`Poole，\'repliedthelawyer，`ifyousaythat，itwillbecomemydutytomakecertain。MuchasIdesiretospareyourmaster\'sfeelings，muchasIampuzzledaboutthisnote，whichseemstoprovehimtobestillalive，Ishallconsideritmydutytobreakinthatdoor。\'
`Ah，MrUtterson，that\'stalking！\'criedthebutler。
`Andnowcomesthesecondquestion，\'resumedUtterson:`Whoisgoingtodoit？\'
`Why，youandme，sir，\'wastheundauntedreply。
`Thatisverywellsaid，\'returnedthelawyer；`andwhatevercomesofit，Ishallmakeitmybusinesstoseeyouarenoloser。\'
`Thereisanaxeinthetheatre，\'continuedPoole；`andyoumighttakethekitchenpokerforyourself。\'
Thelawyertookthatrudebutweightyinstrumentintohishand，andbalancedit。`Doyouknow，Poole，\'hesaid，lookingup，`thatyouandI
areabouttoplaceourselvesinapositionofsomeperil？\'
`Youmaysayso，sir，indeed，\'returnedthebutler。
`Itiswell，then，thatweshouldbefrank，\'saidtheother。`Weboththinkmorethanwehavesaid；letusmakeacleanbreast。Thismaskedfigurethatyousaw，didyourecognizeit？\'
`Well，sir，itwentsoquick，andthecreaturewassodoubledup，thatIcouldhardlysweartothat，\'wastheanswer。`Butifyoumean，wasitMrHyde？-why，yes，Ithinkitwas！Yousee，itwasmuchofthesamebigness；
andithadthesamequicklightwaywithit；andthenwhoelsecouldhavegotinbythelaboratorydoor？Youhavenotforgot，sir，thatatthetimeofthemurderhehadstillthekeywithhim？Butthat\'snotall。Idon\'tknow，MrUtterson，ifeveryoumetthisMrHyde？\'
`Yes，\'saidthelawyer，`Ioncespokewithhim。\'
`Thenyoumustknow，aswellastherestofus，thattherewassomethingqueeraboutthatgentleman-somethingthatgaveamanaturn-Idon\'tknowrightlyhowtosayit，sir，beyondthis:thatyoufeltinyourmarrow-kindofcoldandthin。\'
`IownIfeltsomethingofwhatyoudescribe，\'saidMrUtterson。
`Quiteso，sir，\'returnedPoole。`Well，whenthatmaskedthinglikeamonkeyjumpedupfromamongthechemicalsandwhippedintothecabinet，itwentdownmyspinelikeice。O，Iknowit\'snotevidence，MrUtterson；
I\'mbook-learnedenoughforthat；butamanhadhisfeelings；andIgiveyoumybible-worditwasMrHyde！\'
`Ay，ay，\'saidthelawyer。`Myfearsinclinetothesamepoint。Evil，Ifear，founded-evilwassuretocome-ofthatconnection。Ay，truly，Ibelieveyou；IbelievepoorHarryiskilled；andIbelievehismurderer（forwhatpurpose，Godalonecantell）isstilllurkinginhisvictim\'sroom。Well，letournamebevengeance。CallBradshaw。\'
Thefootmancameatthesummons，verywhiteandnervous。
`Pullyourselftogether，Bradshaw，\'saidthelawyer。`Thissuspense，Iknow，istellinguponallofyou；butitisnowourintentiontomakeanendofit。Poole，here，andIaregoingtoforceourwayintothecabinet。
Ifalliswell，myshouldersarebroadenoughtobeartheblame。Meanwhile，lestanythingshouldreallybeamiss，oranymale-factorseektoescapebytheback，youandtheboymustgoroundthecomerwithapairofgoodsticks，andtakeyourpostatthelaboratorydoor。Wegiveyoutenminutes，togettoyourstations。\'
AsBradshawleft，thelawyerlookedathiswatch。`Andnow，Poole，letusgettoours，\'hesaid；andtakingthepokerunderhisarm，heledthewayintotheyard。Thescudhadbankedoverthemoon，anditwasnowquitedark。Thewind，whichonlybrokeinpuffsanddraughtsintothatdeepwellofbuilding，tossedthelightofthecandletoandfroabouttheirsteps，untiltheycameintotheshelterofthetheatre，wheretheysatdownsilentlytowait。Londonhummedsolemnlyallaround；butnearerathand，thestillnesswasonlybrokenbythesoundofafootfallmovingtoandfroalongthecabinetfloor。
`Soitwillwalkallday，sir，\'whisperedPoole；`ay，andthebetterpartofthenight。Onlywhenanewsamplecomesfromthechemist，there\'sabitofabreak。Ah，it\'sanillconsciencethat\'ssuchanenemytorest！
Ah，sir，there\'sbloodfoullyshedineverystepofit！Butharkagain，alittlecloser-putyourheartinyourearsMrUtterson，andtellme，isthatthedoctor\'sfoot？\'
Thestepsfelllightlyandoddly，withacertainswing，foralltheywentsoslowly；itwasdifferentindeedfromtheheavycreakingtreadofHenryJekyll。Uttersonsighed。`Isthereneveranythingelse？\'heasked。
Poolenodded。`Once，\'hesaid。`OnceIhearditweeping！\'
`Weeping？howthat？\'saidthelawyer，consciousofasuddenchillofhorror。
`Weepinglikeawomanoralostsoul，\'saidthebutler。`Icameawaywiththatuponmyheart，thatIcouldhavewepttoo。\'
Butnowthetenminutesdrewtoanend。Pooledisinterredtheaxefromunderastackofpackingstraw；thecandlewassetuponthenearesttabletolightthemtotheattack；andtheydrewnearwithbatedbreathtowherethepatientfootwasstillgoingupanddown，upanddowninthequietofthenight。
`Jekyll，\'criedUtterson，withaloudvoice，`Idemandtoseeyou。\'
Hepausedamoment，buttherecamenoreply。
`Igiveyoufairwarning，oursuspicionsarearoused，andImustandshallseeyou，\'heresumed；`ifnotbyfairmeans，thenbyfoul-ifnotofyourconsent，thenbybruteforce！\'
`Utterson，\'saidthevoice，`forGod\'ssake，havemercy！\'
`Ah，that\'snotJekyll\'svoiceit\'sHyde\'s！\'criedUtterson。`Downwiththedoor，Poole！\'
Pooleswungtheaxeoverhisshoulder；theblowshookthebuilding，andtheredbaizedoorleapedagainstthelockandhinges。Adismalscreech，asofmereanimaltenor，rangfromthecabinet。Upwenttheaxeagain，andagainthepanelscrashedandtheframebounded；fourtimestheblowfell；butthewoodwastoughandthefittingswereofexcellentworkmanship；
anditwasnotuntilthefifththatthelockburstinsunder，andthewreckofthedoorfellinwardsonthecarpet。
Thebesiegers，appalledbytheirownriotandthestillnessthathadsucceeded，stoodbackalittleandpeeredin。Therelaythecabinetbeforetheireyesinthequietlamplight，agoodfireglowingandchatteringonthehearth，thekettlesingingitsthinstrain，adrawerortwoopen，papersneatlysetforthonthebusinesstable，andnearerthefire，thethingslaidoutfortea；thequietestroom，youwouldhavesaid，and，butfortheglazedpressesfullofchemicals，themostcommonplacethatnightinLondon。
Rightinthemidsttherelaythebodyofamansorelycontortedandstilltwitching。Theydrewnearontiptoe，turneditonitsback，andbeheldthefaceofEdwardHyde。Hewasdressedinclothesfartoolargeforhim，clothesofthedoctor\'sbigness；thecordsofhisfacestillmovedwithasemblanceoflife，butlifewasquitegone；andbythecrushedphialinthehandandthestrongsmellofkernelsthathungupontheair，Uttersonknewthathewaslookingonthebodyofaself-destroyer。
`Wehavecometoolate，\'hesaidsternly，`whethertosaveorpunish。
Hydeisgonetohisaccount；anditonlyremainsforustofindthebodyofyourmaster。\'
Thefargreaterproportionofthebuildingwasoccupiedbythetheatre，whichfilledalmostthewholegroundstorey，andwaslightedfromabove，andbythecabinet，whichformedanupperstoreyatoneendandlookeduponthecourt。Acorridorjoinedthetheatretothedooronthebysheet；
andwiththis，thecabinetcommunicatedseparatelybyasecondflightofstairs。Therewerebesidesafewdarkclosetsandaspaciouscellar。Allthesetheynowthoroughlyexamined。Eachclosetneededbutaglance，foralltheywereemptyandall，bythedustthatfellfromtheirdoors，hadstoodlongunopened。Thecellar，indeed，wasfilledwithcrazylumber，mostlydatingfromthetimesofthesurgeonwhowasJekyll\'spredecessor；
butevenastheyopenedthedoor，theywereadvertisedoftheuselessnessoffurthersearchbythefallofaperfectmatofcobwebwhichhadforyearssealeduptheenhance。NowherewasthereanytraceofHenryJekyll，deadoralive。
Poolestampedontheflagsofthecorridor。`Hemustbeburiedhere，\'
hesaid，hearkeningtothesound。
`Orhemayhavefled，\'saidUtterson，andheturnedtoexaminethedoorinthebystreet。Itwaslocked；andlyingnearbyontheflags，theyfoundthekey，alreadystainedwithrust。
`Thisdoesnotlooklikeuse，\'observedthelawyer。
`Use！\'echoedPoole。`Doyounotsee，sir，itisbroken？muchasifamanhadstampedonit。\'
`Ah，\'continuedUtterson，`andthefractures，too，arerusty。\'Thetwomenlookedateachotherwithascare。`Thisisbeyondme，Poole，\'saidthelawyer。`Letusgobacktothecabinet。\'
Theymountedthestairinsilence，andstill，withanoccasionalawestruckglanceatthedeadbody，proceededmorethoroughlytoexaminethecontentsofthecabinet。
Atonetable，thereweretracesofchemicalwork，variousmeasuredheapsofsomewhitesaltbeinglaidonglasssaucers，asthoughforanexperimentinwhichtheunhappymanhadbeenprevented。
`ThatisthesamedrugthatIwasalwaysbringinghim，\'saidPoole；
andevenashespoke，thekettlewithastartlingnoiseboiledover。
Thisbroughtthemtothefireside，wheretheeasychairwasdrawncosilyup，andtheteathingsstoodreadytothesitter\'selbow，theverysugarinthecup。Therewereseveralbooksonashelf；onelaybesidetheteathingsopen，andUttersonwasamazedtofinditacopyofapiousworkforwhichJekyllhadseveraltimesexpressedagreatesteem，annotated，inhisownhand，withstartlingblasphemies。
Next，inthecourseoftheirreviewofthechamber，thesearcherscametothecheval-glass，intowhosedepththeylookedwithaninvoluntaryhorror。
Butitwassoturnedastoshowthemnothingbuttherosyglowplayingontheroof，thefiresparklinginahundredrepetitionsalongtheglazedfrontofthepresses，andtheirownpaleandfearfulcountenancesstoopingtolookin。
`Thisglasshasseensomestrangethings，sir，\'whisperedPoole。
`Andsurelynonestrangerthanitself，\'echoedthelawyer，inthesametone。`ForwhatdidJekyll\'-hecaughthimselfupatthewordwithastart，andthenconqueringtheweakness:`whatcouldJekyllwantwithit？\'hesaid。
`Youmaysaythat！\'saidPoole。
Nexttheyturnedtothebusinesstable。Onthedesk，amongtheneatarrayofpapers，alargeenvelopewasuppermost，andbore，inthedoctor\'shand，thenameofMrUtterson。Thelawyerunsealedit，andseveralenclosuresfelltothefloor。Thefirstwasawill，drawninthesameeccentrictermsastheonewhichhehadreturnedsixmonthsbefore，toserveasatestamentincaseofdeathandasadeedofgiftincaseofdisappearance；butinplaceofthenameofEdwardHyde，thelawyer，withindescribableamazement，readthenameofGabrielJohnUtterson。HelookedatPoole，andthenbackatthepapers，andlastofallatthedeadmalefactorstretcheduponthecarpet。
`Myheadgoesround，\'hesaid。`Hehasbeenallthesedaysinpossession；
hehadnocausetolikeme；hemusthaveragedtoseehimselfdisplaced；
andhehasnotdestroyedthisdocument。\'
Hecaughtthenextpaper；itwasabriefnoteinthedoctor\'shandanddatedatthetop。`OPoole！\'thelawyercried，`hewasaliveandherethisday。Hecannothavebeendisposedofinsoshortaspace；hemustbestillalive，hemusthavefled！Andthen，whyfled？andhow？andinthatcasecanweventuretodeclarethissuicide？O，wemustbecareful。Iforeseethatwemayyetinvolveyourmasterinsomedirecatastrophe。\'
`Whydon\'tyoureadit，sir？\'askedPoole。
`BecauseIfear，\'repliedthelawyer，solemnly。`GodgrantIhavenocauseforit！\'Andwiththathebroughtthepapertohiseyes，andreadasfollows:MyDearUtterson，-
Whenthisshallfallintoyourhands，Ishallhavedisappeared，underwhatcircumstancesIhavenotthepenetrationtoforesee，butmyinstinctandallthecircumstancesofmynamelesssituationtellmethattheendissureandmustbeearly。Gothen，andfirstreadthenarrativewhichLanyonwarnedmehewastoplaceinyourhands；andifyoucaretohearmore，turntotheconfessionofYourunworthyandunhappyfriend，HenryJekyll`Therewasathirdenclosure，\'askedUtterson。
`Here，sir，\'saidPoole，andgaveintohishandsaconsiderablepacketsealedinseveralplaces。
Thelawyerputitinhispocket。`Iwouldsaynothingofthispaper。
Ifyourmasterhasfledorisdead，wemayatleastsavehiscredit。Itisnowten；Imustgohomeandreadthesedocumentsinquiet；butIshallbebackbeforemidnight，whenweshallsendforthepolice。\'
Theywentout，lockingthedoorofthetheatrebehindthem；andUtterson，oncemoreleavingtheservantsgatheredaboutthefireinthehall，trudgedbacktohisofficetoreadthetwonarrativesinwhichthismysterywasnowtobeexplained。
DRLANYON\'SNARRATIVE
OntheninthofJanuary，nowfourdaysago，Ireceivedbytheeveningdeliveryaregisteredenvelope，addressedinthehandofmycolleagueandoldschool-companion，HenryJekyll。Iwasagooddealsurprisedbythis；
forwewerebynomeansinthehabitofcorrespondence；Ihadseentheman，dinedwithhim，indeed，thenightbefore；andIcouldimaginenothinginourintercoursethatshouldjustifytheformalityofregistration。Thecontentsincreasedmywonder；forthisishowtheletterran:10thDecember18-
DearLanyon，-
Youareoneofmyoldestfriends；andalthoughwemayhavedifferedattimesonscientificquestions，Icannotremember，atleastonmyside，anybreakinouraffection。Therewasneveradaywhen，ifyouhadsaidtome，`Jekyll，mylife，myhonour，myreason，dependuponyou，\'Iwouldnothavesacrificedmyfortuneormylefthandtohelpyou。Lanyon，mylife，myhonour，myreason，areallatyourmerry；ifyoufailmeto-night，Iamlost。Youmightsuppose，afterthispreface，thatIamgoingtoaskyouforsomethingdishonourabletogrant。Judgeforyourself。
Iwantyoutopostponeallotherengagementsforto-night-ay，evenifyouweresummonedtothebedsideofanemperor；totakeacab，unlessyourcarriageshouldbeactuallyatthedoor；and，withthisletterinyourhandforconsultation，todrivestraighttomyhouse。Poole，mybutler，hashisorders；youwillfindhimwaitingyourarrivalwithalocksmith。
Thedoorofmycabinetisthentobeforced；andyouaretogoinalone；
toopentheglazedpress（letterE）onthelefthand，breakingthelockifitbeshut；andtodrawout，withallitscontentsasthestand，thefourthdrawerfromthetopor（whichisthesamething）thethirdfromthebottom。Inmyextremedistressofmind，Ihaveamorbidfearofmisdirectingyou；butevenifIaminerror，youmayknowtherightdrawerbyitscontents:
somepowders，aphial，andapaperbook。ThisdrawerIbegofyoutocarrybackwithyoutoCavendishSquareexactlyasitstands。
Thatisthefirstpartoftheservice:nowforthesecond。Youshouldbeback，ifyousetoutatonceonthereceiptofthis，longbeforemidnight；
butIwillleaveyouthatamountofmargin，notonlyinthefearofoneofthoseobstaclesthatcanneitherbepreventednorforeseen，butbecauseanhourwhenyourservantsareinbedistobepreferredforwhatwillthenremaintodo。Atmidnight，then，Ihavetoaskyoutobealoneinyourconsulting-room，toadmitwithyourownhandintothehouseamanwhowillpresenthimselfinmyname，andtoplaceinhishandsthedrawerthatyouwillhavebroughtwithyoufrommycabinet。Thenyouwillhaveplayedyourpartandearnedmygratitudecompletely。Fiveminutesafterwards，ifyouinsistuponanexplanation，youwillhaveunderstoodthatthesearrangementsareofcapitalimportance；andthatbytheneglectofoneofthem，fantasticastheymustappear，youmighthavechargedyourconsciencewithmydeathortheshipwreckofmyreason。