`Yes,'saidhe,`Irecognizehim。IamsorrytosaythatthisisSirDanversCarew。'
`GoodGod,sir!'exclaimedtheofficer,`isitpossible?'Andthenextmomenthiseyelightedupwithprofessionalambition。`Thiswillmakeadealofnoise,'hesaid。`Andperhapsyoucanhelpustotheman。'Andhebrieflynarratedwhatthemaidhadseen,andshowedthebrokenstick。
MrUttersonhadalreadyquailedatthenameofHyde;butwhenthestickwaslaidbeforehim,hecoulddoubtnolonger:brokenandbatteredasitwas,herecognizeditforonethathehadhimselfpresentedmanyyearsbeforetoHenryJekyll。
`IsthisMrHydeapersonofsmallstature?'heinquired。
`Particularlysmallandparticularlywicked-looking,iswhatthemaidcallshim,'saidtheother。
MrUttersonreflected;andthen,raisinghishead,`Ifyouwillcomewithmeinmycab,'hesaid,`IthinkIcantakeyoutohishouse。
Itwasbythistimeaboutnineinthemorning,andthefirstfogoftheseason。Agreatchocolate-colouredpallloweredoverheaven,butthewindwascontinuallychargingandroutingtheseembattledvapours;sothatasthecabcrawledfromstreettostreet,MrUttersonbeheldamarvellousnumberofdegreesandhuesoftwilight;forhereitwouldbedarkliketheback-endofevening;andtherewouldbeaglowofarich,luridbrown,likethelightofsomestrangeconflagration;andhere,foramoment,thefogwouldbequitebrokenup,andahaggardshaftofdaylightwouldglanceinbetweentheswirlingwreaths。ThedismalquarterofSohoseenunderthesechangingglimpses,withitsmuddyways,andslatternlypassengers,anditslamps,whichhadneverbeenextinguishedorhadbeenkindledafreshtocombatthismournfulreinvasionofdarkness,seemed,inthelawyer'seyes,likeadistrictofsomecityinanightmare。Thethoughtsofhismind,besides,wereofthegloomiestdye;andwhenheglancedatthecompanionofhisdrive,hewasconsciousofsometouchofthatterrorofthelawandthelaw'sofficerswhichmayattimesassailthemosthonest。
Asthecabdrewupbeforetheaddressindicated,thefogliftedalittleandshowedhimadingystreet,aginpalace,alowFrencheating-house,ashopfortheretailofpennynumbersandtwo-pennysalads,manyraggedchildrenhuddledinthedoorways,andmanywomenofmanydifferentnationalitiespassingout,keyinhand,tohaveamorningglass;andthenextmomentthefogsettleddownagainuponthatpart,asbrownasumber,andcuthimofffromhisblackguardlysurroundings。ThiswasthehomeofHenryJekyll'sfavourite;ofamanwhowasheirtoaquarterofamillionsterling。
Anivory-facedandsilvery-hairedoldwomanopenedthedoor。Shehadanevilface,smoothedbyhypocrisy;buthermannerswereexcellent。Yes,shesaid,thiswasMrHyde's,buthewasnotathome;hehadbeeninthatnightverylate,buthadgoneawayagaininlessthananhour:therewasnothingstrangeinthat;hishabitswereveryirregular,andhewasoftenabsent;forinstance,itwasnearlytwomonthssinceshehadseenhimtillyesterday。
`Verywellthen,wewishtoseehisrooms,'saidthelawyer;andwhenthewomanbegantodeclareitwasimpossible,`Ihadbettertellyouwhothispersonis,'headded。`ThisisInspectorNewcomenofScotlandYard。'
Aflashofodiousjoyappeareduponthewoman'sface。`Ah!'saidshe,`heisintrouble!Whathashedone?'
MrUttersonandtheinspectorexchangedglances。`Hedon'tseemaverypopularcharacter,'observedthelatter。`Andnow,mygoodwoman,justletmeandthisgentlemanhavealookaboutus。'
Inthewholeextentofthehouse,whichbutfortheoldwomanremainedotherwiseempty,MrHydehadonlyusedacoupleofrooms;butthesewerefurnishedwithluxuryandgoodtaste。Aclosetwasfilledwithwine;theplatewasofsilver,thenaperyelegant;agoodpicturehunguponthewalls,agift(asUttersonsupposed)fromHenryJekyll,whowasmuchofaconnoisseur;
andthecarpetswereofmanypliesandagreeableincolour。Atthismoment,however,theroomsboreeverymarkofhavingbeenrecentlyandhurriedlyransacked;clotheslayaboutthefloor,withtheirpocketsinsideout;
lock-fastdrawersstoodopen;andonthehearththerelayapileofgreyashes,asthoughmanypapershadbeenburned。Fromtheseemberstheinspectordisinterredthebuttendofagreenchequebook,whichhadresistedtheactionofthefire;theotherhalfofthestickwasfoundbehindthedoor;
andasthisclinchedhissuspicions,theofficerdeclaredhimselfdelighted。
Avisittothebank,whereseveralthousandpoundswerefoundtobelyingtothemurderer'scredit,completedhisgratification。
`Youmaydependuponit,sir,'hetoldMrUtterson。`Ihavehiminmyhand。Hemusthavelosthishead,orheneverwouldhaveleftthestickor,aboveall,burnedthe。Chequebook。Why,moneyslifetotheman。Wehavenothingtodobutwaitforhimatthebank,andgetoutthehandbills。'
Thislast,however,wasnotsoeasyofaccomplishment;forMrHydehadnumberedfewfamiliars-eventhemasteroftheservant-maidhadonlyseenhimtwice;hisfamilycouldnowherebetraced;hehadneverbeenphotographed;
andthefewwhocoulddescribehimdifferedwidely,asCommonobserverswill。Onlyononepointweretheyagreed;andthatwasthehauntingsenseofunexpresseddeformitywithwhichthefugitiveimpressedhisbeholders。
INCIDENTOFTHELETTER
ItwaslateintheafternoonwhenMrUttersonfoundhiswaytoDrJekyll'sdoor,wherehewasatonceadmittedbyPoole,andcarrieddownbythekitchenofficesandacrossayardwhichhadoncebeenagarden,tothebuildingwhichwasindifferentlyknownasthelaboratoryorthedissecting-rooms。
Thedoctorhadboughtthehousefromtheheirsofacelebratedsurgeon;
andhisowntastesbeingratherchemicalthananatomical,hadchangedthedestinationoftheblockatthebottomofthegarden。Itwasthefirsttimethatthelawyerhadbeenreceivedinthatpartofhisfriend'squarters;
andheeyedthedingywindowlessstructurewithcuriosity,andgazedroundwithadistastefulsenseofstrangenessashecrossedthetheatre,oncecrowdedwitheagerstudentsandnowlyinggauntandsilent,thetablesladenwithchemicalapparatus,thefloorstrewnwithcratesandlitteredwithpackingstraw,andthelightfallingdimlythroughthefoggycupola。
Atthefurtherend,aflightofstairsmountedtoadoorcoveredwithredbaize;andthroughthisMrUttersonwasatlastreceivedintothedoctor'scabinet。Itwasalargeroom,fittedroundwithglasspresses,furnished,amongotherthings,withacheval-glassandabusinesstable,andlookingoutuponthecourtbythreedustywindowsbarredwithiron。Thefireburnedinthegrate;alampwassetlightedonthechimney-shelf,foreveninthehousesthefogbegantoliethickly;andthere,closeuptothewarmth,satDrJekyll,lookingdeadlysick。Hedidnotrisetomeethisvisitor,butheldoutacoldhandandbadehimwelcomeinachangedvoice。
`Andnow,'saidMrUtterson,assoonasPoolehadleftthem,`youhaveheardthenews?'
Thedoctorshuddered。`Theywerecryingitinthesquare,'hesaid。
`Iheardtheminmydining-room。'
`Oneword,'saidthelawyer。`Carewwasmyclient,butsoareyou;andIwanttoknowwhatIamdoing。Youhavenotbeenmadenoughtohidethisfellow?'
`Utterson,IsweartoGod,'criedthedoctor,`IsweartoGodIwillneverseteyesonhimagain。IbindmyhonourtoyouthatIamdonewithhiminthisworld。Itisallatanend。Andindeedhedoesnotwantmyhelp;youdonotknowhimasIdo;heissafe,heisquitesafe;markmywords,hewillnevermorebeheardof。'
Thelawyerlistenedgloomily;hedidnotlikehisfriend'sfeverishmanner。`Youseemprettysureofhim,'saidhe;`andforyoursake,Ihopeyoumayberight。Ifitcametoatrial,yournamemightappear。
`Iamquitesureofhim,'repliedJekyll;`IhavegroundsforcertaintythatIcannotsharewithanyone。Butthereisonethingonwhichyoumayadviseme。IhaveIhavereceivedaletter;andIamatalosswhetherIshouldshowittothepolice。Ishouldliketoleaveitinyourhands,Utterson;youwouldjudgewisely,Iamsure;Ihavesogreatatrustinyou。
`Youfear,Isuppose,thatitmightleadtohisdetection?'askedthelawyer。
`No,'saidtheother。`IcannotsaythatIcarewhatbecomesofHyde;
Iamquitedonewithhim。Iwasthinkingofmyowncharacter,whichthishatefulbusinesshadratherexposed。'
Uttersonruminatedawhile;hewassurprisedathisfriend'sselfishness,andyetrelievedbyit。`Well,'saidhe,atlast,`letmeseetheletter。'
Theletterwaswritteninanodd,uprighthand,andsigned`EdwardHyde':
anditsignified,brieflyenough,thatthewriter'sbenefactor,DrJekyll,whomhehadlongsounworthilyrepaidforathousandgenerosities,needlabourundernoalarmforhissafetyashehadmeansofescapeonwhichheplacedasuredependence。Thelawyerlikedthisletterwellenough;
itputabettercolourontheintimacythanhehadlookedfor,andheblamedhimselfforsomeofhispastsuspicions。
`Haveyoutheenvelope?'heasked。
`Iburnedit,'repliedJekyll,`beforeIthoughtwhatIwasabout。Butitborenopostmark。Thenotewashandedin。
`ShallIkeepthisandsleepuponit?'askedUtterson。
`Iwishyoutojudgeformeentirely,'wasthereply。`Ihavelostconfidenceinmyself。'
`Well,Ishallconsider,'returnedthelawyer。`Andnowonewordmore:
itwasHydewhodictatedthetermsinyourwillaboutthatdisappearance?'
Thedoctorseemedseizedwithaqualmoffaintness;heshuthismouthtightandnodded。
`Iknewit,'saidUtterson。`Hemeanttomurderyou。Youhavehadafineescape。
`Ihavehadwhatisfarmoretothepurpose,'returnedthedoctorsolemnly:
`Ihavehadalesson-OGod,Utterson,whatalessonIhavehad!'Andhecoveredhisfaceforamomentwithhishands。
Onhiswayout,thelawyerstoppedandhadawordortwowithPoole。
`Bytheby,'saidhe,`therewasaletterhandedintoday:whatwasthemessengerlike?'ButPoolewaspositivenothinghadcomeexceptbypost;
`andonlycircularsbythat,'headded。
Thisnewssentoffthevisitorwithhisfearsrenewed。Plainlytheletterhadcomebythelaboratorydoor;possibly,indeed,ithadbeenwritteninthecabinet;and,ifthatwereso,itmustbedifferentlyjudged,andhandledwiththemorecaution。Thenewsboys,ashewent,werecryingthemselveshoarsealongthefootways:`Specialedition。ShockingmurderofanMP。'
Thatwasthefuneralorationofonefriendandclient;andhecouldnothelpacertainapprehensionlestthegoodnameofanothershouldbesuckeddownintheeddyofthescandal。Itwas,atleast,aticklishdecisionthathehadtomake;and,self-reliantashewasbyhabit,hebegantocherishalongingforadvice。Itwasnottobehaddirectly;butperhaps,hethought,itmightbefishedfor。
Presentlyafter,hesatononesideofhisownhearth,withMrGuest,hisheadclerk,upontheother,andmidwaybetween,atanicelycalculateddistancefromthefire,abottleofaparticularoldwinethathadlongdweltunsunnedinthefoundationsofhishouse。Thefogstillsleptonthewingabovethedrownedcity,wherethelampsglimmeredlikecarbuncles;
andthroughthemuffleandsmotherofthesefallenclouds,theprocessionofthetown'slifewasstillrollinginthroughthegreatarterieswithasoundasofamightywind。Buttheroomwasgaywithfirelight。Inthebottletheacidswerelongagoresolved;theimperialdyehadsoftenedwithtime,asthecolourgrowsricherinstainedwindows;andtheglowofhotautumnafternoonsonhillsidevineyardswasreadytobesetfreeandtodispersethefogsofLondon。Insensiblythelawyermelted。TherewasnomanfromwhomhekeptfewersecretsthanMrGuest;andhewasnotalwayssurethathekeptasmanyashemeant。Guesthadoftenbeenonbusinesstothedoctor's;heknewPoole;hecouldscarcehavefailedtohearofMrHyde'sfamiliarityaboutthehouse;hemightdrawconclusions:wasitnotaswell,then,thatheshouldseealetterwhichputthatmysterytorights?andaboveall,sinceGuest,beingagreatstudentandcriticofhandwriting,wouldconsiderthestepnaturalandobliging?Theclerk,besides,wasamanofcounsel;hewouldscarcereadsostrangeadocumentwithoutdroppingaremark;andbythatremarkMrUttersonmightshapehisfuturecourse。
`ThisisasadbusinessaboutSirDanvers,'hesaid。
`Yes,sir,indeed。Ithaselicitedagreatdealofpublicfeeling,'
returnedGuest。`Theman,ofcourse,wasmad。'
`Ishouldliketohearyourviewsonthat,'repliedUtterson。`Ihaveadocumenthereinhishandwriting;itisbetweenourselves,forIscarceknowwhattodoaboutit;itisanuglybusinessatthebest。Butthereitis;quiteinyourway:amurderer'sautograph。'
Guest'seyesbrightened,andhesatdownatonceandstudieditwithpassion。`No,sir,'hesaid;`notmad;butitisanoddhand。'
`Andbyallaccountsaveryoddwriter,'addedthelawyer。
Justthentheservantenteredwithanote。
`IsthatfromDrJekyll,sir?'inquiredtheclerk。`IthoughtIknewthewriting。Anythingprivate,MrUtterson?'
`Onlyaninvitationtodinner。Why?Doyouwanttoseeit?'
`Onemoment。Ithankyou,sir',andtheclerklaidthetwosheetsofpaperalongsideandsedulouslycomparedtheircontents。`Thankyou,sir,'
hesaidatlast,returningboth;`it'saveryinterestingautograph。'
Therewasapause,duringwhichMrUttersonstruggledwithhimself。
`Whydidyoucomparethem,Guest?'heinquiredsuddenly。
`Well,sir,'returnedtheclerk,`there'sarathersingularresemblance;
thetwohandsareinmanypointsidentical;onlydifferentlysloped。'
`Ratherquaint,'saidUtterson。
`Itis,asyousay,ratherquaint,'returnedGuest。
`Iwouldn'tspeakofthisnote,youknow,'saidthemaster。
`No,sir,'saidtheclerk。`Iunderstand。'
ButnosoonerwasMrUttersonalonethatnightthanhelockedthenoteintohissafe,whereitreposedfromthattimeforward。`What!'hethought。
`HenryJekyllforgeforamurderer!'Andhisbloodrancoldinhisveins。
REMARKABLEINCIDENTOFDRLANYON
Timeranon;thousandsofpoundswereofferedinreward,forthedeathofSirDanverswasresentedasapublicinjury;butMrHydehaddisappearedoutofthekenofthepoliceasthoughhehadneverexisted。Muchofhispastwasunearthed,indeed,andalldisreputable:talescameoutoftheman'scruelty,atoncesocallousandviolent,ofhisvilelife,ofhisstrangeassociates,ofthehatredthatseemedtohavesurroundedhiscareer;
butofhispresentwhereabouts,notawhisper。FromthetimehehadleftthehouseinSohoonthemorningofthemurder,hewassimplyblottedout;
andgradually,astimedrewon,MrUttersonbegantorecoverfromthehotnessofhisalarm,andtogrowmoreatquietwithhimself。ThedeathofSirDanverswas,tohiswayofthinking,morethanpaidforbythedisappearanceofMrHyde。Nowthatthatevilinfluencehadbeenwithdrawn,anewlifebeganforDrJekyll。Hecameoutofhisseclusion,renewedrelationswithhisfriends,becameoncemoretheirfamiliarguestandentertainer;andwhilsthehadalwaysbeenknownforcharities,hewasnownolessdistinguishedforreligion。Hewasbusy,hewasmuchintheopenair,hedidgood;hisfaceseemedtoopenandbrighten,asifwithaninwardconsciousnessofservice;andformorethantwomonthsthedoctorwasatpeace。
Onthe8thofJanuaryUttersonhaddinedatthedoctor'swithasmallparty;Lanyonhadbeenthere;andthefaceofthehosthadlookedfromonetotheotherasintheolddayswhenthetriowereinseparablefriends。
Onthe12th,andagainonthe14th,thedoorwasshutagainstthelawyer。
`Thedoctorwasconfinedtothehouse,'Poolesaid,`andsawnoone。'Onthe14thhetriedagain,andwasagainrefused;andhavingnowbeenusedforthelasttwomonthstoseehisfriendalmostdaily,hefoundthisreturnofsolitudetoweighuponhisspirits。ThefifthnighthehadinGuesttodinewithhim;andthesixthhebetookhimselftoDrLanyon's。
Thereatleasthewasnotdeniedadmittance;butwhenhecamein,hewasshockedatthechangewhichhadtakenplaceinthedoctor'sappearance。
Hehadhisdeath-warrantwrittenlegiblyuponhisface。Therosymanhadgrownpale;hisfleshhadfallenaway;hewasvisiblybalderandolder;
andyetitwasnotsomuchthesetokensofaswiftphysicaldecaythatarrestedthelawyer'snotice,asalookintheeyeandqualityofmannerthatseemedtotestifytosomedeep-seatedterrorofthemind。Itwasunlikelythatthedoctorshouldfeardeath;andyetthatwaswhatUttersonwastemptedtosuspect。`Yes,'hethought;`heisadoctor,hemustknowhisownstateandthathisdaysarecounted;andtheknowledgeismorethanhecanbear。'
AndyetwhenUttersonremarkedonhisilllooks,itwaswithanairofgreatfirmnessthatLanyondeclaredhimselfadoomedman。
`Ihavehadashock,'hesaid,`andIshallneverrecover。Itisaquestionofweeks。Well,lifehasbeenpleasant;Ilikedit;yes,sir,Iusedtolikeit。Isometimesthinkifweknewall,weshouldbemoregladtogetaway。
`Jekyllisill,too,'observedUtterson。`Haveyouseenhim?'
ButLanyon'sfacechanged,andheheldupatremblinghand。`IwishtoseeorhearnomoreofDrJekyll,'hesaid,inaloud,unsteadyvoice。
`Iamquitedonewiththeperson;andIbegthatyouwillsparemeanyallusiontoonewhomIregardasdead。'
`Tut,tut,'saidMrUtterson;andthen,afteraconsiderablepause,`Can'tIdoanything?'heinquired。`Wearethreeveryoldfriends,Lanyon;
weshallnotlivetomakeothers。'
`Nothingcanbedone,'returnedLanyon;`askhimself。`Hewillnotseeme,'saidthelawyer。