ConfidentasIamthatyouwillnottriflewiththisappeal，myheartsinksandmyhandtremblesatthebarethoughtofsuchapossibility。Thinkofmeatthishour，inastrangeplace，labouringunderablacknessofdistressthatnofancycanexaggerate，andyetwellawarethat，ifyouwillbutpunctuallyserveme，mytroubleswillrollawaylikeastorythatistold。Serveme，mydearCanyon，andsaveYourfriend，H。J。
PS-Ihadalreadysealedthisupwhenafreshterrorstruckuponmysoul。Itispossiblethatthepostofficemayfailme，andthisletternotcomeintoyourhandsuntilto-morrowmorning。Inthatcase，dearCanyon，domyerrandwhenitshallbemostconvenientforyouinthecourseoftheday；andoncemoreexpectmymessengeratmidnight。Itmaythenalreadybetoolate；andifthatnightpasseswithoutevent，youwillknowthatyouhaveseenthelastofHenryJekyll。Uponthereadingofthisletter，Imadesuremycolleaguewasinsane；buttillthatwasprovedbeyondthepossibilityofdoubt，Ifeltboundtodoasherequested。ThelessIunderstoodofthisfarrago，thelessIwasinapositiontojudgeofitsimportance；andanappealsowordedcouldnotbesetasidewithoutagraveresponsibility。Iroseaccordinglyfromtable，gotintoahansom，anddrovestraighttoJekyll'shouse。Thebutlerwasawaitingmyarrival；hehadreceivedbythesamepostasminearegisteredletterofinstruction，andhadsentatonceforalocksmithandacarpenter。
Thetradesmencamewhilewewereyetspeaking；andwemovedinabodytooldDrDenman'ssurgicaltheatre，fromwhich（asyouaredoubtlessaware）
Jekyll'sprivatecabinetismostconvenientlyentered。Thedoorwasverystrong，thelockexcellent；thecarpenteravowedhewouldhavegreattrouble，andhavetodomuchdamage，ifforceweretobeused；andthelocksmithwasneardespair。Butthislastwasahandyfellow，andaftertwohours'
work，thedoorstoodopen。ThepressmarkedEwasunlocked；andItookoutthedrawer，haditfilledupwithstrawandtiedinasheet，andreturnedwithittoCavendishSquare。
HereIproceededtoexamineitscontents。Thepowderswereneatlyenoughmadeup，butnotwiththenicetyofthedispensingchemist；sothatitwasplaintheywereofJekyll'sprivatemanufacture；andwhenIopenedoneofthewrappers，Ifoundwhatseemedtomeasimplecrystallinesaltofawhitecolour。Thephial，towhichInextturnedmyattention，mighthavebeenabouthalf-fullofablood-redliquor，whichwashighlypungenttothesenseofsmell，andseemedtometocontainphosphorusandsomevolatileether。AttheotheringredientsIcouldmakenoguess。Thebookwasanordinaryversionbook，andcontainedlittlebutaseriesofdates。
Thesecoveredaperiodofmanyyears，butIobservedthattheentriesceasednearlyayearagoandquiteabruptly。Hereandthereabriefremarkwasappendedtoadate，usuallynomorethanasingleword:`double'occurringperhapssixtimesinatotalofseveralhundredentries；andonceveryearlyinthelistandfollowedbyseveralmarksofexclamation，`totalfailure！！！'Allthis，thoughitwhettedmycuriosity，toldmelittlethatwasdefinite。Herewereaphialofsometincture，apaperofsomesalt，andtherecordofaseriesofexperimentsthathadled（liketoomanyofJekyll'sinvestigations）tonoendofpracticalusefulness。Howcouldthepresenceofthesearticlesinmyhouseaffecteitherthehonour，thesanity，orthelifeofmyflightycolleague？Ifhismessengercouldgotooneplace，whycouldhenotgotoanother？Andevengrantingsomeimpediment，whywasthisgentlemantobereceivedbymeinsecret？ThemoreIreflected，themoreconvincedIgrewthatIwasdealingwithacaseofcerebraldisease；
andthoughIdismissedmyservantstobed，Iloadedanoldrevolver，thatImightbefoundinsomepostureofself-defence。
Twelveo'clockhadscarcerungoutoverLondon，eretheknockersoundedverygentlyonthedoor。Iwentmyselfatthesummons，andfoundasmallmancrouchingagainstthepillarsoftheportico。
`AreyoucomefromDrJekyll？'Iasked。
Hetoldme`yes'byaconstrainedgesture；andwhenIhadbiddenhimenter，hedidnotobeymewithoutasearchingbackwardglanceintothedarknessofthesquare。Therewasapolicemannotfaroff，advancingwithhisbull'seyeopen；andatthesight，Ithoughtmyvisitorstartedandmadegreaterhaste。
Theseparticularsstruckme，Iconfess，disagreeably；andasIfollowedhimintothebrightlightoftheconsulting-room，Ikeptmyhandreadyonmyweapon。Here，atlast，Ihadachanceofclearlyseeinghim。Ihadneverseteyesonhimbefore，somuchwascertain。Hewassmall，asIhavesaid；Iwasstruckbesideswiththeshockingexpressionofhisface，withhisremarkablecombinationofgreatmuscularactivityandgreatapparentdebilityofconstitution，and-lastbutnotleast-withtheodd，subjectivedisturbancecausedbyhisneighbourhood。Thisboresomeresemblancetoincipientrigor，andwasaccompaniedbyamarkedsinkingofthepulse。
Atthetime，Isetitdowntosomeidiosyncratic，personaldistaste，andmerelywonderedattheacutenessofthesymptoms；butIhavesincehadreasontobelievethecausetoliemuchdeeperinthenatureofman，andtoturnonsomenoblerhingethantheprincipleofhatred。
Thisperson（whohadthus，fromthefirstmomentofhisentrance，struckinmewhatIcanonlydescribeasadisgustfulcuriosity）wasdressedinafashionthatwouldhavemadeanordinarypersonlaughable；hisclothes，thatistosay，althoughtheywereofrichandsoberfabric，wereenormouslytoolargeforhimineverymeasurement-thetrousershangingonhislegsandrolleduptokeepthemfromtheground，thewaistofthecoatbelowhishaunches，andthecollarsprawlingwideuponhisshoulders。Strangetorelate，thisludicrousaccoutrementwasfarfrommovingmetolaughter。
Rather，astherewassomethingabnormalandmisbegottenintheveryessenceofthecreaturethatnowfacedme-somethingseizing，surprisingandrevolting-thisfreshdisparityseemedbuttofitinwithandtoreinforceit；sothattomyinterestintheman'snatureandcharactertherewasaddedacuriosityastohisorigin，hislife，hisfortuneandstatusintheworld。
Theseobservations，thoughtheyhavetakensogreataspacetobesetdownin，wereyettheworkofafewseconds。Myvisitorwas，indeed，onfirewithsombreexcitement。
`Haveyougotit？'hecried。`Haveyougotit？'Andsolivelywashisimpatiencethatheevenlaidhishanduponmyarmandsoughttoshakeme。
Iputhimback，consciousathistouchofacertainicypangalongmyblood。`Come，sir，'saidI。`YouforgetthatIhavenotyetthepleasureofyouracquaintance。Beseated，ifyouplease。'AndIshowedhimanexample，andsatdownmyselfinmycustomaryseatandwithasfairanimitationofmyordinarymannertoapatient，asthelatenessofthehour，thenatureofmypreoccupations，andthehorrorIhadofmyvisitorwouldsuffermetomuster。
`Ibegyourpardon，DrCanyon，'hereplied，civillyenough。`Whatyousayisverywellfounded；andmyimpatiencehasshownitsheelstomypoliteness。
Icomehereattheinstanceofyourcolleague，DrHenryJekyll，onapieceofbusinessofsomemoment；andIunderstood……'hepausedandputhishandtohisthroat，andIcouldsee，inspiteofhiscollectedmanner，thathewaswrestlingagainsttheapproachesofthehysteria-`Iunderstood，adrawer……'
ButhereItookpityonmyvisitor'ssuspense，andsomeperhapsonmyowngrowingcuriosity。
`Thereitis，sir，'saidI，pointingtothedrawerwhereitlayonthefloorbehindatable，andstillcoveredwiththesheet。
Hesprangtoit，andthenpaused，andlaidhishanduponhisheart；
Icouldhearhisteethgratewiththeconvulsiveactionofhisjaws；andhisfacewassoghastlytoseethatIgrewalarmedbothforhislifeandreason。
`Composeyourself，'saidI。
Heturnedadreadfulsmiletome，and，asifwiththedecisionofdespair，pluckedawaythesheet。Atsightofthecontents，heutteredoneloudsobofsuchimmensereliefthatIsatpetrified。Andthenextmoment，inavoicethatwasalreadyfairlywellundercontrol，`Haveyouagraduatedglass？'heasked。
Irosefrommyplacewithsomethingofaneffort，andgavehimwhatheasked。
Hethankedmewithasmilingnod，measuredoutafewminimsoftheredtinctureandaddedoneofthepowders。Themixture，whichwasatfirstofareddishhue，began，inproportionasthecrystalsmelted，tobrightenincolour，toeffervesceaudibly，andtothrowoffsmallfumesofvapour。
Suddenly，andatthesamemoment，theebullitionceased，andthecompoundchangedtoadarkpurple，whichfadedagainmoreslowlytoawaterygreen。
Myvisitor，whohadwatchedthesemetamorphoseswithakeeneye，smiled，setdowntheglassuponthetable，andthenturnedandlookeduponmewithanairofscrutiny。
`Andnow，'saidhe，`tosettlewhatremains。Willyoubewise？willyoubeguided？willyousuffermetotakethisglassinmyhand，andtogoforthfromyourhousewithoutfurtherparley？orhasthegreedofcuriositytoomuchcommandofyou？Thinkbeforeyouanswer，foritshallbedoneasyoudecide。Asyoudecide，youshallbeleftasyouwerebefore，andneitherrichernorwiser，unlessthesenseofservicerenderedtoamaninmortaldistressmaybecountedasakindofrichesofthesoul。Or，ifyoushallsoprefertochoose，anewprovinceofknowledgeandnewavenuestofameandpowershallbelaidopentoyou，here，inthisroom，upontheinstant；andyoursightshallbeblastedbyaprodigytostaggertheunbeliefofSatan。'
`Sir，'saidI，affectingacoolnessthatIwasfarfromtrulypossessing，`youspeakenigmas，andyouwillperhapsnotwonderthatIhearyouwithnoverystrongimpressionofbelief。ButIhavegonetoofarinthewayofinexplicableservicestopausebeforeIseetheend。'
`Itiswell，'repliedmyvisitor。`Lanyon，yourememberyourvows:whatfollowsisunderthesealofourprofession。Andnow，youwhohavesolongbeenboundtothemostnarrowandmaterialviews，youwhohavedeniedthevirtueoftranscendentalmedicine，youwhohavederidedyoursuperiors-behold！'
Heputtheglasstohislips，anddrankatonegulp。Acryfollowed；
hereeled，staggered，clutchedatthetableandheldon，staringwithinfectedeyes，gaspingwithopenmouth；andasIlooked，therecame，Ithought，achange-heseemedtoswell-hisfacebecamesuddenlyblack，andthefeaturesseemedtomeltandalter-andthenextmomentIhadsprungtomyfeetandleapedbackagainstthewall，myarmraisedtoshieldmefromthatprodigy，mymindsubmergedinterror。
`OGod！'Iscreamed，and`OGod！'againandagain；fortherebeforemyeyes-paleandshaken，andhalffainting，andgropingbeforehimwithhishands，likeamanrestoredfromdeath-therestoodHenryJekyll！
WhathetoldmeinthenexthourIcannotbringmymindtosetonpaper。
IsawwhatIsaw，IheardwhatIheard，andmysoulsickenedatit；andyet，nowwhenthatsighthasfadedfrommyeyes，IaskmyselfifIbelieveit，andIcannotanswer。Mylifeisshakentoitsroots；sleephasleftme；thedeadliestterrorsitsbymeatallhoursofthedayandnight；
Ifeelthatmydaysarenumbered，andthatImustdie；andyetIshalldieincredulous。Asforthemoralturpitudethatmanunveiledtome，evenwithtearsofpenitence，Icannot，eveninmemory，dwellonitwithoutastartofhorror。Iwillsaybutonething，Utterson，andthat（ifyoucanbringyourmindtocreditit）willbemorethanenough。Thecreaturewhocreptintomyhousethatnightwas，onJekyll'sownconfession，knownbythenameofHydeandhuntedforineverycornerofthelandasthemurdererofCarew。
HASTIELANYON
HENRYJEKYLL'SFULL
STATEMENTOFTHECASE
Iwasbornintheyear18——toalargefortune，endowedbesideswithexcellentparts，inclinedbynaturetoindustry，fondoftherespectofthewiseandgoodamongmyfellow-men，andthus，asmighthavebeensupposed，witheveryguaranteeofanhonourableanddistinguishedfuture。Andindeed，theworstofmyfaultswasacertainimpatientgaietyofdisposition，suchashasmadethehappinessofmany，butsuchasIfoundithardtoreconcilewithmyimperiousdesiretocarrymyheadhigh，andwearamorethancommonlygravecountenancebeforethepublic。HenceitcameaboutthatIconcealedmypleasures；andthatwhenIreachedyearsofreflection，andbegantolookroundmeandtakestockofmyprogressandpositionintheworld，Istoodalreadycommittedtoaprofoundduplicityoflife。ManyamanwouldhaveevenblazonedsuchirregularitiesasIwasguiltyof；butfromthehighviewsthatIhadsetbeforeme，Iregardedandhidthemwithanalmostmorbidsenseofshame。Itwasthusrathertheexactingnatureofmyaspirations，thananyparticulardegradationinmyfaults，thatmademewhatIwasand，withevenadeepertrenchthaninthemajorityofmen，severedinmethoseprovincesofgoodandillwhichdivideandcompoundman'sdualnature。
Inthiscase，Iwasdriventoreflectdeeplyandinveteratelyonthathardlawoflifewhichliesattherootofreligion，andisoneofthemostplentifulspringsofdistress。Thoughsoprofoundadouble-dealer，Iwasinnosenseahypocrite；bothsidesofmewereindeadearnest；IwasnomoremyselfwhenIlaidasiderestraintandplungedinshame，thanwhenIlaboured，intheeyeofday，atthefurtheranceofknowledgeorthereliefofsorrowandsuffering。Anditchancedthatthedirectionofmyscientificstudies，whichledwhollytowardsthemysticandthetranscendental，reactedandshedastronglightonthisconsciousnessoftheperennialwaramongmymembers。Witheveryday，andfrombothsidesofmyintelligence，themoralandtheintellectual，IthusdrewsteadilynearertothattruthbywhosepartialdiscoveryIhavebeendoomedtosuchadreadfulshipwreck:
thatmanisnottrulyone，buttrulytwo。Isaytwo，becausethestateofmyownknowledgedoesnotpassbeyondthatpoint。Otherswillfollow，otherswilloutstripmeonthesamelines；andIhazardtheguessthatmanwillbeultimatelyknownforamerepolityofmultifarious，incongruousandindependentdenizens。I，formypart，fromthenatureofmylife，advancedinfalliblyinonedirectionandinonedirectiononly。Itwasonthemoralside，andinmyownperson，thatIlearnedtorecognizethethoroughandprimitivedualityofman；Isawthat，ofthetwonaturesthatcontendedinthefieldofmyconsciousness，evenifIcouldrightlybesaidtobeeither，itwasonlybecauseIwasradicallyboth；andfromanearlydate，evenbeforethecourseofmyscientificdiscoverieshadbeguntosuggestthemostnakedpossibilityofsuchamiracle，Ihadlearnedtodwellwithpleasure，asabeloveddaydream，onthethoughtoftheseparationoftheseelements。Ifeach，Itoldmyself，couldbutbehousedinseparateidentities，lifewouldberelievedofallthatwasunbearable；theunjustmightgohisway，deliveredfromtheaspirationsandremorseofhismoreuprighttwin；andthejustcouldwalksteadfastlyandsecurelyonhisupwardpath，doingthegoodthingsinwhichhefoundhispleasure，andnolongerexposedtodisgraceandpenitencebythehandsofthisextraneousevil。Itwasthecurseofmankindthattheseincongruousfaggotswerethusboundtogether-thatintheagonizedwombofconsciousnessthesepolartwinsshouldbecontinuouslystruggling。How，then，weretheydissociated？
Iwassofarinmyreflectionswhen，asIhavesaid，asidelightbegantoshineuponthesubjectfromthelaboratorytable。Ibegantoperceivemoredeeplythanithaseveryetbeenstated，thetremblingimmateriality，themist-liketransience，ofthisseeminglysosolidbodyinwhichwewalkattiredCertainagentsIfoundtohavethepowertoshakeandtopluckbackthatfleshlyvestment，evenasawindmighttossthecurtainsofapavilion。Fortwogoodreasons，Iwillnotenterdeeplyintothisscientificbranchofmyconfession。First，becauseIhavebeenmadetolearnthatthedoomandburthenofourlifeisboundforeveronman'sshoulders；
andwhentheattemptismadetocastitoff，itbutreturnsuponuswithmoreunfamiliarandmoreawfulpressure。Second，because，asmynarrativewillmake，alas！tooevident，mydiscoverieswereincomplete。Enough，then，thatInotonlyrecognizedmynaturalbodyforthemereauraandeffulgenceofcertainofthepowersthatmadeupmyspirit，butmanagedtocompoundadrugbywhichthesepowersshouldbedethronedfromtheirsupremacy，andasecondformandcountenancesubstituted，nonethelessnaturaltomebecausetheyweretheexpression，andborethestamp，oflowerelementsinmysoul。
IhesitatedlongbeforeIputthistheorytothetestofpractice。I
knewwellthatIriskeddeath；foranydrugthatsopotentlycontrolledandshooktheveryfortressofidentity，mightbytheleastscrupleofanoverdoseorattheleastinopportunityinthemomentofexhibition，utterlyblotoutthatimmaterialtabernaclewhichIlookedtoittochange。
Butthetemptationofadiscoverysosingularandprofoundatlastovercamethesuggestionsofalarm。Ihadlongsincepreparedmytincture；Ipurchasedatonce，fromafirmofwholesalechemists，alargequantityofaparticularsalt，whichIknew，frommyexperiments，tobethelastingredientrequired；
and，lateoneaccursednight，Icompoundedtheelements，watchedthemboilandsmoketogetherintheglass，andwhentheebullitionhadsubsided，withastrongglowofcourage，drankoffthepotion。
Themostrackingpangssucceeded:agrindinginthebones，deadlynausea，andahorrorofthespiritthatcannotbeexceededatthehourofbirthordeath。Thentheseagoniesbeganswiftlytosubside，andIcametomyselfasifoutofagreatsickness。Therewassomethingstrangeinmysensations，somethingindescribablynewand，fromitsverynovelty，incrediblysweet。
Ifeltyounger，lighter，happierinbody；withinIwasconsciousofaheadyrecklessness，acurrentofdisorderedsensualimagesrunninglikeamillraceinmyfancy，asolutionofthebondsofobligation，anunknownbutnotaninnocentfreedomofthesoul。Iknewmyself，atthefirstbreathofthisnewlife，tobemorewicked，tenfoldmorewicked，soldaslavetomyoriginalevil；andthethought，inthatmoment，bracedanddelightedmelikewine。Istretchedoutmyhands，exultinginthefreshnessof`thesesensations；andintheact，IwassuddenlyawarethatIhadlostinstature。
Therewasnomirror，atthatdate，inmyroom；thatwhichstandsbesidemeasIwritewasbroughttherelateron，andfortheverypurposeofthosetransformations。Thenight，however，wasfargoneintothemorning-themorning，blackasitwas，wasnearlyripefortheconceptionoftheday-theinmatesofmyhousewerelockedinthemostrigoroushoursofslumber；
andIdetermined，flushedasIwaswithhopeandtriumph，toventureinmynewshapeasfarastomybedroom。Icrossedtheyard，whereintheconstellationslookeddownuponme，Icouldhavethought，withwonder，thefirstcreatureofthatsortthattheirunsleepingvigilancehadyetdisclosedtothem；
Istolethroughthecorridors，astrangerinmyownhouse；andcomingtomyroom，IsawforthefirsttimetheappearanceofEdwardHyde。
Imustherespeakbytheoryalone，sayingnotthatwhichIknow，butthatwhichIsupposetobemostprobable。Theevilsideofmynature，towhichIhadnowtransferredthestampingefficacy，waslessrobustandlessdevelopedthanthegoodwhichIhadjustdeposed。Again，inthecourseofmylife，whichhadbeen，afterall，nine-tenthsalifeofeffort，virtueandcontrol，ithadbeenmuchlessexercisedandmuchlessexhausted。Andhence，asIthink，itcameaboutthatEdwardHydewassomuchsmaller，slighter，andyoungerthanHenryJekyll。Evenasgoodshoneuponthecountenanceoftheone，evilwaswrittenbroadlyandplainlyonthefaceoftheother。
Evilbesides（whichImuststillbelievetobethelethalsideofman）
hadleftonthatbodyanimprintofdeformityanddecay。AndyetwhenI
lookeduponthatuglyidolintheglass，Iwasconsciousofnorepugnance，ratherofaleapofwelcome。This，too，wasmyself。Itseemednaturalandhuman。Inmyeyesitborealivelierimageofthespirit，itseemedmoreexpressandsingle，thantheimperfectanddividedcountenanceIhadbeenhithertoaccustomedtocallmine。AndinsofarIwasdoubtlessright。
IhaveobservedthatwhenIworethesemblanceofEdwardHyde，nonecouldcomeneartomeatfirstwithoutavisiblemisgivingoftheflesh。This，asItakeit，wasbecauseallhumanbeings，aswemeetthem，arecommingledoutofgoodandevil:andEdwardHyde，alone，intheranksofmankind，waspureevil。
Ilingeredbutamomentatthemirror:thesecondandconclusiveexperimenthadyettobeattempted；ityetremainedtobeseenifIhadlostmyidentitybeyondredemptionandmustfleebeforedaylightfromahousethatwasnolongermine；andhurryingbacktomycabinet，Ioncemorepreparedanddrankthecup，oncemoresufferedthepangsofdissolution，andcametomyselfoncemorewiththecharacter，thestature，andthefaceofHenryJekyll。
ThatnightIhadcometothefatalcrossroads。HadIapproachedmydiscoveryinamorenoblespirit，hadIriskedtheexperimentwhileundertheempireofgenerousorpiousaspirations，allmusthavebeenotherwise，andfromtheseagoniesofdeathandbirthIhadcomeforthanangelinsteadofafiend。Thedrughadnodiscriminatingaction；itwasneitherdiabolicalnordivine；itbutshookthedoorsoftheprisonhouseofmydisposition；
and，likethecaptivesofPhilippi，thatwhichstoodwithinranforth。
Atthattimemyvirtueslumbered；myevil，keptawakebyambition，wasalertandswifttoseizetheoccasion；andthethingthatwasprojectedwasEdwardHyde。Hence，althoughIhadnowtwocharactersaswellastwoappearances，onewaswhollyevil，andtheotherwasstilltheoldHenryJekyll，thatincongruouscompoundofwhosereformationandimprovementIhadalreadylearnedtodespair。Themovementwasthuswhollytowardtheworse。