it chanced on Sunday when mr. Utterson
was on his usual walk with mr. Enfield
that there waylay once again for the
by-street
and that when they came in front of the
door both stopped to gaze on it well
said em filled that stories at an end at
least we shall never see more of mr.
Hyde I hope not
said Utterson did I ever tell you that I
once saw him and shared your feeling of
repulsion it was impossible to do the
one without the other
returned Enfield by the way was an ass
you must have thought of me not to know
that this was a back way to dr. Jekyll's
it was partly your own fault that I
found it out even when I did so you
found it out did you said Utterson but
if that be so we may step into the court
and take a look at the windows to tell
you the truth I am uneasy about poor
Jekyll and even outside I feel as if the
presence of a friend might do him good
the court was very cool and a little
damp and full of premature Twilight
although the sky high up overhead was
still bright with sunset the middle one
of the three windows was half way open
and sitting close beside it
taking the air with an infinite sadness
of mean like some disconsolate prisoner
Utterson saw dr. Jekyll
what Jekyll he cried I trust you are
better
I am very low Utterson replied the
doctor really very low it will not last
long
thank God you stay too much indoors said
the lawyer
you should be out whipping up the
circulation like mr. Enfield and me this
is my cousin mr. Enfield dr. Jekyll come
now get your hat and take a quick term
with us you are very good side the other
I should like to very much but no no it
is quite impossible I dare not but
indeed Utterson I am very glad to see
you this is really a great pleasure I
would ask you and mr. Enfield up but the
place is really not fit why then said
the lawyer good-natured
the best thing we can do is to stay down
here and speak with you from where we
are that is just what I was about to
venture to propose return the doctor
with a smile but the worse were hardly
uttered before the smile was struck out
of his face and succeeded by an
expression of such abject terror and
despair as froze the very blood of the
two gentlemen below they saw it but for
a glimpse for the window was instantly
thrust down but that glimpse had been
sufficient and they turned and left the
court without a word in silence too they
traversed the by-street and it was not
until they come to a neighboring
thoroughfare were even upon Sunday there
were still some stirrings of life that
mr. Utterson at last turned and looked
at his companion they were both pale and
there was an answering horror in their
eyes God forgive us God forgive us said
Mr Utterson but mr. Enfield only nodded
his head very seriously and walked on
once more in silence
mr. Utterson was sitting by his fireside
one evening after dinner when he was
surprised to receive a visit from Poole
bless me Poole what brings you here he
cries and then taking a second look at
him what ails you he added is the doctor
ill mr. Utterson said the man there is
something wrong take a seat and here is
a glass of wine for you said the lawyer
now take your time
and tell me plainly what you want you
know the doctors ways sir replied Poole
and how he shuts himself up well he shut
up again in the cabinet and I don't like
it sir I wish I may die if I like it mr.
Utterson sir I'm afraid now my good man
said the lawyer be explicit what are you
afraid of I've been afraid for about a
week returned Poole doggedly
disregarding the question and I can bear
it no more the man's appearance amply
bought out his words his manner was
altered for the worse and except for the
moment when he had first announced his
terror he had not once looked the lawyer
in the face even now he sat with the
glass of wine and tasted on his knee and
his eyes directed to a corner of the
floor I can bear it no more
he repeated come said the lawyer I see
you have some good reason Poole I see
there is something seriously amiss try
to tell me what it is
I think there's been foul play said
Poole hoarsely foul play cried the
lawyer a good deal frightened and rather
inclined to be irritated in consequence
what foul play what does the man mean I
don't say sir was the answer but will
you come along with me and see for
yourself mr. utterson's only answer was
to rise and get his hat and greatcoat
but he observed with wonder at the
greatness of the relief that appeared
upon the butler's face and perhaps with
no less that the wine was still untested
when he set it down to follow
it was a wild cold seasonable night of
March with a pale moon lying on her back
as the wind had tilted her and flying
rack of the most diaphanous and lawny
texture the wind made talkin difficult
and flecked the blood into the face it
seemed to have swept the streets
unusually bare of passengers besides for
mr. Utterson thought he had never seen
that part of London so deserted he could
have wished it otherwise never in his
life had he been so conscious of so
sharp a wish to see and touch his fellow
creatures for struggle as he might there
was borne in upon his mind a crushing
anticipation of calamity the square when
they got there was full of wind and dust
and the thin trees in the garden were
lashing themselves along the railing who
who had kept all the way a pace or two
ahead now pulled up in the middle of the
pavement and in spite of the biting
weather took off his hat and mopped his
brow with a red pocket handkerchief but
for all the hurry of his coming these
were not the Jews of exertion that he
wiped away but the moisture of some
strangling anguish for his face was
white and his voice when he spoke harsh
and broken well sir he said here we are
and God grant there'll be nothing wrong
amen Pooh said the lawyer thereupon the
servant knocked in a very guarded manner
the door was opened on the chain and the
voice asked from within is that you fool
it's all right said Pooh
opened the door the hall when they
entered was brightly lighted up the fire
was built high and about the hearth the
whole of the servants men and women
stood huddled together like a flock of
sheep at the sight of mr. Utterson the
housemaid broke into hysterical
whimpering and the cook crying out bless
God it's mr. Utterson ran forward as if
to take him in her arms what what are
you all here said the lawyer peevishly
very irregular very unseemly your master
would be far from pleased they're all
afraid said Pooh blank silence followed
no one protesting only the maid lifted
her voice and now wept loudly
hold your tongue Paul said to her with
the ferocity of accent that testified
his own jangled nerves and indeed when
the girl had so suddenly raised notify
they had all started and turned towards
the inner door with faces of dreadful
expectation and now continued the butler
addressing the knife boy reached me a
candle and we'll get through this hands
at once and then he begged mr. Utterson
to follow him and led the way to the
back garden now sir
he said you come as gently as you can I
want you to hear and I don't want you to
be heard and see here sir if I any
chance he was to ask you in don't go mr.
utterson's nerves at this unlooked-for
termination gave a jerk that nearly
threw him from his balance but he
recollected his courage and followed the
butler into the laboratory building
through the surgical theater with its
lumber of crates and bottles to the foot
of the stair here Poole motion for him
to stand on one side and listen while he
himself setting down the candle and
making a great and obvious call on his
resolution mounted the steps and knocked
with a somewhat uncertain hand on the
red baize of the cabinet door mr.
Utterson sir ask him to see you he
called and even as he did so once more
violently signed to the lawyer to give
ear a voice answered from within tell
him I cannot see anyone it said
complainingly thank you sir
said Poole with a note of something like
triumph in his voice and taking up his
candle he led mr. Utterson back across
the yard and into the great kitchen
where the fire was out and the beetles
were leaping on the floor sir he said
looking mr. Utterson in the eyes was
that my Master's voice it seems much
changed replied the lawyer very pale but
giving look for look changed well yes I
think so said the butler
have I been 20 years in this man's house
to be deceived about his voice no sir
masters made away with he was made away
with eight days ago when we heard him
cry out upon the name of God and who's
in there instead of him and why it stays
there is a thing that cries to heaven
mr. Utterson this is a very strange tale
Poole this is rather a wild tale my man
said Mr Utterson biting his finger
suppose it were as you suppose
supposing dr. Jekyll to have been well
murdered
what could induce the murderer to stay
that won't hold water
it doesn't commend itself to reason well
mr. Utterson you are a hard man to
satisfy but I'll do it yet said Poole
all this last week you must know him or
it whatever it is that lives in that
cabinet has been crying night and day
for some sort of medicine and cannot get
it to his mind it was sometimes his way
the master status to write his orders on
a sheet of paper and throw it on the
stair we've had nothing else this week
back nothing but papers and a closed
door and the very meals left there to be
smuggled in when no one was looking well
sir every day I and twice and thrice in
the same day there have been orders and
complaints and I have been sent flying
to all the wholesale chemists in town
every time I brought the stuff back
there would be another paper telling me
to return it because it was not pure and
another order to a different firm the
druggist wanted bitter bad sir whatever
for have you any of these papers asked
mr. Utterson Paul felt in his pocket and
handed out a crumpled note which the
lawyer bending near at the candle
carefully examined its contents ran thus
dr. Jekyll presents his compliments to
mrs. Moore he assures them that their
last sample is impure and quite useless
for his present purpose in recent years
dr. Jekyll purchased a somewhat large
quantity for mrs. M he now begs them to
search with most said Sheila's care and
should any of the same quality be left
forwarded to him at once expense is no
consideration the importance of this the
dr. Jekyll can hardly be exaggerated so
far the letter had run composedly enough
but here with a sudden splatter of the
pen the writer's emotions had broken
loose for God's sake he added find me
some of the old this is a strange note
said Mr Utterson and then sharply how do
you come to have it open the man at Mars
was main angry sir and he threw it back
at me like so much dirt return to Poole
this is unquestionably the doctor's hand
do you know resumed the lawyer I thought
it looked like it
said the servant rather sulkily and then
with another voice but what matters hand
of right he said I've seen him seen him
repeated mr. Utterson well that's it
said Poole it was this way I came
suddenly into the theatre from the
garden it seems he had slipped out to
look for this drug or whatever it is for
the cabinet door was open and there he
was at the far end of the room digging
among the crates he looked up when they
came in gave a kind of cry and whipped
upstairs into the cabinet it was but for
one minute that I saw him but the hair
stood upon my head like quills sir if
that was my master why had he a mask
upon his face if it was my master why
did he cry out like a rat and run from
me I have served him long enough and
then the man paused and passed his hand
over his face these are all very strange
circumstances said Mr Utterson but I
think I begin to see daylight your
master Poole is plainly seized with one
of those maladies that both torture and
deform the sufferer hence for aught I
know the alteration of his voice hence
the mask and the avoidance of his
friends hence his eagerness to find this
drug by means of which the poor soul
retains some hope of ultimate recovery
god grant that he be not deceived there
is my explanation it is sad enough Poole
I and appalling to consider but it is
plain and natural hangs well together
and delivers us from all exorbitant
alarms sir said the butler turning to a
sort of mottled pallor that thing has
knocked my master and here's the truth
my master here he looked around him and
begin to whisper is a tall fine build of
a man and this was more of a dwarf
Utterson attempted to protest Oh sir
cried Paul do you think I do not know my
master after twenty years do you think I
do not know where his head comes to in
the cabinet door where I saw him every
morning of my life no sir that thing in
the mask was never dr. Jekyll God knows
what it was but it was never dr. Jekyll
and it is the belief of my heart that
that was a murder done who replied the
lawyer if you say that it will become my
do
to make certain much as I desire to
spare your master's feelings much as I
am puzzled by this note which seems to
prove him to be still alive I shall
consider it my duty to break in that
door ah mr. Utterson that's talking
cried the butler and now comes the
second question resumed Utterson who is
going to do it
y-you and me sir was the undaunted reply
that's very well said returned the
lawyer and whatever comes of it I shall
make it my business to see you are no
loser there is an axe in the theatre
continued Poole and you might take the
kitchen poker for yourself
the lawyer took that rude but weighty
instrument into his hands and balanced
it do you know Poole he said looking up
that's you and I are about to place
ourselves in a position of some peril
you may say so sir indeed returned the
butler it is well then that we should be
frank said the other we both think more
than we have said let us make a clean
breast this masked figure that you saw
did you recognize it well sir
it went so quick and the creature was so
doubled up that I could hardly swear to
that was the answer but if you mean was
it mr. Hyde well yes I think it was you
see it was much of the same bigness and
it had the same quick light way with it
and then who else could have got him by
the laboratory door you have not forgot
sir that at the time of the murder he
had still the key with him but that's
not all I don't know mr. Utterson if
you've ever met this mr. Hyde yes said
the lawyer I once spoke with him then
you must know as well as the rest of us
that there was something queer about
that gentleman something that gave the
man a turn I don't know rightly how to
say it sir beyond this that you felt in
your marrow kind of cold and thin I own
I felt something of what you described
said Mr Utterson quite so sir returned
Poole well when that masked thing like a
monkey jumped from among the chemicals
and whipped up into the cabinet it went
down my spine like ice oh I know it's
not evidence mr. Utterson
I'm book-learned enough of that but a
man has his feelings and I give you my
Bible word it was mr. Hyde my fears
inclined at the same point said the
lawyer evil
I fear founded evil was sure to come of
that connection I truly I believe you I
believe poor Harry is killed and I
believe his murderer for what purpose
God alone can tell is still lurking in
his victims rooms well let our name be
vengeance cool Bradshaw the footman came
at the summons very white and nervous
pull yourself together Bradshaw said the
lawyer the suspense I know is telling
upon all of you but it is now our
intention to make an end of it pull here
and I are going to force our way into
the cabinet if all is well my shoulders
are broad enough to bear the blame
meanwhile lest anything should really be
amiss or any male factor seek to escape
by the back you and the boy must go
around the corner with a pair of good
sticks and take your post at the
laboratory door we give you ten minutes
to get to your stations as Bradshaw left
the lawyer looked at his watch and now
Poole let us get to ours he said and
taken the poker under his arm led the
way into the yard the skirt had banked
over the moon and it was now quite dark
the wind which only broke in puffs and
drafts into that deep well of a building
tossed the light of the candle to and
fro about their steps until they came
into the shelter of the theatre where
they sat down silently to wait
London hummed solemnly all around but
nearer at hand the stillness was only
broken by the sounds of footfall moving
to and fro along the cabinet floor so it
will walk all day sir whispered Poole I
and the better part of the night only
when a new sample comes from the chemist
there's a bit of break it's an ill
conscience that's such an enemy to rest
sir those blood fowl a shed in every
step of it hark again a little closer
put your hearts in your ears mr.
Utterson and tell me is that the doctors
foot the steps felt lightly and oddly
with a certain swing but all they went
south
lowly it was different indeed from the
heavy creaking tread of Henry Jekyll
but as inside is there never anything
else he asked Paul nodded once he said
once I heard it weeping weeping how that
said the lawyer conscious of a sudden
chill of horror weeping like a woman or
a lost soul said the butler I came away
with that upon my heart that I could
have wept too and now the ten minutes
drew to an end Poole disinterred the axe
from under a stack of packing straw the
candle was set upon the nearest table to
light them to the attack and they drew
near with bated breath to where that
patient foot was still going up and down
up and down in the quiet of the night
Jekyll cried utterson with a loud voice
I demand to see you he paused a moment
but there came no reply I give you fair
warning our suspicions are aroused and I
must and shall see you he resumed if not
by fair means then by foul if not of
your consent then by brute force
Utterson said the voice for God's sake
have mercy
that's not jackals voice its heights
cried utterson
down with the door Poole Poole swung the
axe over his shoulder the blow shook the
building and the red baize door leaped
against the lock and hinges a dismal
screech as of a mere animal terror rang
from the cabinet up when the axe again
and again the panel's crashed and the
frame bounded four times the blow fell
but the wood was tough and the fittings
were of excellent workmanship it was not
until the fifth that the lock burst and
the wreck of the door fell in words on
the carpet the besiegers appalled by
their own riot and the stillness that
has succeeded stood back a little and
peered in there lay the cabinet before
their eyes in the quiet lamplight a good
fire glowing and chattering on the
hearth the kettle singing it's thin
strain a drawer to open papers neatly
set forth on the business table and
there are the fire the thing
laid out 40 the quietest room you would
have set and but for the glazed presses
full of chemicals the most commonplace
that night in London right in the middle
there lay the body of a man
sorely contorted and still twitching
they drew near on tiptoe turned it on
its back and beheld the face of Edward
Hyde he was dressed in clothes far too
large for him clothes of the doctors
bigness the cords on his face still
moved with the semblance of life but
life was quite gone and by the crushed
file in his hand the strong smell of
kernels that hung upon the air
Utterson knew that he was looking on the
body of a self destroyer we have come
too late he said sternly whether to save
or punish Hyde is gone to his account
and it only remains for us to find the
body of your master the far greater
proportion of the building was occupied
by the theater which filled almost the
whole Ground story and was lighted from
above and by the cabinet which formed an
upper storey at one end and looked upon
the court a corridor joined the theatre
to the door on the by Street and with
this the cabinet communicated separately
by a second flight of stairs there were
besides a few dark closets and a
spacious cellar all these they now
thoroughly examined each closet needed
but a glance for all were empty and all
by the dust that fell from their doors
had stood long unopened the cellar
indeed was filled with crazy lumber
mostly dating from the times of the
surgeon who was jackals predecessor but
even as they opened the door they were
advertised of the uselessness of further
search by the fall of a perfect mat of
cobweb which had for years sealed up the
entrance nowhere was there any trace of
Henry Jekyll dead or alive paul stamped
on the flags of the corridor he must be
buried here he said harkening to the
sound or he may have fled said Utterson
and he turned to examine the door in the
by-street it was locked and lying there
on the flags they found the key already
stained with rust this does not look
like use observed the lawyer use echoed
Paul do you not see
it's broken much as if a man had stamped
on it
I continued Utterson and the fractures
to are rusty the two men looked at each
other with a scare this is beyond me
Poole said the lawyer let us go back to
the cabinet they mounted the stair in
silence and still with an occasional
awestruck glance at the dead body
proceeded more thoroughly to examine the
contents of the cabinet at one table
there were traces of chemical work
various measured heaps of some white
salt been laid on glass saucers as
though for an experiment in which the
unhappy man had been prevented this is
the same drug that I was always bringing
him said Poole and even as he spoke the
kettle with the startling noise boiled
over this brought them to the fireside
where the easy-chair was drawn cozily up
and the tea-things stood ready to the
sitter's elbow the very sugar in the cup
there were several books on a shelf one
lay beside the tea-things
open and Utterson was amazed to find a
copy of a pious work for which jackal
had several times expressed the great
esteem annotated in his own hand with
startling blasphemies next in the course
of their review of the chamber The
Searchers came to the shovel glass in
whose depths they looked with an
involuntary horror but it was so turned
as to show them nothing but the rosy
glow playing on the roof the fire
sparkling in a hundred repetitions along
the glazed front of the presses and
their own pale and fearful countenances
stooping to look in this glass has seen
some strange things sir
whispered Pooh and surely none stranger
than itself echoed the lawyer in the
same tones for what did Jekyll he caught
himself up at the word with the start
and then conquering that weakness what
could Jekyll want with it he said you
may say that said Poole next they turned
to the business table on the desk among
the neat array of papers a large
envelope was uppermost and bore in the
doctor's hand the name of mr. Utterson
the lawyer unsealed it and several
enclosures fell to the floor the first
was a will drawn in the same eccentric
times as the one which he had returned
six months before
as a testament in case of the death and
as a deed of gift in case of
disappearance but in place of the name
of Edward Hyde the lawyer with
indescribable amazement read the name of
Gabriel John Utterson he looked at Poole
and then back at the paper and last of
all at the dead malefactor stretched
upon the carpet my head goes round he
said he has been all these days in
possession he had no cause to like me he
must have raged to see himself displaced
and he has not destroyed this document
he caught up the next paper it was a
brief note in the doctor's hand and
dated at the top Oh Paul
the lawyer cried he was alive and here
this day he cannot have been disposed of
in so short a space he must be alive he
must have fled and then why fled and how
and in that case can we venture to
declare this suicide I hope we must be
careful I foresee that we may yet
involve your master in some dire
catastrophe why don't you read it sir
asked Paul because I fear replied the
lawyer solemnly god grant I have no
cause for it and with that he brought
the paper to his eyes and read as
follows
My dear Utterson when this shall fall
into your hands I shall have disappeared
under what circumstances I have not the
penetration to foresee but my instinct
and all the circumstances of my nameless
situation tell me that the end is sure
and must be early go then and first read
the narrative which Lanyon warned me he
was to place in your hands and if you
care to hear more turn to the confession
of your unworthy and unhappy friend
Henry Jekyll there was a third enclosure
asked Utterson here sir
said Poole and gave into his hands a
considerable packet sealed in several
places the lawyer put it in his pocket I
would say nothing of this paper if your
master has fled or is dead we may at
least save his credit it is now 10 I
must go home and read these documents in
quiet but I shall be back before
midnight when we shall send for the
they went out locking the door of the
theater behind them and Utterson once
more leaving the servants gathered about
the fire in the hall trudged back to his
office
to read the two narratives in which this
mystery was now to be explained