`Iamnotsurprisedatthat，\'wasthereply。`SomedayUtterson，afterIamdead，youmayperhapscometolearntherightandwrongofthis。I
cannottellyou。Andinthemeantime，ifyoucansitandtalkwithmeofotherthingsforGod\'ssake，stayanddoso；butifyoucannotkeepclearofthisaccursedtopic，then，inGod\'sname，go，forcannotbearit。\'
Assoonashegothome，UttersonsatdownandwrotetoJekyll，complainingofhisexclusionfromthehouseandaskingthecauseofthisunhappybreakwithLanyonandthenextdaybroughthimalonganswer，oftenyenpatheticallyworded，andsometimesdarklymysterious\'indrift。ThequarrelwithLanyonwasincurable。`Idonoblameouroldfriend，\'Jekyllwrote，`butIsharehisviewthatwemustnevermeet。Imeanfromhenceforthtoleadalifeofextremeseclusion；youmustnotbesurprised，nomustyoudoubtmyfriendship，ifmydoorisoftenshuteventoyou。YoumustsuffermetogomyowndarkwayIhavebroughtonmyselfapunishmentandadangerthatIcannotname。
IfIamthechiefofsinners，Iamthechiefofsufferersalso。Icouldnotthinkthatthisearthcontainedaplaceforsufferingsandterrorssounmanningandyoucandobutonething，Utterson，tolightenthisdestiny，andthatistorespectmysilence。\'Uttersonwasamazed；thedarkinfluenceofHydehadbeenwithdrawn，thedoctorhadreturnedtohisoldtasksandamities；aweekago，theprospecthadsmiledwitheverypromiseofacheerfulandanhonouredage；andnowinamoment，friendshipandpeaceofmindandthewholetenorofhislifewerewrecked。Sogreatandunpreparedachangepointedtomadness；butinviewofLanyon\'smannerandwords，theremustlieforitsomedeeperground。
AweekafterwardsDrLanyontooktohisbed，andinsomethinglessthanafortnighthewasdead。Thenightafterthefuneral，atwhichhehadbeensadlyaffected，Uttersonlockedthedoorofhisbusinessroom，andsittingtherebythelightofamelancholycandle，drewoutandsetbeforehimanenvelopeaddressedbythehandandsealedwiththesealofhisdeadfriend。`PRIVATE:forthehandsofJ。G。UttersonALONE，andincaseofhispredeceasetobedestroyedunread，\'soitwasemphaticallysuperscribed；
andthelawyerdreadedtobeholdthecontents。`Ihaveburiedonefriendto-day，\'hethought:`whatifthisshouldcostmeanother？\'Andthenhecondemnedthefearasadisloyalty，andbroketheseal。Withintherewasanotherenclosure，likewisesealed，andmarkeduponthecoveras`nottobeopenedtillthedeathordisappearanceofDrHenryJekyll\'。Uttersoncouldnottrusthiseyes。Yes，itwasdisappearance；hereagain，asinthemadwill，whichhehadlongagorestoredtoitsauthor，hereagainweretheideaofadisappearanceandthenameofHenryJekyllbracketed。
Butinthewill，thatideahadsprungfromthesinistersuggestionofthemanHyde；itwassettherewithapurposealltooplainandhorrible。WrittenbythehandofLanyon，whatshoulditmean？Agreatcuriositycametothetrustee，todisregardtheprohibitionanddiveatoncetothebottomofthesemysteries；butprofessionalhonourandfaithtohisdeadfriendwerestringentobligations；andthepacketsleptintheinmostcornerofhisprivatesafe。
Itisonethingtomortifycuriosity，anothertoconquerit；anditmaybedoubtedif，fromthatdayforth，Uttersondesiredthesocietyofhissurvivingfriendwiththesameeagerness。Hethoughtofhimkindly；
buthisthoughtsweredisquietedandfearful。Hewenttocallindeed；buthewasperhapsrelievedtobedeniedadmittance；perhaps，inhisheart，hepreferredtospeakwithPooleuponthedoorstep，andsurroundedbytheairandsoundsoftheopencity，ratherthantobeadmittedintothathouseofvoluntarybondage，andtositandspeakwithitsinscrutablerecluse。
Poolehad，indeed，noverypleasantnewstocommunicate。Thedoctor，itappeared，nowmorethaneverconfinedhimselftothecabinetoverthelaboratory，wherehewouldsometimesevensleep；hewasoutofspirits，hehadgrownverysilent，hedidnotread；itseemedasifhehadsomethingonhismind。
Uttersonbecamesousedtotheunvaryingcharacterofthesereports，thathefellofflittlebylittleinthefrequencyofhisvisits。
INCIDENTATTHEWINDOW
ItchancedonSunday，whenMrUttersonwasonhisusualwalkwithMrEnfield，thattheirwaylayonceagainthroughthebystreet；andthatwhentheycameinfrontofthedoor，bothstoppedtogazeonit。
`Well，\'saidEnfield，`thatstory\'satanend，atleast。WeshallneverseemoreofMrHyde。\'
`Ihopenot，\'saidUtterson。`DidIevertellyouthatIoncesawhim，andsharedyourfeelingofrepulsion？\'
`Itwasimpossibletodotheonewithouttheother，\'returnedEnfield。
`And，bytheway，whatanassyoumusthavethoughtme，nottoknowthatthiswasabackwaytoDrJekyll\'s！ItwaspartlyyourownfaultthatI
founditout，evenwhenIdid。\'
`Soyoufounditout，didyou？\'saidUtterson。`Butifthatbeso，wemaystepintothecourtandtakealookatthewindows。Totellyouthetruth，IamuneasyaboutpoorJekyll；andevenoutside，Ifeelasifthepresenceofafriendmightdohimgood。\'
Thecourtwasverycoolandalittledamp，andfullofprematuretwilight，althoughthesky，highupoverhead，wasstillbrightwithsunset。Themiddleoneofthethreewindowswashalfwayopen；andsittingclosebesideit，takingtheairwithaninfinitesadnessofmien，likesomedisconsolateprisoner，UttersonsawDrJekyll。
`What！Jekyll！\'hecried。`Itrustyouarebetter。\'
`Iamverylow，Utterson，\'repliedthedoctordrearily；`verylow。Itwillnotlastlong，thankGod。\'
`Youstaytoomuchindoors，\'saidthelawyer。`Youshouldbeout，whippingupthecirculationlikeMrEnfieldandme。（Thisismycousin-MrEnfield-DrJekyll。）Come，now；getyourhatandtakeaquickturnwithus。\'
`Youareverygood，\'sighedtheother。`Ishouldliketoverymuch；
butno，no，no，itisquiteimpossible；Idarenot。Butindeed，Utterson，Iamverygladtoseeyou；thisisreallyagreatpleasure。IwouldaskyouandMrEnfieldup，buttheplaceisreallynotfit。\'
`Whythen，\'saidthelawyer，good-naturedly，`thebestthingwecandoistostaydownhere，andspeakwithyoufromwhereweare。\'
`ThatisjustwhatIwasabouttoventuretopropose，\'returnedthedoctor，withasmile。Butthewordswerehardlyuttered，beforethesmilewasstruckoutofhisfaceandsucceededbyanexpressionofsuchabjecttenoranddespair，asfrozetheverybloodofthetwogentlemenbelow。
Theysawitbutforaglimpse，forthewindowwasinstantlythrustdown；
butthatglimpsehadbeensufficient，andtheyturnedandleftthecourtwithoutaword。Insilence，too，theytraversedthebystreet；anditwasnotuntiltheyhadcomeintoaneighbouringthoroughfare，whereevenuponaSundaytherewerestillsomestirringsoflife，thatMrUttersonatlastturnedandlookedathiscompanion。Theywerebothpale；andtherewasanansweringhorrorintheireyes。
`Godforgiveus！Godforgiveus！\'saidMrUtterson。
ButMrEnfieldonlynoddedhisheadveryseriously，andwalkedononcemoreinsilence。
THELASTNIGHT
MrUttersonwassittingbyhisfiresideoneeveningafterdinner，whenhewassurprisedtoreceiveavisitfromPoole。
`Blessme，Poole，whatbringsyouhere？\'hecried；andthen，takingasecondlookathim，`Whatailsyou？\'headded；`isthedoctorill？\'
`MrUtterson，\'saidtheman，`thereissomethingwrong。\'
`Takeaseat，andhereisaglassofwineforyou，\'saidthelawyer。
`Now，takeyourtime，andtellmeplainlywhatyouwant。\'
`Youknowthedoctor\'sways，sir，\'repliedPoole，`andhowheshutshimselfup。Well，he\'sshutupagaininthecabinet；andIdon\'tlikeit，sir-IwishImaydieifIlikeit。MrUtterson，sir，I\'mafraid。\'
`Now，mygoodman，\'saidthelawyer，`beexplicit。Whatareyouafraidof？\'
`I\'vebeenafraidforaboutaweek，\'returnedPoole，doggedlydisregardingthequestion，`andIcanbearitnomore。\'
Theman\'sappearanceamplyboreouthiswords；hismannerwasalteredfortheworse；andexceptforthemomentwhenhehadfirstannouncedhisterror，hehadnotoncelookedthelawyerintheface。Evennow，hesatwiththeglassofwineuntastedonhisknee，andhiseyesdirectedtoacornerofthefloor。`Icanbearitnomore，\'herepeated。
`Come，\'saidthelawyer，`Iseeyouhavesomegoodreason，Poole；I
seethereissomethingseriouslyamiss。Trytotellmewhatitis。\'
`Ithinkthere\'sbeenfoulplay，\'saidPoole，hoarsely。
`Foulplay！\'criedthelawyer，agooddealfrightened，andratherinclinedtobeirritatedinconsequence。`Whatfoulplay？Whatdoesthemanmean？\'
`Idaren\'tsay，sir，\'wastheanswer；`butwillyoucomealongwithmeandseeforyourself？\'
MrUtterson\'sonlyanswerwastoriseandgethishatandgreatcoat；
butheobservedwithwonderthegreatnessofthereliefthatappeareduponthebutler\'sface，andperhapswithnoless，thatthewinewasstilluntastedwhenhesetitdowntofollow。
Itwasawild，cold，seasonablenightofMarch，withapalemoon，lyingonherbackasthoughthewindhadtiltedher，andaflyingwrackofthemostdiaphanousandlawnytexture。Thewindmadetalkingdifficult，andfleckedthebloodintotheface。Itseemedtohavesweptthestreetsunusuallybareofpassengers，besides；forMrUttersonthoughthehadneverseenthatpartofLondonsodeserted。Hecouldhavewisheditotherwise；neverinhislifehadhebeenconsciousofsosharpawishtoseeandtouchhisfellow-creatures；for，struggleashemight，therewasborneinuponhismindacrushinganticipationofcalamity。Thesquare，whentheygotthere，wasallfullofwindanddust，andthethintreesinthegardenwerelashingthemselvesalongtherailing。Poole，whohadkeptallthewayapaceortwoahead，nowpulledupinthemiddleofthepavement，andinspiteofthebitingweather，tookoffhishatandmoppedhisbrowwitharedpocket-handkerchief。
Butforallthehurryofhiscoming，thesewerenotthedewsofexertionthathewipedaway，butthemoistureofsomestranglinganguish；forhisfacewaswhite，andhisvoice，whenhespoke，harshandbroken。
`Well，sir，\'hesaid，`hereweare，andGodgranttherebenothingwrong。\'
`Amen，Poole，\'saidthelawyer。
Thereupontheservantknockedinaveryguardedmanner；thedoorwasopenedonthechain；andavoiceaskedfromwithin，`Isthatyou，Poole？\'
`It\'sallright，\'saidPoole。`Openthedoor。\'
Thehall，whentheyenteredit，wasbrightlylightedup；thefirewasbuilthigh；andaboutthehearththewholeoftheservants，menandwomen，stoodhuddledtogetherlikeaflockofsheep。AtthesightofMrUtterson，thehousemaidbrokeintohystericalwhimpering；andthecook，cryingout，`BlessGod！it\'sMrUtterson，\'ranforwardasiftotakehiminherarms。
`What，what？Areyouallhere？\'saidthelawyer，peevishly。`Veryirregular，veryunseemly:yourmasterwouldbefarfrompleased。\'
`They\'reallafraid，\'saidPoole。
Blanksilencefollowed，nooneprotesting；onlythemaidlifteduphervoiceandnowweptloudly。
`Holdyourtongue！\'Poolesaidtoher，withaferocityofaccentthattestifiedtohisownjanglednerves；andindeedwhenthegirlhadsosuddenlyraisedthenoteofherlamentation，theyhadallstartedandturnedtowardstheinnerdoorwithfacesofdreadfulexpectation。`Andnow，\'continuedthebutler，addressingtheknife-boy，reachmeacandle，andwe\'llgetthisthroughhandsatonce。\'AndthenhebeggedMrUttersontofollowhim，andledthewaytothebackgarden。
`Now，sir，\'saidhe，`youcomeasgentlyasyoucan。Iwantyoutohear，andIdon\'twantyoutobeheard。Andseehere，sir，ifbyanychancehewastoaskyouin，don\'tgo。\'
MrUtterson\'snerves，atthisunlooked-fortermination，gaveajerkthatnearlythrewhimfromhisbalance；butherecollectedhiscourage，andfollowedthebutlerintothelaboratorybuildingandthroughthesurgicaltheatre，withitslumberofcratesandbottles，tothefootofthestair。
HerePoolemotionedhimtostandononesideandlisten；whilehehimself，settingdownthecandleandmakingagreatandobviouscallonhisresolution，mountedthesteps，andknockedwithasomewhatuncertainhandontheredbaizeofthecabinetdoor。
`MrUtterson，sir，askingtoseeyou，\'hecalled；andevenashedidso，oncemoreviolentlysignedtothelawyertogiveear。
Avoiceansweredfromwithin:`TellhimIcannotseeanyone，\'itsaid，complainingly。
`Thankyou，sir，\'saidPoole，withanoteofsomethingliketriumphinhisvoice；andtakinguphiscandle，heledMrUttersonbackacrosstheyardandintothegreatkitchen，wherethefirewasoutandthebeetleswereleapingonthefloor。
`Sir，\'hesaid，lookingMrUttersonintheeyes，`wasthatmymaster\'svoice？\'
`Itseemsmuchchanged，\'repliedthelawyer，verypale，butgivinglookforlook。
`Changed？Well，yes，Ithinkso，\'saidthebutler。`HaveIbeentwentyyearsthisman\'shouse，tobedeceivedabouthisvoice？No，sir；master\'smadeawaywith；hewasmadeawaywitheightdaysago，whenweheardhimcryoutuponthenameofGod；andwho\'sinthereinsteadofhim，andwhyitstaysthere，isathingthatcriestoHeaven，MrUtterson！\'
`Thisisaverystrangetale，Poole；thisisratherawildtale，myman，\'saidMrUtterson，bitinghisfinger。`Supposeitwereasyousuppose，supposingDrJekylltohavebeen-well，murdered，whatcouldinducethemurderertostay？Thatwon\'tholdwater；itdoesn\'tcommenditselftoreason。
`Well，MrUtterson，youareahardmantosatisfy，butI\'lldoityet，\'
saidPoole。`Allthislastweek（youmustknow）him，orit，orwhateveritisthatlivesinthatcabinet，hasbeencryingnightanddayforsomesortofmedicineandcannotgetittohismind。Itwassometimeshisway-themaster\'s，thatis-towritehisordersonasheetofpaperandthrowitonthestair。We\'vehadnothingelsethisweekback；nothingbutpapers，andacloseddoor，andtheverymealslefttheretobesmuggledinwhennobodywaslooking。Well，sir，everyday，ay，andtwiceandthriceinthesameday，therehavebeenordersandcomplaints，andIhavebeensentflyingtoallthewholesalechemistsintown。EverytimeIbroughtthestuffback，therewouldbeanotherpapertellingmetoreturnit，becauseitwasnotpure，andanotherordertoadifferentfirm。Thisdrugiswantedbitterbad，sir，whateverfor。\'
`Haveyouanyofthesepapers？\'askedMrUtterson。
Poolefeltinhispocketandhandedoutacrumplednote，whichthelawyer，bendingnearertothecandle，carefullyexamined。Itscontentsranthus:
`DrJekyllpresentshiscomplimentstoMessrsMaw。Heassuresthemthattheirlastsampleisimpureandquiteuselessforhispresentpurpose。
Intheyear18-，DrJ。purchasedasomewhatlargequantityfromMessrsM。Henowbegsthemtosearchwiththemostsedulouscare，andshouldanyofthesamequalitybeleft，toforwardittohimatonce。Expenseisnoconsideration。TheimportanceofthistoDrJ。canhardlybeexaggerated。\'
Sofartheletterhadruncomposedlyenough；buthere，withasuddensplutterofthepen，thewriter\'semotionhadbrokenloose。`ForGod\'ssake，\'hehadadded，`findmesomeoftheold。\'
`Thisisastrangenote，\'saidMrUtterson；andthensharply，`Howdoyoucometohaveitopen？\'
`ThemanatMaw\'swasmainangry，sir，andhethrewitbacktomelikesomuchdirt，\'returnedPoole。
`Thisisunquestionablythedoctor\'shand，doyouknow？\'resumedthelawyer。
`Ithoughtitlookedlikeit，\'saidtheservant，rathersulkily；andthen，withanothervoice，`Butwhatmattershandofwrite？\'hesaid。`I\'veseenhim！\'
`Seenhim？\'repeatedMrUtterson。`Well？\'
`That\'sit！\'saidPoole。`Itwasthisway。Icamesuddenlyintothetheatrefromthegarden。Itseemshehadslippedouttolookforthisdrug，orwhateveritis；forthecabinetdoorwasopen，andtherehewasatthefarendoftheroomdiggingamongthecrates。HelookedupwhenIcamein，gaveakindofcry，andwhippedupstairsintothecabinet。ItwasbutforoneminutethatIsawhim，butthehairstooduponmyheadlikequills。
Sir，ifthatwasmymaster，whyhadheamaskuponhisface？Ifitwasmymaster，whydidhecryoutlikearatandrunfromme？Ihaveservedhimlongenough。Andthenthemanpausedandpassedhishandoverhisface。
`Theseareallverystrangecircumstances，\'saidMrUtterson，`butI
thinkIbegintoseedaylight。Yourmaster，Poole，isplainlyseizedwithoneofthosemaladiesthatbothtortureanddeformthesufferer；hence，foraughtIknow，thealterationofhisvoice；hencethemaskandhisavoidanceofhisfriends；hencehiseagernesstofindthisdrug，bymeansofwhichthepoorsoulretainssomehopeofultimaterecovery-Godgrantthathebenotdeceived！Thereismyexplanation；itissadenough，Poole，ay，andappallingtoconsider；butitisplainandnatural，hangswelltogetheranddeliversusfromallexorbitantalarms。\'
`Sir，\'saidthebutler，turningtoasortofmottledpallor，`thatthingwasnotmymaster，andthere\'sthetruth。Mymaster\'-herehelookedroundhim，andbegantowhisper-`isatallfinebuildofaman，andthiswasmoreofadwarf。\'Uttersonattemptedtoprotest。`O，sir，\'criedPoole，`doyouthinkIdonotknowmymasteraftertwentyyears？doyouthinkIdonotknowwherehisheadcomestointhecabinetdoor，whereIsawhimeverymorningofmylife？No，sir，thatthinginthemaskwasneverDrJekyllGodknowswhatitwas，butitwasneverDrJekyll；anditisthebeliefofmyheartthattherewasmurderdone。\'