t s t r a n g e m i x t u r e of whose i m p r o v e m e n t I h a d a l r e a d y l e a r n e d to despair. So t h e t e n d e n c y was completely towards the worse. E v e n at t h a t t i m e I h a d n o t yet g a i n e d c o n t r o l of my distaste for a life of study. I still l i k e d to h a v e a g o o d t i m e . A n d as my p l e a s u r e s w e r e , to say t h e least, u n s u i t e d to a respectable doctor, a n d I w a s n o t only well known b u t also g r o w i n g r a t h e r old, this s t r u g g l e b e t w e e n m y t w o characters was daily b e c o m i n g m o r e u n w e l c o m e . My n e w p o w e r t e m p t e d me until I fell a n d b e c a m e its slave. S i m p l y d r i n k i n g t h e m i x t u r e , I could be free of the b o d y o f t h e d o c t o r a n d w e a r instead, like a m a s k , t h a t of E d w a r d Hyde. I smiled at t h e idea, w h i c h s e e m e d to me at t h e t i m e to be a m u s i n g , and I m a d e my preparations w i t h particular care. F i r s t I t o o k t h a t h o u s e in S o h o to w h i c h H y d e w a s t r a c k e d by the police; a n d I e m p l o y e d as h o u s e k e e p e r a p e r s o n w h o , I well knew, possessed a silent t o n g u e a n d no p a r t i c u l a r respect for t h e law. T h e n I a n n o u n c e d to my s e r v a n t s t h a t a Mr H y d e , w h o m I described, was to be freely accepted in my h o u s e in the s q u a r e a n d t h a t they w e r e to do as he asked; a n d I even called a n d m a d e myself k n o w n to t h e m in my second character. I n e x t p r e p a r e d t h a t will, to w h i c h y o u , U t t e r s o n , so strongly objected, so t h a t if a n y t h i n g h a p p e n e d to me w h i l e I w a s H e n r y Jekyll, I

Henry Jekyll's Full Statement of the Case

could c o n t i n u e i n t h e p e r s o n o f E d w a r d H y d e w i t h o u t loss o f m y possessions. W h e n I h a d m a d e all t h e a r r a n g e m e n t s I c o u l d to p r o t e c t my interests, I b e g a n to m a k e use of t h e s t r a n g e f r e e d o m of my position. Men h a v e , before n o w , h i r e d o t h e r s to do their c r i m e s for t h e m . I w a s the first t h a t ever d i d so just for p l e a s u r e . I w a s t h e first w h o could a p p e a r respectable in t h e eyes of t h e public, b u t could in a m o m e n t , like a schoolboy, t h r o w off t h e clothes of respectability a n d j u m p h e a d first into the sea of f r e e d o m . In my u n r e c o g n i s a b l e m a s k , I w a s c o m p l e t e l y safe. T h i n k of it, I d i d n o t even exist! Just let me escape into my laboratory, just give me a second or t w o to m i x a n d s w a l l o w t h e d r u g s t h a t w e r e always ready, a n d E d w a r d H y d e , w h a t e v e r h e h a d d o n e , w o u l d d i s a p p e a r like a breath on a m i r r o r . A n d t h e r e instead, quietly at h o m e , w o r k i n g late at night i n his study, w o u l d b e H e n r y Jekyll, a m a n w h o c o u l d afford t o laugh at any suspicion. I do n o t i n t e n d to describe in detail t h e w r o n g s t h a t I a l l o w e d my other self to do (even n o w I c a n h a r d l y believe t h a t I d i d t h e m ) . I m e a n only t o p o i n t o u t t h e w a r n i n g s w i t h w h i c h m y p u n i s h m e n t g r a d u a l l y arrived. T h e r e w a s an accident, w h i c h I just m e n t i o n , as no serious trouble followed; an act of cruelty to a child s t i r r e d t h e a n g e r of a w i t n e s s , w h o m I recognised a few days a g o as y o u r cousin. A d o c t o r a n d t h e child's family joined h i m . T h e r e w e r e m o m e n t s w h e n m y life w a s i n d a n g e r . Finally, i n o r d e r t o satisfy t h e m , E d w a r d H y d e h a d t o b r i n g t h e m t o m y door a n d pay t h e m w i t h a c h e q u e signed by H e n r y Jekyll. B u t this d a n g e r was easily a v o i d e d for t h e f u t u r e by o p e n i n g an a c c o u n t at a n o t h e r b a n k i n the n a m e o f E d w a r d H y d e himself; a n d w h e n , b y sloping m y w r i t i n g b a c k w a r d s , I h a d supplied h i m w i t h a s i g n a t u r e , I t h o u g h t I w o u l d be safe. Some t w o m o n t h s before t h e m u r d e r o f Sir D a n v e r s , I h a d been o u t for one of my a d v e n t u r e s , h a d r e t u r n e d at a late h o u r , a n d w o k e in the m o r n i n g w i t h a r a t h e r s t r a n g e feeling. I l o o k e d a r o u n d m e , s a w t h e familiar f u r n i t u r e o f m y big b e d r o o m , a n d recognised t h e p a t t e r n o f t h e

The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde

c u r t a i n s r o u n d my b e d . In spite of all this, s o m e t h i n g still k e p t telling me t h a t I w a s n o t w h e r e I w a s , t h a t I h a d n o t w o k e n w h e r e I seemed to be, b u t in t h e little r o o m in S o h o w h e r e I used to sleep in t h e body of Edward Hyde. I s m i l e d to myself, a n d lazily w o n d e r e d w h y I felt so s t r a n g e , b u t I was still h a l f asleep a n d my eyes k e p t closing. I w a s still in this d r e a m y state w h e n , o p e n i n g my eyes for a m o m e n t , I noticed my h a n d . N o w , the hand of H e n r y Jekyll (as you h a v e often r e m a r k e d , U t t e r s o n ) w a s large, firm, w h i t e a n d well m a d e , a g o o d doctor's h a n d . B u t t h e h a n d w h i c h I now s a w l y i n g on t h e b e d c l o t h e s , in the misty yellow light of a London m o r n i n g , w a s t h i n a n d bony, w i t h r o u g h d a r k s k i n , a n d covered with t h i c k b l a c k hair. I t w a s t h e h a n d o f E d w a r d H y d e . I m u s t h a v e l o o k e d at it for h a l f a m i n u t e in s t u p i d w o n d e r before t e r r o r w o k e in my h e a r t , as s u d d e n a n d f r i g h t e n i n g as a crash of thunder. I j u m p e d from my b e d a n d r u s h e d t o t h e m i r r o r . A t t h e sight t h a t m e t m y eyes, my b l o o d r a n cold. Yes, I h a d g o n e to bed as H e n r y Jekyll, a n d I had woken as Edward Hyde! H o w w a s this t o b e e x p l a i n e d ? A n d , h e r e c a m e a n o t h e r r u s h o f terror, h o w w a s it to be p u t r i g h t ? It w a s m o r n i n g , a n d t h e s e r v a n t s w e r e u p . All my d r u g s w e r e in t h e study, a l o n g j o u r n e y ( d o w n t w o flights of stairs, a l o n g a passage, across t h e g a r d e n a n d t h r o u g h t h e laboratory) from the place w h e r e I w a s t h e n s t a n d i n g , h o r r o r - s t r u c k . P e r h a p s it m i g h t be possible to cover my face. B u t w h a t w a s t h e use of t h a t , w h e n I w a s unable to h i d e my c h a n g e in size? A n d t h e n , w i t h a p o w e r f u l feeling of sweet relief, I r e m e m b e r e d that t h e servants w e r e a l r e a d y used to t h e c o m i n g a n d g o i n g of my second self. I h a d soon d r e s s e d , as well as I could, in clothes of my o w n size. I walked t h r o u g h t h e h o u s e , w h e r e t h e s e r v a n t s stood b a c k o n seeing M r H y d e a t such a n h o u r a n d s o strangely clothed. A n d ten m i n u t e s later, D r Jekyll h a d r e t u r n e d t o his o w n shape a n d w a s sitting d o w n , w i t h a n anxious face, t r y i n g to eat his breakfast.

Henry Jekyll's Full Statement of the Case

Certainly I h a d no desire for food. T h i s s t r a n g e event, so u n l i k e my earlier experiences, s e e m e d to be spelling o u t t h e letters of my future. I began to consider, m o r e seriously t h a n ever before, t h e possible effects of my double existence. My evil h a l f h a d recently b e e n well exercised a n d fed. It seemed as if t h e b o d y of E d w a r d H y d e h a d g r o w n larger: as if, when I w o r e t h a t f o r m , I w e r e a s t r o n g e r m a n . I b e g a n to recognise a danger that t h e balance o f m y n a t u r e m i g h t b e c h a n g e d , a n d t h a t t h e character o f E d w a r d H y d e m i g h t b e c o m e m i n e for ever. T h e p o w e r o f the d r u g had n o t been always e q u a l . O n c e it h a d c o m p l e t e l y failed m e . Since then I h a d b e e n forced on m o r e t h a n o n e occasion to d o u b l e t h e mixture; a n d once, at risk of d e a t h , I h a d h a d to t a k e t h r e e times the usual amount. T h e s e h a d b e e n t h e only d a r k m o m e n t s , s o far, i n m y n e w life. But now, in t h e light of t h a t m o r n i n g ' s e x p e r i e n c e , I realised t h a t , although m y o r i g i n a l p r o b l e m h a d b e e n t o escape from t h e b o d y o f Jekyll, the opposite situation h a d g r a d u a l l y b u t decidedly c o m e i n t o effect. Everything, t h e r e f o r e , s e e m e d to p o i n t to this: I w a s slowly losing h o l d of my original a n d better self, a n d slowly b e c o m i n g my second a n d w o r s e self. I n o w felt I h a d to choose b e t w e e n these t w o . My t w o n a t u r e s h a d memory i n c o m m o n b u t all o t h e r p o w e r s w e r e m o s t u n e q u a l l y s h a r e d between t h e m . Jekyll s h a r e d i n t h e pleasures a n d a d v e n t u r e s o f H y d e ; b u t Hyde cared n o t h i n g for Jekyll, o r r e m e m b e r e d h i m only a s t h e r o b b e r remembers the hole in t h e m o u n t a i n w h e r e he hides. If I chose to be Jekyll, I w o u l d lose forever those pleasures to w h i c h I h a d given w a y in secret and had n o w b e g u n to give w a y m o r e frequently. If I chose to be Hyde, I w o u l d lose a t h o u s a n d interests a n d h o p e s ; I w o u l d b e c o m e , immediately a n d for ever, s c o r n e d a n d friendless. T h e choice m i g h t appear clear, b u t t h e r e w e r e o t h e r c o n s i d e r a t i o n s . T h o u g h Jekyll w o u l d suffer bitterly in t h e s t r u g g l e for self-control, H y d e w o u l d n o t even k n o w what h e h a d lost. M y o w n situation w a s s t r a n g e , o f c o u r s e , b u t this struggle is as old a n d as o r d i n a r y as m a n . A n d so, as you w o u l d expect, I

The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde

chose t h e better p a r t a n d t h e n f o u n d t h a t I h a d n o t t h e s t r e n g t h to keep it. Yes, I p r e f e r r e d t h e m i d d l e - a g e d a n d dissatisfied doctor, s u r r o u n d e d by friends a n d full of h o n e s t h o p e s ; a n d I said g o o d b y e to t h e freedom, the light step, t h e e x c i t e m e n t a n d t h e secret pleasures t h a t I h a d enjoyed in t h e y o u n g e r c h a r a c t e r o f H y d e . M y choice w a s m a d e p e r h a p s w i t h some u n c o n s c i o u s d o u b t s , for I n e i t h e r g a v e up t h e h o u s e in S o h o n o r destroyed t h e clothes of E d w a r d H y d e , w h i c h still lay r e a d y in my study. But for t w o m o n t h s I w a s t r u e to my d e t e r m i n a t i o n . F o r t w o m o n t h s I led a purer life t h a n I h a d ever m a n a g e d before. B u t t i m e b e g a n at last to d u l l t h e freshness of my fear. I b e g a n to suffer t h e pains of s t r o n g desire, as if H y d e w e r e s t r u g g l i n g for his freedom. A n d at last, in a m o m e n t of m o r a l w e a k n e s s , I once a g a i n m i x e d and swallowed the magic drink. M y devil h a d b e e n l o n g c a g e d . H e c a m e o u t w i t h a wildness you c a n n o t i m a g i n e . I w a s conscious, even w h e n I t o o k t h e d r u g , of a more u n c o n t r o l l e d a n d m o r e d e s p e r a t e desire for evil. It m u s t h a v e been this, I s u p p o s e , t h a t s t i r r e d in my soul t h a t s t o r m of i m p a t i e n c e w i t h which I listened t o t h e polite w o r d s o f Sir D a n v e r s C a r e w . N o m a n i n his right m i n d could h a v e b e e n guilty of t h a t c r i m e . B u t I h a d consciously d e s t r o y e d t h e b a l a n c e t h a t gives e v e n t h e w o r s t m e n a d e g r e e of steadiness w h e n faced w i t h t e m p t a t i o n ; if I w e r e t e m p t e d , h o w e v e r slightly, I was certain to fall. I m m e d i a t e l y t h e spirit o f t h e devil w o k e i n m e a n d r a n w i l d . W i t h evil joy I h a m m e r e d his old b o d y a n d t o o k real p l e a s u r e in every blow. Only w h e n m y a r m g r e w t i r e d w a s I s u d d e n l y , i n t h e m i d d l e o f m y m a d anger, s t r u c k t h r o u g h t h e h e a r t by a cold t e r r o r . I s a w t h a t my life w a s in danger, a n d I r u s h e d from t h e scene. B u t my h e a r t w a s as full of excitement as of fear, a n d my desire for evil w a s b o t h e n c o u r a g e d a n d increased. I ran to t h e h o u s e in S o h o a n d , to h i d e my t r a c k s , I d e s t r o y e d my p a p e r s . T h e n I h u r r i e d h o m e t h r o u g h t h e l a m p l i t streets.

Henry Jekyll's Full Statement of the Case

H y d e h a d a s o n g o n his lips as he m i x e d t h e d r u g s , a n d as he d r a n k he gave a cheer for t h e d e a d m a n . T h e p a i n s h a d n o t f i n i s h e d t e a r i n g h i m when H e n r y Jekyll, w i t h s t r e a m i n g tears of relief a n d guilt, fell on his knees a n d raised his h a n d s to G o d in prayer. I c o u l d h a v e cried o u t loud. I tried w i t h tears a n d p r a y e r s t o d r o w n t h e h o r r i b l e sights a n d s o u n d s t h a t crowded t h r o u g h my m e m o r y . E v e n w h i l e I p r a y e d , t h e ugly face of my evil side l o o k e d d e e p into my soul. B u t this guilty d e s p a i r w a s followed by a sense of joy, because t h e p r o b l e m of my d o u b l e life w a s solved. H y d e was n o w impossible. I locked t h e d o o r in t h e side street, t h r o u g h w h i c h he had so often passed, a n d s t a m p e d on t h e key u n t i l it b r o k e ! T h e n e x t day t h e r e c a m e t h e n e w s t h a t t h e m u r d e r h a d b e e n seen, t h a t Hyde's guilt w a s clear t o t h e w h o l e w o r l d , a n d t h a t t h e m u r d e r e d m a n was an h o n o u r e d public figure. It w a s n o t only a c r i m e , it w a s a senseless act. But I t h i n k I w a s glad to h a v e my better n a t u r e g u a r d e d n o w by t h e terror o f b e i n g h a n g e d . Jekyll h a d b e c o m e m y h i d i n g place. I f H y d e w e r e to show his face for a m o m e n t , t h e h a n d s of all m e n w o u l d be raised against h i m t o t a k e h i m t o his d e a t h . I was d e t e r m i n e d t h a t my f u t u r e w a y of life s h o u l d p r o v e my s o r r o w for the past. I can honestly say t h a t this d e t e r m i n a t i o n d i d p r o d u c e s o m e good. You k n o w h o w seriously I w o r k e d to relieve suffering d u r i n g t h e last m o n t h s of last year. You k n o w t h a t I d i d m u c h for o t h e r s , a n d t h a t t h e days passed quietly, a l m o s t happily, for myself. I c a n n o t truly say t h a t I grew tired of this useful life; in fact, I t h i n k I enjoyed it m o r e fully every day. But m y d o u b l e n a t u r e w a s still w i t h m e ; a n d a s t i m e d u l l e d t h e sharpness of my s o r r o w , t h e l o w e r side of m e , w h i c h I h a d given way to for so long a n d h a d so recently c h a i n e d d o w n , b e g a n d e m a n d i n g to be let loose. N o t t h a t I d r e a m e d of b r i n g i n g H y d e b a c k to life; even the idea of that w o u l d frighten m e t o m a d n e s s . N o , i t w a s i n m y o w n p e r s o n , a s H e n r y Jekyll, t h a t I w a s once m o r e t e m p t e d to give w a y to t e m p t a t i o n . T h e r e c o m e s an e n d to all t h i n g s . T h e d e e p e s t m e a s u r e is filled at last, and this g i v i n g w a y to my evil desires d e s t r o y e d t h e b a l a n c e of my soul.

The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde

B u t I w a s n o t afraid. T h e fall s e e m e d n a t u r a l , like a r e t u r n to t h e old days before I h a d m a d e my discovery. It w a s a fine clear day, a n d Regent's Park w a s s w e e t w i t h t h e smells a n d s o u n d s of s p r i n g . I sat in t h e sun on a g a r d e n seat. T h e a n i m a l side o f m y n a t u r e w a s still t a s t i n g t h e m e m o r y o f its pleasures; t h e spiritual side w a s a little sleepy, p r o m i s i n g to show s o r r o w later b u t n o t yet r e a d y to b e g i n . After all, I t h o u g h t , I w a s like my neighbours. T h e n I smiled, c o m p a r i n g m y s e l f w i t h o t h e r m e n , c o m p a r i n g m y active g o o d n e s s w i t h t h e lazy cruelty of their neglect. A n d at t h e moment of t h a t p r o u d t h o u g h t a h o r r i b l e sickness seized m e , w i t h terrible t r e m b l i n g . T h i s passed a w a y , a n d left me faint. T h e n , as in its t u r n the faintness also passed, I b e g a n to feel a g r e a t e r confidence, a scorn of d a n g e r , a l o o s e n i n g of t h e ties of d u t y . I l o o k e d d o w n . My clothes hung shapelessly o n m y s h o r t e n e d body, a n d t h e h a n d t h a t lay o n m y k n e e was b o n y a n d hairy. I w a s o n c e m o r e E d w a r d H y d e ! A m o m e n t earlier I h a d b e e n w e a l t h y a n d respected, even loved, with t h e table set for m e i n t h e d i n i n g r o o m a t h o m e . N o w e v e r y o n e was o n my t r a c k ; I w a s h u n t e d , h o m e l e s s , a k n o w n m u r d e r e r , w i t h a sure end on a hangman's rope. My c o u r a g e w a s s h a k e n , b u t it d i d n o t fail me completely. I have more t h a n once noticed that, i n m y second character, m y m i n d seemed s h a r p e n e d to a p o i n t a n d I c o u l d r e cover q u i c k l y from any shock. So, in a situation w h e r e Jekyll w o u l d h a v e s u n k in despair, H y d e rose to the i m p o r t a n c e of t h e m o m e n t . My d r u g s w e r e in o n e of t h e c u p b o a r d s in my study. H o w w a s I t o reach t h e m ? T h a t w a s t h e p r o b l e m t h a t , pressing m y h a n d s against my h e a d , I set myself to solve. I h a d no key to t h e laboratory d o o r in t h e side street. If I tried to e n t e r by t h e front d o o r of t h e house, my o w n servants w o u l d seize m e . I saw t h a t I h a d to e m p l o y a n o t h e r hand a n d I t h o u g h t of L a n y o n . But h o w could I reach h i m , a n d p e r s u a d e him? E v e n s u p p o s i n g t h a t I escaped r e c o g n i t i o n in t h e streets, h o w was I to m a k e m y w a y i n t o his p r e s e n c e ? A n d h o w c o u l d I , a n u n k n o w n and

Henry Jekyll's Full Statement of the Case

unpleasant visitor, p e r s u a d e t h e f a m o u s d o c t o r t o b r e a k i n t o a n o t h e r doctor's s t u d y ?

T h e n I r e m e m b e r e d that one part of my original

character r e m a i n e d u n c h a n g e d : I could w r i t e in Jekyll's h a n d w r i t i n g . As soon as this idea c a m e to m e , t h e w a y t h a t I h a d to follow b e c a m e clear. I a r r a n g e d my clothes as neatly as I could, h i r e d a c a r r i a g e , a n d d r o v e to a hotel in P o r t l a n d Street w h o s e n a m e I r e m e m b e r e d by c h a n c e . T h e driver could n o t h i d e his a m u s e m e n t at my a p p e a r a n c e . I l o o k e d at h i m with an expression of devilish anger, a n d t h e smile froze on his face, luckily for h i m , a n d even m o r e luckily for myself; if it h a d n o t , I w o u l d certainly h a v e d r a g g e d h i m off his seat. As I e n t e r e d t h e hotel, I l o o k e d a r o u n d w i t h such an a n g r y face t h a t the people w o r k i n g t h e r e t r e m b l e d . T h e y d i d n o t d a r e e x c h a n g e l o o k s i n my presence. T h e y took my o r d e r s , led me to a r o o m , a n d b r o u g h t me a pen and paper. H y d e in d a n g e r of his life w a s a n e w p e r s o n : s h a k i n g w i t h violent anger, ready for m u r d e r , eager to cause p a i n . B u t he w a s clever. H e controlled his a n g e r w i t h a g r e a t effort, a n d w r o t e his t w o i m p o r t a n t letters, one t o L a n y o n a n d o n e t o Poole. After that, he sat all day by the fire in his private r o o m , b i t i n g his nails. T h e r e he took his dinner, alone w i t h his fears, while the waiter clearly trembled at his look. A n d from t h e r e , w h e n n i g h t h a d fallen, he set o u t in a closed carriage a n d was d r i v e n up a n d d o w n the streets of t h e city. " H e " I say, I c a n n o t say " I " . T h a t child of t h e devil h a d n o t h i n g h u m a n a b o u t him; n o t h i n g lived i n h i m except fear a n d h a t r e d . A n d w h e n a t last, t h i n k i n g t h a t the d r i v e r h a d b e g u n to distrust h i m , h e dismissed t h e carriage a n d c o n t i n u e d on foot (a noticeable object in his badly fitting clothes), the violence of that fear a n d h a t r e d e x p l o d e d inside h i m like a storm. He w a l k e d fast, h u n t e d by his fears, t a l k i n g wildly to himself, hiding in the s h a d o w s of the loneliest streets, a n d c o u n t i n g the m i n u t e s t h a t still separated h i m from m i d n i g h t . O n c e a w o m a n s p o k e to h i m , offering, I think, a box of m a t c h e s . He struck h e r in the face, a n d she ran away. W h e n I recovered myself at L a n y o n ' s , my old friend's h o r r o r m a y

The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde

h a v e h a d s o m e effect on m e . I do n o t k n o w . It w a s in any case only a drop in t h e ocean, c o m p a r e d w i t h t h e sick h a t r e d w i t h w h i c h I l o o k e d back on these h o u r s . A c h a n g e h a d c o m e over m e . It was no longer the fear of the h a n g m a n ; it w a s t h e h o r r o r of b e i n g H y d e t h a t I suffered from. Partly in a d r e a m I listened to L a n y o n ' s cries of t e r r o r a n d a n g e r against m e ; and partly in a d r e a m I c a m e h o m e to my h o u s e a n d w e n t to b e d . I slept so heavily t h a t e v e n t h e t e r r o r o f m y d r e a m s c o u l d n o t w a k e m e until m o r n i n g . T h e n I w o k e , feeling s h a k e n a n d w e a k e n e d b u t refreshed. I still h a t e d a n d feared t h e t h o u g h t of t h e devil t h a t slept inside m e , and I h a d n o t of c o u r s e f o r g o t t e n t h e t e r r i b l e d a n g e r s of t h e day before; but I w a s o n c e m o r e a t h o m e , i n m y o w n h o u s e a n d close t o m y d r u g s , and t h a n k s to G o d for my escape filled my soul w i t h a n e w h o p e . I w a s s t e p p i n g across t h e y a r d after breakfast, b r e a t h i n g the cool m o r n i n g air

with

pleasure,

when

I

was

seized

again

b y those

i n d e s c r i b a b l e feelings t h a t w e r e t h e first sign of t h e c h a n g e . I only just had t i m e to g a i n t h e shelter of my study before I w a s o n c e m o r e b u r n i n g and f r e e z i n g w i t h t h e violent desires of H y d e . On this occasion it took a d o u b l e a m o u n t o f t h e m i x t u r e t o b r i n g m e back t o m y p r o p e r self. And six h o u r s later, as I sat l o o k i n g sadly at t h e fire, t h e pains r e t u r n e d and the d r u g h a d to be t a k e n a g a i n . In s h o r t , f r o m t h a t day on it w a s only by a g r e a t effort, a n d only u n d e r t h e i m m e d i a t e action of t h e d r u g , that I was able to w e a r t h e face of Jekyll. At all h o u r s of t h e day a n d n i g h t I was seized by t h e s u d d e n t r e m b l i n g ; a b o v e all, if I slept for a m o m e n t in my chair, e v e n lightly, I a l w a y s w o k e as H y d e . I w a s n o w so w o r n o u t by this c o n t i n u o u s d a n g e r , a n d by the sleeplessness t h a t it forced on m e , t h a t I b e c a m e seriously w e a k and feverish b o t h i n b o d y a n d m i n d . A n d m y m i n d w a s occupied b y one t h o u g h t a l o n e : t h e h o r r o r of my o t h e r self. B u t w h e n I slept, or w h e n the effect of t h e d r u g s w o r e off, I passed a l m o s t in a m o m e n t (for day by day t h e p a i n s g r e w less) i n t o t h e possession of a soul boiling w i t h hatred for e v e r y t h i n g , a n d a b o d y t h a t d i d n o t seem s t r o n g e n o u g h to hold the

Henry Jekyll's Full Statement of the Case

explosive e n e r g y of its desires. It is useless to say m o r e , a n d I h a v e no t i m e . No o n e has ever suffered in such a terrible way — let t h a t be e n o u g h . B u t my p u n i s h m e n t m i g h t have g o n e on for years if I h a d n o t h a d this last m i s f o r t u n e , w h i c h n o w separates m e for ever from my o w n face a n d n a t u r e a s H e n r y Jekyll. M y original supply of p o w d e r e d salt, w h i c h h a d lasted since I first b e g a n to use it, b e g a n to r u n low. I sent o u t for a fresh supply, a n d m i x e d t h e d r u g . T h e colour c h a n g e d once, b u t n o t a second t i m e . I d r a n k it, a n d it h a d no effect. You will l e a r n from Poole h o w I h a v e h a d L o n d o n s e a r c h e d , f r o m end to e n d , w i t h o u t success. I n o w h a v e to accept t h e fact t h a t t h e first supply w a s i m p u r e , a n d t h a t this u n k n o w n i m p u r i t y g a v e t h e d r u g its special p o w e r . A b o u t a w e e k has passed, a n d I am n o w finishing this s t a t e m e n t u n d e r the influence of t h e last of t h e old p o w d e r s . T h i s , t h e n , is t h e last time, unless h e a v e n t a k e s pity o n m e , t h a t H e n r y Jekyll can t h i n k his o w n thoughts or see his o w n face ( h o w sadly c h a n g e d ! ) in t h e m i r r o r . A n d I must not delay too l o n g before b r i n g i n g m y w r i t i n g t o a n e n d ; i f m y story has so far escaped d e s t r u c t i o n , it has been by a c o m b i n a t i o n of g r e a t care and good luck. If the pains t a k e me in the act of w r i t i n g this, H y d e will tear it to pieces; b u t if e n o u g h t i m e has passed after I have w r i t t e n , it m a y be saved once a g a i n from his scorn. T h e e n d t h a t i s closing r o u n d u s b o t h has already c h a n g e d a n d crushed h i m . H a l f a n h o u r from n o w , I k n o w h o w H y d e will sit s h a k i n g and crying i n m y chair, o r m a r c h restlessly u p a n d d o w n this r o o m (his last h i d i n g place on e a r t h ) listening in t e r r o r for any s o u n d of possible danger. Will H y d e b e h a n g e d o n t h e public h a n g m a n ' s rope? O r will h e find the c o u r a g e to t a k e his o w n life at t h e last m o m e n t ? G o d k n o w s . I do not care. T h i s is my t r u e h o u r of d e a t h , a n d w h a t follows c o n c e r n s a person w h o is n o t myself. H e r e , t h e n , as I lay d o w n t h e p e n a n d seal up my last w o r d s , I b r i n g t h e life of t h a t u n h a p p y H e n r y Jekyll to an e n d .

axe (n) a tool with a heavy metal blade on the end of a long handle, used to cut wood blackmail (n) a threat to tell secrets about someone if they do not give you money or do something for you butler (n) the main male servant in a house candle (n) a round stick with a piece of string through the middle that is burnt to provide light carpenter (n) someone whose job it is to make and repair wooden objects carriage (n) a vehicle with wheels that is pulled by a horse despair (n/v) a feeling of great unhappiness and hopelessness; a person with this feeling is desperate disgust (n) a very strong feeling of dislike distaste (n) a feeling of dislike (less strong than disgust) experiment (n/v) a thorough test using scientific methods fancy (n) a desire for something; an idea that is not based on fact (so is fanciful). Fanciful furniture has a complicated design. fog (n) cloudy air near the ground which is difficult to see through horror (n) a strong feeling of shock and fear; something that causes this feeling is horrible Inspector (n) the title of a middle-ranking police officer laboratory (n) a special room in which a scientist tests and prepares substances locksmith (n) someone who makes and repairs locks mad (adj) mentally ill m a s k (n/v) something that covers all or part of your face, to hide it misery (n) great unhappiness; a miserable person is very unhappy, but a miserable thing can be something of poor quality neglect (n) lack of care and attention recover (v) to get better after a shock or illness relief (n) the feeling that you have when pain or unhappiness disappears or is reduced rusty (adj) covered in a reddish-brown substance that forms on iron and steel when they get wet

Word List

scorn

(n) the feeling that someone or something is stupid or unreasonable

seal (n/v) something used to close a container such as an envelope, and which you have to break in order to open the container sigh (v) to breathe in and out with a long sound that shows you are bored, disappointed, tired, etc. suspicion (n) a feeling that someone is probably guilty of wrong or dishonest behaviour; a person who is thought to be guilty is a suspect who is suspected of a crime tempt (v) to make someone want to do something that they know they should not do victim (n) someone who has been attacked, robbed or murdered wonder (n/v) a feeling of surprise

Activities

Chapters 1-3 Before you read 1

Look at the W o r d List on pages 62—3. Find words that: 1 describe people's jobs. 2 are about fear and unhappiness. 3 are about scientific practice. Check the meanings of other words on the list that are new to you.

After you read: Understanding 2

Who: 1 is readier to help people in trouble than to blame them? 2 witnessed a complete lack of feeling for an injured child? 3 was forced to pay money to the child's family? 4 signed the cheque? 5 disapproves of an old friend's ideas? 6 7

shocks and frightens everyone who meets him? makes a promise to an old friend?

After you read: Speaking 3

Discuss Mr Utterson's character and habits.

4 Explain why Mr Utterson is so worried about Dr Jekyll's will.

Chapters 4 - 6 Before you read 5

W h a t do you think the relationship is between Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde

6

H o w does Mr Utterson plan to destroy Mr Hyde?

Activities

After you read: Understanding 7

Answer the questions. 1 What does a servant girl witness one night? 2 What connects Mr Utterson with the two people involved in the event? 3 Why does Mr Utterson take the police to Soho? 4 What do they find there that is of interest? 5 Why is Mr Utterson upset by Mr Hyde's note? 6 What has caused Dr Lanyon's final illness?

After you read: Speaking 8

Describe the appearances of Mr Hyde and Dr Jekyll.

9

Work in pairs. Take the parts of a policeman and the servant girl. Question the servant girl about the killing that she witnessed.

Chapters 7-10 Before you read 10

Dr Lanyon left a letter marked "Not to be opened until the death or disappearance of Henry Jekyll". What do you think the letter contains?

After you read: Understanding 11

Who is talking to whom? Who or what are they talking about? 1 "You should be outside, taking exercise, like Mr Enfield and me." 2 "I think there's been a horrible crime." 3 "We have come too late," he said sadly, "either to save or to punish." 4 "If you wish, you shall be left as you were before . . . Or, if you prefer it, new knowledge and new roads to fame and power shall be opened to you . . ." 5 "At the sight that met my eyes, my blood ran cold."

The Strange Ca,se of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde

After you read: Speaking 12

What questions do you imagine that Mr Utterson would like to ask his friend Dr Jekyll if Jekyll were alive to answer them?

13

If you had to choose between living in the character of Dr Jekyll or as Mr Hyde, which would you choose and why?

Whole book Writing 1

Compare Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde. How are their appearances, characters and behaviour different?

2

How important are letters and written documents to the development of the story?

3

How does Mr Utterson's attitude to Dr Jekyll change through the story? How do you think he feels after his friend's death?

4 What part does scientific experimentation play in the book? What do you think the writer's views are on such experiments? Explain why you are, or are not, sympathetic to these views. 5

How true do you think it is that men and women have an evil side to their nature that they must continually struggle to control? Give examples from your own experience of human nature or from cases that you have read about.

6

Write a short report on the book. Retell the main events of the story and explain why you did or did not enjoy it.