Untitled

THE STRANGE CASE OF
DR JEKYLL
AND MR HYDE
by Robert Louis Stevenson
Simplified by C. Kingsley Williams a n d A. G. Eyre

General Editors: A n d y H o p k i n s and Jocelyn Potter
Addison Wesley Longman Limited
Edinburgh Gate, Harlow,
Essex CM20 2JE, England
and Associated Companies throughout the world.
© Addison Wesley Longman Limited 1996

All rights reserved; no part of this publication
may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system,
or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic,
mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise,
without the prior written permission of the Publishers.
First published in the Longman Simplified English Series 1978

First published in Longman Fiction 1993
This edition first published in 1996
Second impression 1997
ISBN 0 582 27501 6
Set in Adobe Granjon 10.5pt

Produced through Longman Malaysia, GPS
Acknowledgements
We are grateful to Addison Wesley Longman Limited for

permission to use in the Word List definitions adapted
from the third edition of the Longman Dictionary of
Contemporary English © Longman G r o u p Limited (1995).
Cover photograph © Addison Wesley Longman Limited/Gareth Boden

page
Introduction i
Chapter 1 T h e Story of the D o o r 1

Chapter 2 T h e Search for Mr H y d e 7
Chapter 3 D r Jekyll 14
Chapter 4 T h e C a r e w M u r d e r Case 16
Chapter 5 T h e Letter 20
Chapter 6 T h e Mysterious D e a t h o f D r L a n y o n 24
Chapter 7 T h e Face at the W i n d o w 28
Chapter 8 Dr Jekyll's Last N i g h t 30
Chapter 9 Dr Lanyon's Story 41
Chapter 10 H e n r y Jekyll's Full Statement of the Case 48
W o r d List 62
Activities 66
R o b e r t L o u i s S t e v e n s o n w a s b o r n i n E d i n b u r g h i n 1850. H e w a s t h e only
son of T h o m a s Stevenson, a successful e n g i n e e r , a n d his wife M a r g a r e t
Balfour, b o t h o f w h o m w e r e very strictly religious. I n his university years
Stevenson g a v e u p t h e religion o f his p a r e n t s , b u t t h e t e a c h i n g h e received
a s a child c o n t i n u e d t o influence h i m . H e w e n t t o E d i n b u r g h t o s t u d y
e n g i n e e r i n g , b u t soon discovered t h a t h e h a d n o interest i n t h e subject
a n d studied l a w instead. W h i l e a t university h e d e c i d e d , m u c h t o his
father's d i s a p p o i n t m e n t , t h a t h e w a n t e d t o b e a w r i t e r . H e travelled
widely after this, a n d w r o t e a b o u t his travels i n F r a n c e , B e l g i u m a n d
California.
Stevenson suffered from p o o r h e a l t h for m o s t of his life, b u t this d i d

not stop h i m from l e a d i n g a life of travel a n d a d v e n t u r e . In 1876, in
F r a n c e , h e m e t a n d fell i n love w i t h a n A m e r i c a n w o m a n called F a n n y
O s b o u r n e . A s she w a s a m a r r i e d w o m a n , Stevenson's family w e r e
shocked by t h e r e l a t i o n s h i p at first. In 1878 S t e v e n s o n w e n t to C a l i f o r n i a
t o b e w i t h her. T r a v e l l i n g b y s h i p a n d t r a i n , h e h a d m a n y a d v e n t u r e s o n
the journey, a t o n e p o i n t c o m i n g very close t o d e a t h . H e a r r i v e d i n
California ill a n d w i t h no m o n e y at all. F a n n y O s b o u r n e h a d by n o w left
h e r h u s b a n d a n d they w e r e s o o n a b l e t o g e t m a r r i e d . T h e m a r r i a g e
pleased Stevenson's family, w h o offered t h e m s o m e financial s u p p o r t , so
Stevenson a n d F a n n y r e t u r n e d t o S c o t l a n d w i t h L l o y d , t h e son o f F a n n y ' s
first husband. S o o n after t h a t t h e y s t a y e d for a t i m e i n D a v o s ,
S w i t z e r l a n d , because S t e v e n s o n w a s by n o w seriously ill w i t h a l u n g
disease. O v e r t h e n e x t few years t h e family m o v e d b e t w e e n F r a n c e ,
Scotland a n d E n g l a n d , a n d i n 1888 t h e y sailed to t h e Pacific Islands, on
w h a t was originally p l a n n e d as a s h o r t p l e a s u r e t r i p . In fact, t h o u g h ,
Stevenson never r e t u r n e d t o E u r o p e . After m o n t h s e x p l o r i n g t h e S o u t h
Sea islands, h e b o u g h t a h o u s e i n S a m o a w h e r e t h e w e a t h e r w a s g o o d for
The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde
his h e a l t h . H e lived t h e r e a n d w r o t e h a p p i l y u n t i l h e d i e d s u d d e n l y i n
1894; h e w a s b u r i e d o n t h e island, w h e r e h e h a d been k n o w n a s "Tusitala"
o r " T h e Storyteller".
Stevenson's early w r i t i n g consisted m a i n l y of s h o r t stories a n d
accounts of his travels. H i s first full-length w o r k of fiction w a s t h e great
a d v e n t u r e story Treasure Island (1883). T h i s w a s t h e b o o k w h i c h first
b r o u g h t h i m f a m e . T h i s f a m e increased w h e n , t h r e e years later, The
Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde a p p e a r e d . After this he w r o t e three
p o p u l a r Scottish stories, Kidnapped (1886), Catriona (1893) a n d The Master
of Ballantrae (1889). W h i l e t r a v e l l i n g a n d living in t h e S o u t h Seas he
b e c a m e very i n t e r e s t e d i n t h e local p e o p l e a n d their c u s t o m s . H e was
a n g r y a b o u t t h e w a y t h a t E u r o p e a n s t r e a t e d t h e islands a n d w r o t e letters
a n d l o n g e r w o r k s o n t h e subject, i n c l u d i n g t w o stories, " T h e Beach o f
F a l e s a " (1893) a n d " T h e E b b - T i d e " (1894). O t h e r w o r k s i n c l u d e a book
of p o e m s called A Child's Garden of Verses (1885). W h e n he d i e d Stevenson
w a s w o r k i n g on t h e g r e a t u n f i n i s h e d w o r k Weir of Hermiston (1896).
The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde, w h i c h has been m a d e into
a n u m b e r of different films, w a s a success at t h e t i m e a n d h a s b e e n so ever
since. M a n y p e o p l e living u n d e r Q u e e n Victoria believed t h a t h u m a n
beings h a v e t o s t r u g g l e c o n t i n u a l l y against their lower, " a n i m a l " urges,
a n d can only defeat t h e m by o b e y i n g strict rules of m o r a l i t y . T h i s account
of t h e s t r u g g l e b e t w e e n t h e g o o d a n d evil sides of t h e s a m e p e r s o n is the
m o r e serious subject of t h e story, a n d it is o n e t h a t S t e v e n s o n r e t u r n s to
again a n d a g a i n . T h i s is, at least in p a r t , a result of his early religious
u p b r i n g i n g , a n d t h e b o o k uses religious l a n g u a g e t o describe t h e f i g h t
b e t w e e n Jekyll a n d H y d e , each t r y i n g t o defeat t h e other's values. But
Stevenson also s h o w s s o m e s y m p a t h y for t h e respectable Dr Jekyll as he
gives in to t h e desire for t h e f r e e d o m to enjoy his evil pleasures. T h e other
m a i n v i e w p r e s e n t e d in t h e b o o k is t h a t science can achieve almost
a n y t h i n g , b u t t h a t scientific e x p e r i m e n t a t i o n m u s t b e d o n e w i t h the
greatest c a r e since it c a n just as easily be used for evil p u r p o s e s as to do
Introduction
good. T h i s is a n o t h e r subject t h a t i n t e r e s t e d V i c t o r i a n s , a n d it is o n e t h a t
was discussed b y m a n y o t h e r w r i t e r s .
Dr H e n r y Jekyll is a w e l l - r e s p e c t e d a n d w e a l t h y d o c t o r in L o n d o n .
He does a g r e a t deal of g o o d w o r k a n d is l i k e d by m a n y , i n c l u d i n g his t w o
oldest friends, M r U t t e r s o n ( a lawyer) a n d D r L a n y o n . T h e t w o friends
are w o r r i e d w h e n they m e e t t h e u n p l e a s a n t a n d m y s t e r i o u s M r H y d e a n d
discover t h a t he seems to h a v e s o m e terrible influence on Dr Jekyll. A
series of nasty events, e n d i n g in a m u r d e r , a p p e a r to be t h e responsibility
o f M r H y d e . T h e friends d e c i d e t o h e l p D r Jekyll, b u t a s they d o s o they
discover a secret of u n i m a g i n a b l e h o r r o r .
The Story of the Door
Mr U t t e r s o n , t h e lawyer, w a s a m a n w i t h a severe expression t h a t w a s

never b r i g h t e n e d by a smile. He felt a w k w a r d in c o n v e r s a t i o n , a n d his
r e m a r k s w e r e s h o r t a n d cold. H e rarely s h o w e d his feelings. H e w a s tall,
thin a n d dull, b u t still q u i t e lovable. A t friendly m e e t i n g s , a n d w h e n t h e
w i n e w a s to his taste, a certain h u m a n k i n d n e s s s h o n e in his eye, t h o u g h
it never found its w a y i n t o his c o n v e r s a t i o n ; it s h o w e d itself n o t only in
this silent a f t e r - d i n n e r look b u t m o r e often a n d m o r e loudly in his
actions.
H e w a s strict w i t h himself: h e d r a n k spirits w h e n h e w a s a l o n e , t o
destroy his taste for w i n e , a n d t h o u g h h e enjoyed t h e t h e a t r e h e h a d n o t
seen a play for t w e n t y years. B u t he n e v e r j u d g e d o t h e r s so strictly; he w a s
sometimes s u r p r i s e d , a l m o s t jealous, by t h e e n e r g y s h o w n in t h e i r less
praiseworthy acts, a n d h e w a s a l w a y s r e a d i e r t o h e l p t h e m o u t o f t r o u b l e
than to b l a m e t h e m . "I like C a i n ' s r e m a r k in t h e Bible, ' A m I my b r o t h e r ' s
k e e p e r ? ' , " he used to say in his o w n s t r a n g e m a n n e r of speech. "I let my
brother go to t h e devil in his o w n w a y . " So he w a s often t h e last
respectable p e r s o n , a n d t h e last g o o d influence, i n t h e lives o f m e n w h o
w e r e o n t h e p a t h t o r u i n . T o s u c h m e n a s these, w h e n they c a m e for his
professional advice, he g a v e t h e s a m e a t t e n t i o n as to a n y o n e else.
N o d o u b t this w a s easy for M r U t t e r s o n ; h e w a s g o o d - n a t u r e d i n
everything he d i d . It is t h e m a r k of a m a n w i t h o u t a h i g h o p i n i o n of
himself to accept t h e circle of friends t h a t c h a n c e m a k e s for h i m , a n d t h a t
was the lawyer's way. H i s friends w e r e m e n o f his o w n b l o o d , o r those
w h o m h e h a d k n o w n t h e longest. N o d o u b t this w a s t h e tie b e t w e e n h i m
a n d M r R i c h a r d E n f i e l d , t h e w e l l - k n o w n m a n o f fashion a n d his d i s t a n t
cousin. M a n y people could n o t u n d e r s t a n d w h a t these t w o c o u l d see i n
each other, or w h a t subject they could find in c o m m o n . It w a s r e p o r t e d
b y those w h o m e t t h e m o n their S u n d a y w a l k s t h a t they said n o t h i n g ,

looked extremely bored, a n d would greet with obvious relief the
a p p e a r a n c e of a friend. B u t t h e t w o m e n r e g a r d e d these w a l k s t o g e t h e r as
t h e h i g h p o i n t o f e a c h w e e k , a n d n o t o n l y g a v e u p o t h e r pleasures but
even left t h e calls of business so t h a t they could enjoy their w a l k s w i t h o u t
interruption.
It h a p p e n e d o n e S u n d a y t h a t their w a y led t h e m d o w n a side street in
a busy p a r t o f L o n d o n . T h e street w a s small a n d q u i e t , b u t o n w e e k d a y s
it d i d a busy t r a d e . T h e s h o p k e e p e r s w e r e all d o i n g well, it s e e m e d , and
all h o p i n g t o d o b e t t e r still, a n d they w e r e s p e n d i n g p a r t o f t h e i r g a i n s o n
m a k i n g t h e m s e l v e s look m o r e a t t r a c t i v e . S o t h e s h o p f r o n t s stood there
w i t h a n air o f i n v i t a t i o n , l i k e r o w s o f s m i l i n g s a l e s w o m e n . E v e n o n
S u n d a y , w h e n it w a s fairly e m p t y , t h e street s h o n e o u t in c o m p a r i s o n with
its n e i g h b o u r h o o d , l i k e a fire in a forest; w i t h its freshly painted
w o o d w o r k , its w e l l - p o l i s h e d d o o r h a n d l e s , a n d its g e n e r a l cleanliness and
cheerfulness, i t i m m e d i a t e l y c a u g h t a n d pleased t h e eye o f t h o s e w h o
passed t h a t way.
T w o d o o r s f r o m o n e c o r n e r , o n t h e left side g o i n g east, t h e line was
b r o k e n by t h e e n t r a n c e to a y a r d , a n d just at t h a t p o i n t stood a large, ugly
building. It showed no windows, nothing but a door on the lower floor
a n d t h e b l i n d face of a d i r t y wall on t h e u p p e r o n e ; its w h o l e appearance
b o r e t h e m a r k s o f l o n g neglect. T h e door, w h i c h w a s f i t t e d w i t h neither
bell n o r k n o c k e r , h a d n o t seen fresh p a i n t for m a n y years. B e g g a r s leaned
carelessly a g a i n s t i t a n d s t r u c k m a t c h e s on it; c h i l d r e n k e p t s h o p on its
steps; schoolboys t r i e d t h e i r k n i v e s on its w o o d e n f r a m e ; a n d for more
t h a n t w e n t y y e a r s n o o n e h a d t r o u b l e d t o d r i v e s u c h visitors a w a y o r t o
repair their d a m a g e .
M r E n f i e l d a n d t h e l a w y e r w e r e o n t h e o t h e r side o f t h e street. W h e n
they c a m e opposite this b u i l d i n g , Mr Enfield lifted his stick a n d pointed.
" H a v e y o u e v e r n o t i c e d t h a t d o o r ? " h e a s k e d , a n d w h e n his
c o m p a n i o n a g r e e d t h a t h e h a d h e a d d e d : "It's c o n n e c t e d i n m y m i n d with
a very s t r a n g e story."
"Really!" said Mr U t t e r s o n , w i t h a slight c h a n g e of voice. " A n d w h a t
was t h a t ? "
"Well, i t w a s like this," replied M r Enfield. " I w a s c o m i n g h o m e from
some distant place, at a b o u t t h r e e o'clock on a black w i n t e r m o r n i n g , a n d
my way lay t h r o u g h a p a r t of L o n d o n w h e r e t h e r e w a s n o t h i n g to be seen
but l a m p s . Street after street w i t h all t h e people asleep, street after street
all lit up a n d all as e m p t y as a c h u r c h , u n t i l at last I g o t i n t o t h a t state of
m i n d in w h i c h a m a n listens a n d listens a n d begins to p r a y for t h e sight
of a policeman. S u d d e n l y , I s a w t w o figures: a little m a n w h o w a s
w a l k i n g q u i c k l y a h e a d o f m e , a n d a girl o f e i g h t o r ten w h o w a s r u n n i n g
as h a r d as she c o u l d d o w n a side street. W e l l , sir, t h e t w o r a n i n t o each
other at the corner, a n d t h e n c a m e t h e h o r r i b l e p a r t of it; t h e m a n s t e p p e d
calmly o n the child's b o d y a n d left h e r c r y i n g w i t h p a i n a n d s h o c k o n t h e
ground.
"It doesn't s o u n d very serious, b u t it w a s terrible to see. He w a s n ' t like
a m a n — he w a s like s o m e pitiless g r e a t m a c h i n e . I cried o u t a n d r a n after
h i m a n d c a u g h t h i m , a n d I b r o u g h t h i m b a c k t o t h e place w h e r e t h e r e
was already q u i t e a g r o u p r o u n d t h e u n h a p p y child. H e w a s perfectly
relaxed a n d p u t u p n o f i g h t , b u t h e g a v e m e o n e look, s o ugly t h a t i t m a d e
m e t r e m b l e . T h e people w h o h a d c o m e o u t into t h e street w e r e t h e girl's
o w n family, a n d soon t h e doctor, for w h o m t h e little girl h a d been sent,
appeared.
"Well, t h e child w a s n ' t b a d l y i n j u r e d ; she w a s m o r e f r i g h t e n e d t h a n
hurt, according t o t h e doctor. You m i g h t h a v e s u p p o s e d t h a t t h a t w o u l d
be the e n d of t h e m a t t e r , b u t t h e r e w a s o n e s t r a n g e t h i n g a b o u t it. I h a d
been f i l l e d w i t h violent h a t r e d o f t h e m a n a t f i r s t sight. S o h a d t h e child's
family, w h i c h w a s only n a t u r a l . W h a t s t r u c k m e w a s his effect o n t h e
doctor, w h o w a s a very o r d i n a r y m a n , s p e a k i n g E n g l i s h like a S c o t s m a n
and extremely u n e m o t i o n a l . W e l l , sir, he w a s like t h e rest of us. E v e r y
time h e looked a t m y prisoner, t h a t d o c t o r t u r n e d sick a n d w h i t e w i t h t h e
desire to kill h i m . I k n e w w h a t w a s in his m i n d , just as h e k n e w w h a t was

i n m i n e ; a s k i l l i n g w a s i m p o s s i b l e , w e d i d t h e n e x t best t h i n g . W e told the
m a n w e c o u l d a n d w o u l d m a k e such a story o f this t h a t his n a m e w o u l d
f i l l e v e r y o n e w i t h d i s g u s t f r o m o n e e n d o f L o n d o n t o t h e other. I f h e had
any friends o r respectability, w e p r o m i s e d t h a t h e w o u l d lose t h e m . A n d
all t h e t i m e , a s w e w e r e t h r e a t e n i n g h i m , w e w e r e d o i n g o u r best t o k e e p
t h e w o m e n off h i m , because they w e r e as w i l d as she-devils.
" I ' d n e v e r seen faces f i l l e d w i t h such w i l d h a t e . A n d m y m a n was
t h e r e in t h e m i d d l e , w i t h a cold scornful look on his face. I could see that
he w a s f r i g h t e n e d too; b u t he s p o k e to us, sir, like t h e devil himself.
" 'If you choose to t a k e a d v a n t a g e of this accident,' said h e , 'of course
I ' m helpless. L i k e any g e n t l e m a n , I prefer to avoid a scene. Please state
your figure.'
" W e l l , we forced h i m to pay o u t a h u n d r e d p o u n d s to t h e child's
family. H e w o u l d clearly h a v e l i k e d t o refuse. B u t h e c o u l d see t h e r e was
s o m e t h i n g d a n g e r o u s i n o u r a n g e r , s o a t last h e a g r e e d . T h e n e x t t h i n g
w a s t o get t h e m o n e y . A n d w h e r e d o you t h i n k h e t o o k us? T o t h a t door!
He p u l l e d a key o u t of his p o c k e t , w e n t in, a n d soon c a m e b a c k w i t h ten
p o u n d s in gold a n d a c h e q u e for t h e rest. T h e c h e q u e w a s payable to 'the
b e a r e r ' at C o u t t s ' s B a n k , a n d it w a s signed w i t h a n a m e t h a t I can't
m e n t i o n , t h o u g h it's o n e of t h e p o i n t s of my story, a very w e l l - k n o w n
n a m e . T h e f i g u r e w a s h i g h , b u t t h e s i g n a t u r e , i f i t w a s real, w o u l d have
b e e n good e n o u g h for m u c h m o r e .
"I p o i n t e d o u t to h i m t h a t a m a n d o e s n ' t usually w a l k i n t o a h o u s e at
four i n t h e m o r n i n g a n d c o m e o u t w i t h a n o t h e r m a n ' s c h e q u e for ninety
pounds. But he wasn't worried.
" ' T o set y o u r m i n d at rest,' he said scornfully. 'I'll stay w i t h you until
t h e b a n k o p e n s a n d p r e s e n t t h e c h e q u e myself.' So we all set off — the
doctor, t h e child's father, this m a n a n d myself — a n d we passed t h e rest
o f t h e n i g h t a t m y h o u s e . N e x t day, after breakfast, we w e n t t o g e t h e r t o
t h e b a n k . I h a n d e d t h e c h e q u e in myself, a n d said I h a d every reason to
believe t h a t t h e s i g n a t u r e w a s false. B u t it w a s n ' t . It w a s perfectly g o o d . "

"Well, w e l l ! " said M r U t t e r s o n .
"I see you feel as I d o , " said Mr Enfield. "Yes, it's a nasty story. My m a n
was s o m e o n e w h o n o b o d y w o u l d w a n t t o h a v e d e a l i n g s w i t h , a really
unpleasant m a n ; a n d t h e p e r s o n w h o w r o t e t h e c h e q u e i s a n e x t r e m e l y
respectable g e n t l e m a n , a n d ( w h a t m a k e s it worse) he is o n e of those w h o
really does do g o o d in t h e w o r l d . I s u p p o s e it's a case of b l a c k m a i l ; an
honest m a n is h a v i n g to pay heavily for s o m e t h i n g s t u p i d he d i d in his
youth. But even t h a t , y o u k n o w , i s far f r o m e x p l a i n i n g e v e r y t h i n g . " A n d
with these w o r d s he fell i n t o a t h o u g h t f u l silence.
I t was b r o k e n b y M r U t t e r s o n , a s k i n g r a t h e r s u d d e n l y : " Y o u d o n ' t
k n o w w h e t h e r t h e m a n w h o w r o t e t h e c h e q u e lives t h e r e ? "
"A likely place, isn't i t ? " replied Mr Enfield. " B u t I h a p p e n to h a v e
noticed his a d d r e s s . It w a s in s o m e s q u a r e or other, n o t in a street."
" A n d you n e v e r a s k e d a b o u t t h a t place w i t h t h e d o o r ? "
" N o , sir, I d i d n ' t like t o , " w a s t h e reply. "I feel very strongly a b o u t
p u t t i n g q u e s t i o n s . You start o n e , a n d it's like s t a r t i n g to roll a stone. You
sit quietly on t h e t o p of a hill, a n d a w a y t h e stone goes, s t a r t i n g o t h e r s ; a n d
soon some k i n d - l o o k i n g old m a n (the last p e r s o n you w o u l d h a v e
suspected of any c r i m e ) is k n o c k e d on t h e h e a d in his o w n b a c k g a r d e n ,
and the family h a v e to c h a n g e t h e i r n a m e . N o , sir, I m a k e it a rule; the
stranger a n y t h i n g looks, the less I ask."
"A very g o o d rule, t o o , " said t h e lawyer.
"But I've s t u d i e d t h e place for myself," c o n t i n u e d Mr E n f i e l d . "It
hardly seems like a h o u s e . T h e r e ' s no o t h e r door, a n d n o b o d y goes in or
out of that one except, very occasionally, t h e g e n t l e m a n I m e t t h a t n i g h t .
T h e r e are t h r e e w i n d o w s o n t h e u p p e r floor, a b o v e t h e y a r d , t h o u g h n o n e
below; a n d those w i n d o w s a r e a l w a y s s h u t , b u t t h e y ' r e clean. A n d there's
a chimney, w h i c h is generally s m o k i n g , so s o m e b o d y m u s t live t h e r e . B u t
I'm not quite sure, as the b u i l d i n g s a r e so p a c k e d t o g e t h e r t h a t it's h a r d to
say w h e r e one e n d s a n d a n o t h e r b e g i n s . "
T h e y w a l k e d o n t o g e t h e r for s o m e t i m e i n silence, u n t i l M r Utterson

said: " E n f i e l d , that's a g o o d r u l e of y o u r s . "
"Yes, I t h i n k it is," replied Enfield.
" B u t in spite of t h a t , " c o n t i n u e d t h e lawyer, "there's o n e q u e s t i o n I
w a n t t o ask. I w a n t t o ask t h e n a m e o f t h a t m a n w h o s t e p p e d o n the
child."
" W e l l , " said Mr E n f i e l d , "I c a n ' t see w h a t h a r m it could do if I told
you. It w a s a m a n called H y d e . "
" O h , " said M r U t t e r s o n . " A n d w h a t d i d h e look l i k e ? "
" H e isn't easy t o d e s c r i b e . T h e r e ' s s o m e t h i n g w r o n g w i t h his
a p p e a r a n c e , s o m e t h i n g u n p l e a s a n t , s o m e t h i n g terrible. H e ' s t h e nastiest
m a n I ever saw, b u t I c a n ' t really say w h y . T h e r e m u s t be something
w r o n g w i t h t h e s h a p e of his body, that's w h a t I feel, t h o u g h I can't explain
my feeling. H e ' s a very u n u s u a l - l o o k i n g m a n , b u t I c a n ' t describe him.
A n d that's n o t for lack of m e m o r y — I can see h i m clearly in my m i n d at
this m o m e n t . "
Mr U t t e r s o n a g a i n w a l k e d s o m e w a y in silence, a n d plainly in deep
thought.
" Y o u ' r e sure he used a k e y ? " he i n q u i r e d at last.
" M y d e a r sir .. ." b e g a n Mr Enfield, too s u r p r i s e d to say m o r e .
"Yes, I k n o w , " said Mr U t t e r s o n . " M y q u e s t i o n m u s t seem strange.
A n d if I don't ask you the n a m e of the m a n w h o wrote the cheque, it is
because I k n o w it already. You see, R i c h a r d , y o u r story concerns me
closely. If y o u ' v e b e e n inexact on any p o i n t , y o u ' d better correct it."
" I t h i n k y o u s h o u l d h a v e w a r n e d m e , " his cousin replied, sounding
r a t h e r offended. " B u t I've been perfectly exact. T h e m a n h a d a key, and
if you w a n t to k n o w , he still has it. I saw h i m use it less t h a n a w e e k ago."
Mr U t t e r s o n let o u t a l o n g b r e a t h b u t said n o t h i n g , a n d Mr Enfield
soon w e n t on: "I've l e a r n t a n o t h e r lesson. I s h o u l d n ' t h a v e s p o k e n . N o w
I ' m a s h a m e d of my overactive t o n g u e . Let's m a k e a p r o m i s e , never to
m e n t i o n this m a t t e r a g a i n . "
The Search for Mr Hyde
" W i t h all m y h e a r t , " said t h e lawyer. "I'll s h a k e h a n d s w i t h y o u o n

that, R i c h a r d . "
T h a t e v e n i n g M r U t t e r s o n c a m e h o m e i n l o w spirits, a n d sat d o w n t o
dinner w i t h o u t any desire for food. He h a d no family, a n d it w a s his
custom on S u n d a y s , w h e n this m e a l w a s over, to sit by t h e fire w i t h a
religious book until t h e clock o n t h e n e i g h b o u r i n g c h u r c h s t r u c k t w e l v e ,
and then he w o u l d go q u i e t l y a n d gratefully to b e d . B u t on this n i g h t , as
soon as he h a d finished his d i n n e r , he t o o k a c a n d l e a n d w e n t to his study.
T h e r e he o p e n e d his safe a n d f r o m a l o c k e d d r a w e r in t h e safe he t o o k o u t
a n envelope w i t h " D r Jekyll's W i l l " w r i t t e n o n it. T h e n h e sat d o w n w i t h
an anxious face to s t u d y t h e d o c u m e n t .
I t was i n D r Jekyll's o w n h a n d w r i t i n g ; M r U t t e r s o n , t h o u g h h e t o o k
charge of it w h e n it h a d b e e n m a d e , h a d refused to give any h e l p in
m a k i n g it. It said t h a t , in t h e case of t h e d e a t h of H e n r y Jekyll, M . D . ,
D.C.L., F.R.S., etc., all his possessions w e r e to pass into t h e h a n d s of his
"friend E d w a r d H y d e " . B u t t h a t w a s n o t all. I n t h e case o f D r Jekyll's
"disappearance o r absence for a n y p e r i o d o f m o r e t h a n t h r e e m o n t h s " , t h e
same E d w a r d H y d e s h o u l d t a k e his place w i t h o u t delay, just as if he h a d
died, and w i t h o u t any d u t i e s except t h a t o f p a y i n g certain a m o u n t s t o t h e
people w o r k i n g i n t h e doctor's h o u s e . T h i s will h a d always offended the
lawyer's professional feelings. U p t o n o w h e h a d been a n n o y e d because h e
k n e w too little o f M r H y d e . N o w , b y a s u d d e n t u r n o f e v e n t s , h e k n e w too
m u c h . I t was bad e n o u g h w h e n t h e n a m e w a s only a n a m e a b o u t w h i c h
h e could learn n o m o r e . I t w a s w o r s e w h e n t h a t n a m e b e g a n t o b e c l o t h e d
w i t h hateful qualities, a n d , o u t of the mists t h a t h a d s u r r o u n d e d it for so

l o n g , t h e r e s u d d e n l y a p p e a r e d t h e figure of a devil.
"I t h o u g h t it w a s m a d n e s s , " he said to himself, as he replaced t h e will
in t h e safe, " a n d n o w I b e g i n to fear t h a t it is s h a m e a n d d i s h o n o u r . "
W i t h t h a t he b l e w o u t his c a n d l e , p u t on a coat, a n d set o u t in the
d i r e c t i o n o f C a v e n d i s h S q u a r e , w h e r e his friend, t h e g r e a t D r L a n y o n ,
lived.
" L a n y o n will k n o w a b o u t this, i f a n y o n e d o e s , " h e t h o u g h t .
T h e old b u t l e r k n e w a n d w e l c o m e d h i m . H e w a s led straight into the
d i n i n g r o o m , w h e r e D r L a n y o n sat a l o n e over his w i n e . A t t h e sight o f
M r U t t e r s o n h e g o t u p f r o m his c h a i r a n d w e l c o m e d h i m w i t h both
h a n d s . F o r these t w o w e r e old friends w h o h a d been a t school a n d college
t o g e t h e r ; they n o t only held each o t h e r in g r e a t respect b u t also
t h o r o u g h l y enjoyed each o t h e r ' s c o m p a n y .
After a s h o r t discussion of o t h e r m a t t e r s , t h e l a w y e r b r o u g h t up the
subject t h a t w a s t r o u b l i n g h i m .
"I s u p p o s e , L a n y o n , " he said, "you a n d I m u s t be t h e oldest friends
t h a t H e n r y Jekyll h a s ? "
" I w i s h w e w e r e y o u n g e r friends," D r L a n y o n replied w i t h a laugh.
" B u t I s u p p o s e y o u ' r e r i g h t . A n y w a y , it m a k e s no difference, I rarely see
h i m these d a y s . "
" R e a l l y ! " r e p l i e d M r U t t e r s o n . " I t h o u g h t t h a t a s d o c t o r s y o u had
c o m m o n interests."
" W e h a d , " w a s t h e reply. " B u t it's m o r e t h a n ten years since H e n r y
Jekyll b e c a m e too fanciful for m e . H e b e g a n t o g o w r o n g , w r o n g i n his
ideas; a n d t h o u g h of c o u r s e I still t a k e an interest in h i m because of the
past I h a r d l y see h i m at all. S u c h unscientific n o n s e n s e , " a d d e d t h e doctor,
t u r n i n g s u d d e n l y p u r p l e w i t h a n g e r a t t h e m e m o r y o f it, " w o u l d have
s e p a r a t e d even s u c h friends a s D a v i d a n d J o n a t h a n . "
T h i s little s h o w of t e m p e r w a s a relief to Mr U t t e r s o n .
" T h e y ' v e only q u a r r e l l e d o n s o m e scientific p o i n t , " h e t h o u g h t . "It's
n o t h i n g w o r s e t h a n t h a t . " H e g a v e his friend a few s e c o n d s t o recover a n d

then asked t h e q u e s t i o n t h a t h a d b r o u g h t h i m t h e r e .
" D i d you ever c o m e across a friend of his, called H y d e ? " he a s k e d .
" H y d e ? " r e p e a t e d D r L a n y o n . " N o , I've n e v e r h e a r d o f h i m . H e m u s t
be a n e w friend."
T h a t w a s all t h e i n f o r m a t i o n t h a t t h e l a w y e r c a r r i e d b a c k w i t h h i m t o
the great d a r k bed w h e r e h e lay restless a n d a w a k e until d a y l i g h t c a m e .
W h e n t h e c h u r c h clock s t r u c k six h e w a s still a w a k e , a n d h e h a d c o m e n o
nearer to solving his p r o b l e m .
F r o m t h e n o n , M r U t t e r s o n b e g a n t o w a t c h t h a t d o o r i n t h e side street.
Before office h o u r s in t h e m o r n i n g , at m i d d a y w h e n business w a s heavy
and t i m e w a s short, at n i g h t i n t h e city fog or u n d e r t h e m o o n , by all lights
and at all h o u r s t h e l a w y e r w a s at his c h o s e n post.
A n d at last his patience w a s r e w a r d e d .
It was a fine d r y n i g h t , t h e air w a s cold, t h e streets w e r e as clean as a
b a t h r o o m floor, a n d t h e gas l a m p s , u n s h a k e n b y a n y w i n d , d r e w a r e g u l a r
pattern of light a n d s h a d o w . By ten o'clock, w h e n t h e last shops w e r e
closed, the street w a s silent. S m a l l s o u n d s travelled a l o n g way, a n d t h e
footsteps of any p e r s o n c o m i n g in his d i r e c t i o n r e a c h e d Mr U t t e r s o n ' s ear
long before t h e p e r s o n c o u l d be seen.
He had been s t a n d i n g t h e r e for s o m e m i n u t e s w h e n he h e a r d a

strange, light footstep c o m i n g t o w a r d s h i m . In t h e course of his nightly
watches he h a d g r o w n used to t h e s t r a n g e w a y in w h i c h t h e footsteps of a
single person, w h i l e he is still a l o n g w a y off, a r e s u d d e n l y so l o u d a n d so
clear. But his attention h a d never before b e e n so sharply attracted. W i t h a
mysterious feeling t h a t his efforts w e r e a b o u t to succeed, he stepped back
into the entrance to t h e yard.
T h e steps c a m e r a p i d l y n e a r e r , a n d g r e w s u d d e n l y e v e n l o u d e r a s t h e y
turned the corner of the street. T h e lawyer, l o o k i n g o u t from t h e
shadows, could see t h e sort o f p e r s o n t h a t h e h a d t o deal w i t h . H e w a s
small and very plainly d r e s s e d , a n d t h e l o o k o f h i m , even at t h a t d i s t a n c e ,
s o m e h o w f i l l e d t h e w a t c h i n g l a w y e r w i t h disgust. N o w t h e m a n was
crossing t h e r o a d , t o w a r d s t h e d o o r ; a n d as he crossed he pulled a key
f r o m his p o c k e t , l i k e s o m e o n e r e t u r n i n g h o m e .
M r U t t e r s o n s t e p p e d o u t into t h e l a m p l i g h t a n d t o u c h e d h i m o n the
s h o u l d e r as he passed.
"Mr Hyde, I think?"
M r H y d e j u m p e d w i t h s u r p r i s e a n d b r e a t h e d i n sharply. B u t his fear
passed in a m o m e n t a n d , t h o u g h he d i d n o t look t h e l a w y e r in t h e face, he
a n s w e r e d : " T h a t i s m y n a m e . W h a t d o you w a n t ? "
"I see t h a t y o u ' r e g o i n g in," replied t h e lawyer. " I ' m an old friend of
D r Jekyll's, M r U t t e r s o n o f G a u n t Street. You m u s t h a v e h e a r d m y n a m e ,
a n d m e e t i n g y o u s o c o n v e n i e n t l y I t h o u g h t you m i g h t let m e in."
" Y o u w o n ' t f i n d D r Jekyll," replied M r H y d e . " H e isn't a t h o m e . "
A n d t h e n s u d d e n l y , b u t still w i t h o u t l o o k i n g u p , h e a s k e d : " H o w d i d you
know me?"
"I'll a n s w e r t h a t i f you'll d o s o m e t h i n g for m e , " said M r U t t e r s o n .
" W i t h p l e a s u r e . W h a t shall i t b e ? "
" W i l l y o u let m e see y o u r face?" t h e l a w y e r a s k e d .
M r H y d e s e e m e d t o p a u s e , t h e n h e s u d d e n l y m a d e u p his m i n d and
t u r n e d confidently t o w a r d s his q u e s t i o n e r . F o r a few seconds t h e two
m e n l o o k e d closely a t each o t h e r .
" N o w I shall k n o w you w h e n w e m e e t a g a i n , " said M r U t t e r s o n . "It
m a y be useful."
"Yes," Mr H y d e a g r e e d , "it w a s necessary for us to m e e t . Y o u ' d better
h a v e my a d d r e s s as w e l l . " A n d he g a v e t h e n u m b e r of a h o u s e in a street
in S o h o .
" G o o d G o d ! " t h o u g h t M r U t t e r s o n . "Is h e , too, t h i n k i n g a b o u t the
w i l l ? " B u t he k e p t his feelings to himself.
" A n d n o w , " said M r H y d e , "tell m e h o w you k n e w m e . "
"By d e s c r i p t i o n . "
"Whose description?"
" W e h a v e c o m m o n friends," said M r U t t e r s o n .

" C o m m o n f r i e n d s ! " said M r H y d e . " A n d w h o a r e t h e y ? "
"Jekyll, for e x a m p l e , " said t h e lawyer.
" H e never told y o u , " cried M r H y d e , w i t h a b u r s t o f a n g e r . " I d i d n ' t
think you w o u l d lie to m e . "
" C o m e , sir," said M r U t t e r s o n , " t h a t i s n o t p r o p e r l a n g u a g e . "
M r H y d e g a v e a scornful l a u g h , a n d i n t h e n e x t m o m e n t , w i t h
unbelievable speed, h e h a d u n l o c k e d t h e d o o r a n d d i s a p p e a r e d into t h e
house.
T h e lawyer stood w h e r e M r H y d e h a d left h i m , l o o k i n g a n x i o u s a n d
confused. T h e n h e w e n t slowly u p t h e street, p a u s i n g every step o r t w o t o
think things through. A s E n f i e l d h a d said, t h e r e w a s s o m e t h i n g
u n n a t u r a l a b o u t the m a n ' s body. H e h a d a n ugly smile. H e h a d t r e a t e d
the lawyer w i t h a m u r d e r o u s m i x t u r e o f fear a n d confidence. He s p o k e
in a strange, r o u g h voice. All these w e r e p o i n t s a g a i n s t h i m , b u t t h e y
could not explain t h e disgust a n d fear w i t h w h i c h M r U t t e r s o n r e g a r d e d
him.
" T h e r e m u s t be s o m e t h i n g else," he said to himself. " T h e r e is

something, b u t I can't find a n a m e for it. G o d save m e , t h e m a n seems
hardly h u m a n ! O r i s it o n l y a n evil soul t h a t poisons a n d twists his w h o l e
appearance? I t m u s t b e t h a t , I t h i n k . O h , my p o o r old H a r r y Jekyll, I've
never read the devil's h a n d w r i t i n g m o r e clearly on a n y m a n ' s face t h a n on
that of your n e w friend."
R o u n d the c o r n e r t h e r e w a s a s q u a r e o f g r a n d a n d a n c i e n t houses,
most of w h i c h h a d lost t h e i r h o n o u r e d place in society a n d w e r e let as
rooms or offices to all sorts of p e o p l e . B u t o n e h o u s e , t h e s e c o n d f r o m t h e
corner, was still occupied by a single o w n e r a n d h a d an a p p e a r a n c e of
wealth a n d comfort. I t n o w s h o w e d n o light except ov e r t h e front d o o r a t
which Mr U t t e r s o n s t o p p e d a n d k n o c k e d . A w e l l - d r e s s e d old b u t l e r
opened the door.
"Is D r Jekyll a t h o m e , P o o l e ? " a s k e d t h e lawyer.

"I will see, Mr U t t e r s o n , " said P o o l e , a d m i t t i n g t h e visitor to a large,

c o m f o r t a b l e hall full of v a l u a b l e old f u r n i t u r e , w h i c h w a s w a r m e d (as in
a g e n t l e m a n ' s c o u n t r y house) by a b r i g h t w o o d fire.
" W i l l y o u w a i t h e r e by t h e fire, sir? Or shall I give you a light in the
dining room?"
" H e r e , t h a n k y o u , " said t h e lawyer, a n d h e w e n t t o w a r m himself b y
the fire.
T h i s hall, in w h i c h he w a s n o w left a l o n e , w a s a special fancy of his
friend t h e doctor, a n d U t t e r s o n h i m s e l f used to speak of it as the
pleasantest r o o m in L o n d o n . B u t t o n i g h t t h e r e w a s a coldness in his
b l o o d , t h e face of H y d e w a s still fresh in his m e m o r y , a n d he felt (as he
rarely d i d ) a sick distaste for life. In these l o w spirits he s e e m e d to feel a
t h r e a t o f d a n g e r i n t h e d a n c i n g o f t h e firelight on the polished furniture,
a n d i n t h e s h a d o w s t h a t m o v e d restlessly across t h e ceiling. H e was
a s h a m e d o f his relief w h e n P o o l e r e t u r n e d t o a n n o u n c e t h a t D r Jekyll
had gone out.
"I s a w Mr H y d e go in by t h e old l a b o r a t o r y door, Poole. Is t h a t right,
w h e n D r Jekyll i s n o t a t h o m e ? " h e a s k e d .
"It's q u i t e right, Mr U t t e r s o n , sir," replied t h e butler. " M r H y d e has a
key."
" Y o u r m a s t e r seems to place a g r e a t deal of t r u s t in t h a t g e n t l e m a n . "
"Yes, sir, he does. We all h a v e o r d e r s to obey h i m . "
" I d o n ' t t h i n k I've ever m e t M r H y d e h e r e , h a v e I ? " U t t e r s o n asked.
" O h n o , sir. He n e v e r eats h e r e , " replied Poole. " I n fact, we rarely see
h i m i n this p a r t o f t h e h o u s e . H e mostly c o m e s a n d goes b y t h e laboratory
door."
"Well, good night, Poole."
"Good night, Mr Utterson."
A n d t h e l a w y e r set o u t for h o m e w i t h a very heavy h e a r t .
" P o o r H a r r y Jekyll," h e w a s t h i n k i n g , " I ' m afraid he's i n serious
t r o u b l e ! H e w a s w i l d w h e n h e w a s y o u n g . O f c o u r s e , t h a t w a s a l o n g time
ago, b u t in G o d ' s l a w t i m e does n o t m a k e a p e r s o n less guilty. Yes, it m u s t

be that: s o m e old offence, s o m e h i d d e n s h a m e t h a t is e a t i n g a w a y his life
like a deadly disease. A n d p u n i s h m e n t has c o m e , slowly b u t surely, years
after m e m o r y has f o r g o t t e n t h e fault a n d self-love has excused it."
F r i g h t e n e d b y t h a t t h o u g h t , h e b e g a n t o w o r r y a b o u t h i s o w n past,
and searched all t h e c o r n e r s of his m e m o r y for any w r o n g d o i n g t h a t
m i g h t s u d d e n l y c o m e t o light. H i s past w a s fairly blameless; few m e n
could read t h e record of their lives w i t h less fear. B u t he w a s a s h a m e d of
the many m i s t a k e s h e h a d m a d e a n d grateful for the m e m o r y o f o t h e r
mistakes t h a t h e h a d a l m o s t m a d e b u t h a d a v o i d e d . T h e n his m i n d w e n t
back to Jekyll's t r o u b l e , a n d a light of h o p e s u d d e n l y s h o n e t h r o u g h t h e
darkness of his t h o u g h t s .
"If someone l o o k e d into t h e past of this Mr H y d e , " he said to himself,
"they w o u l d surely find t h a t he has secrets of his o w n . D a r k secrets.
Secrets that w o u l d m a k e p o o r Jekyll's w o r s t ones seem c o m p l e t e l y
u n i m p o r t a n t i n c o m p a r i s o n . T h i n g s c a n n o t c o n t i n u e a s they a r e . I t m a k e s
m y blood g o cold t o t h i n k o f this m a n m o v i n g q u i e t l y r o u n d H a r r y ' s
house like a thief. A n d t h i n k o f t h e d a n g e r o f it! I f this H y d e k n o w s
anything a t all a b o u t t h e will, h e m a y g r o w i m p a t i e n t t o g e t a t H a r r y ' s
money a n d property. Yes, I m u s t m a k e every effort to d e s t r o y this m a n , if
Harry will let me — if H a r r y will only let m e , " he a d d e d , as he s a w a g a i n
in his m i n d , as clearly as in a m i r r o r , t h e s t r a n g e details of his friend's will.
Dr Jekyll
T w o w e e k s later, by excellent g o o d f o r t u n e , t h e d o c t o r g a v e o n e of his

pleasantest d i n n e r s to five or six old friends, a n d Mr U t t e r s o n m a n a g e d
t o r e m a i n b e h i n d after t h e o t h e r s h a d g o n e h o m e . T h i s w a s n o new
a r r a n g e m e n t ; i t h a d often h a p p e n e d before. W h e r e U t t e r s o n w a s liked,
h e w a s l i k e d very m u c h . T h o s e w h o invited h i m loved t o k e e p t h e serious
l a w y e r a little longer, w h e n t h e i r l i g h t - h e a r t e d a n d l o o s e - t o n g u e d guests
w e r e r e a d y t o leave. Dr Jekyll a l w a y s followed this c u s t o m . As he n o w sat
on t h e o p p o s i t e side of t h e fire, a large, well-built, s m o o t h - f a c e d m a n of
fifty, s o m e t i m e s l o o k i n g a little t o o clever p e r h a p s , b u t t h o r o u g h l y kind
a n d able, you could see by his looks t h a t he w a s sincerely fond of Mr
Utterson.
"I've b e e n w a n t i n g to s p e a k to you, Jekyll," t h e l a w y e r b e g a n . "You

r e m e m b e r t h a t will o f y o u r s ? "
S o m e o n e w a t c h i n g t h e d o c t o r closely m i g h t h a v e noticed that he

f o u n d t h e subject r a t h e r u n p l e a s a n t , b u t h e a n s w e r e d q u i t e cheerfully.
" M y p o o r U t t e r s o n , " said h e , " y o u ' r e u n f o r t u n a t e i n h a v i n g t o advise
a m a n like m e . I n e v e r s a w a n y o n e so upset as you w e r e by my will."
"You k n o w I n e v e r a p p r o v e d of it, d o n ' t y o u ? "
"Yes, certainly. I k n o w t h a t , " t h e d o c t o r replied, a little sharply.
" Y o u ' v e told me so several t i m e s . "
" W e l l , I'll tell you so a g a i n , " c o n t i n u e d t h e lawyer. "I've been learning
s o m e t h i n g a b o u t y o u r friend H y d e . "
Dr Jekyll's big h e a l t h y face t u r n e d pale a n d an a n g r y look c a m e into
his eyes. "I d o n ' t w a n t to h e a r any m o r e , " said he. "I t h o u g h t w e ' d agreed
t o d r o p this m a t t e r . "
" W h a t I h e a r d w a s s h a m e f u l , " said U t t e r s o n .
"It can m a k e n o difference. You d o n ' t u n d e r s t a n d m y position," the
Dr Jekyll
doctor replied, w i t h a certain confusion of m a n n e r . " I ' m in a delicate

situation, U t t e r s o n , a very s t r a n g e s i t u a t i o n . It's o n e of t h o s e p r o b l e m s
that cannot be solved by t a l k i n g . "
"Jekyll," said U t t e r s o n , "you k n o w m e . I ' m a m a n t h a t y o u c a n trust.
Tell me w h a t has h a p p e n e d , in confidence. I ' m sure I can h e l p y o u o u t of
your trouble."
"My dear U t t e r s o n , " said t h e doctor, "this is e x t r e m e l y k i n d of you,

and I can't find t h e w o r d s to express my t h a n k s . I w o u l d t r u s t y o u m o r e
than any m a n alive, even m o r e t h a n myself, if I c o u l d m a k e t h e choice.
But my trouble is n o t w h a t y o u i m a g i n e ; it isn't as b a d as t h a t . Just to p u t
your good h e a r t at rest, I'll tell you o n e t h i n g : I can be rid of Mr H y d e
whenever I choose. I p r o m i s e you t h a t . A n d I t h a n k you a g a i n a n d a g a i n
for your concern. B u t I'll just a d d o n e little w o r d , U t t e r s o n , a n d I ' m sure
you won't be offended. T h i s is a p r i v a t e m a t t e r , a n d I b e g you to let it
rest."
Utterson c o n s i d e r e d this a little, l o o k i n g into t h e fire.

"I've no d o u b t y o u ' r e perfectly r i g h t , " he said at last, g e t t i n g to his feet.
"Good. But since w e ' v e t o u c h e d on this business, for t h e last t i m e I
hope," c o n t i n u e d t h e doctor, "there's o n e p o i n t I s h o u l d like you to
understand. I really h a v e a very g r e a t interest in p o o r H y d e . I k n o w
you've seen h i m ; he told me so, a n d I fear he w a s r u d e to you. B u t I do
sincerely take a g r e a t interest in h i m . A n d if I ' m t a k e n away, U t t e r s o n , I
want you t o p r o m i s e m e t h a t you'll be p a t i e n t w i t h h i m a n d get his r i g h t s
for him. I t h i n k y o u ' d do t h a t if you k n e w e v e r y t h i n g . It w o u l d t a k e a
weight off my m i n d if you w o u l d p r o m i s e . "
"I can't p r e t e n d t h a t I shall ever like h i m , " said t h e lawyer.
"I don't ask t h a t , " b e g g e d Jekyll, l a y i n g his h a n d on his friend's a r m ,
"I only ask for justice. I only ask you to h e l p h i m w h e n I ' m no l o n g e r
here."
Utterson looked at h i m closely. "Very well," he said. "I p r o m i s e . "
The Carew Murder Case
N e a r l y a year later, o n e cold O c t o b e r m o r n i n g , L o n d o n w a s shocked by

an u n u s u a l l y h o r r i b l e c r i m e , a c r i m e t h a t a t t r a c t e d p a r t i c u l a r attention
because of t h e h i g h social position of t h e victim. T h e details w e r e few and
s u r p r i s i n g . A s e r v a n t girl, living a l o n e in a h o u s e n o t far from the river,
h a d g o n e u p s t a i r s to b e d at a b o u t eleven o'clock. A l t h o u g h a thick fog
rolled over t h e city before d a y b r e a k , t h e early p a r t of t h e n i g h t h a d been
cloudless, a n d t h e n a r r o w street b e l o w this girl's w i n d o w w a s brightly lit
by t h e full m o o n . B e i n g a fanciful girl, she sat d o w n by t h e w i n d o w and
fell i n t o a d r e a m . N e v e r (she used to say, w i t h s t r e a m i n g tears, w h e n she
d e s c r i b e d t h a t e x p e r i e n c e ) , n e v e r h a d she felt h a p p i e r or m o r e at peace.
As she sat t h e r e , she n o t i c e d a p l e a s a n t - l o o k i n g old g e n t l e m a n w i t h white
h a i r w h o w a s c o m i n g a l o n g t h e n a r r o w street; a n d w a l k i n g t o w a r d s him
t h e r e w a s a n o t h e r g e n t l e m a n , a very small one, of w h o m at first she took
less notice.
W h e n they m e t , just b e l o w t h e girl's w i n d o w , t h e o l d e r m a n greeted
t h e o t h e r very politely. It d i d n o t seem as if he h a d a n y t h i n g very
i m p o r t a n t to say; in fact he a p p e a r e d from his p o i n t i n g only to be asking
t h e w a y s o m e w h e r e . B u t t h e m o o n s h o n e o n his face a s h e s p o k e , a n d the
girl w a s h a p p y to w a t c h it. It s h o w e d such o l d - f a s h i o n e d k i n d n e s s , but
t h e r e w a s s o m e t h i n g finer in it too, a sort of c o n f i d e n t self-respect.
T h e n h e r eye w a n d e r e d t o t h e o t h e r g e n t l e m a n , a n d she w a s surprised
to recognise a certain Mr H y d e , w h o h a d once visited h e r employer. On
t h a t occasion she h a d t a k e n a n i m m e d i a t e dislike t o h i m . H e h a d i n his
h a n d a heavy w a l k i n g stick, w h i c h he w a s p l a y i n g w i t h i m p a t i e n t l y as he
listened to t h e old m a n . All of a s u d d e n , w i t h o u t a n s w e r i n g , he started
s h o u t i n g in a b u r s t of w i l d a n g e r , s t a m p i n g w i t h his foot, wildly waving
his stick, a n d b e h a v i n g (as t h e girl described it) like a m a d m a n . T h e old
gentleman t o o k a step b a c k , as if he w e r e very m u c h s u r p r i s e d a n d

perhaps r a t h e r offended, a n d a t t h a t M r H y d e c o m p l e t e l y lost his t e m p e r
and struck h i m t o t h e g r o u n d . T h e n e x t m o m e n t , h e w a s s t a m p i n g o n
him like a wild a n i m a l a n d r a i n i n g such violent b l o w s on t h e fallen b o d y
that the girl c o u l d h e a r t h e b o n e s c r a c k i n g . At t h e h o r r o r of these sights
and sounds she t h e n fainted.
It was t w o o'clock w h e n she r e c o v e r e d consciousness a n d called t h e
police. T h e m u r d e r e r h a d g o n e l o n g a g o , b u t t h e r e lay his victim i n t h e
street, indescribably b r o k e n a n d c r u s h e d . T h e stick w h i c h t h e m u r d e r e r
had used, a l t h o u g h it w a s m a d e of a r a r e a n d very h a r d w o o d , h a d b e e n
broken in t h e m i d d l e by this m a d cruelty; o n e h a l f lay by t h e body, t h e
other had doubtless b e e n carried a w a y b y t h e m u r d e r e r . S o m e m o n e y a n d
a gold watch w e r e f o u n d on t h e victim, b u t no c a r d s or p a p e r s except a
sealed and s t a m p e d e n v e l o p e t h a t h e h a d p r o b a b l y b e e n t a k i n g t o t h e
post. I t bore t h e n a m e a n d a d d r e s s o f M r U t t e r s o n .
This was b r o u g h t t o t h e l a w y e r t h e n e x t m o r n i n g before h e w a s o u t o f
bed. As soon as he s a w it a n d h e a r d a b o u t t h e s i t u a t i o n , he l o o k e d very
worried.
"I shall say n o t h i n g u n t i l I've seen t h e body," he told t h e p o l i c e m a n .
"This may be very serious. Please w a i t d o w n s t a i r s w h i l e I d r e s s . "
W i t h the s a m e a n x i o u s look o n his face, h e h u r r i e d t h r o u g h his
breakfast a n d d r o v e t o t h e police station w h e r e t h e b o d y h a d been t a k e n .
"Yes," he said, "I recognise h i m . I ' m sorry to say t h a t this is Sir
Danvers C a r e w . "
"Good G o d , sir!" said t h e police officer. "Is it possible?" T h e next
moment his eyes lit up w i t h professional interest. " T h i s affair will cause
a great deal of e x c i t e m e n t , " he said. " P e r h a p s you can h e l p us to find t h e
m u r d e r e r ? " A n d h e described w h a t t h e girl h a d seen, a n d p r o d u c e d t h e
broken stick.
Mr Utterson h a d a l r e a d y felt a n x i o u s at t h e m e n t i o n of t h e n a m e
Hyde. W h e n the stick w a s laid in front of h i m , he h a d no m o r e d o u b t s
a b o u t w h o h a d u s e d it, for he recognised it as o n e t h a t he h i m s e l f had

p r e s e n t e d m a n y years before t o H e n r y Jekyll.
"Is this M r H y d e a s h o r t p e r s o n ? " h e i n q u i r e d .
" P a r t i c u l a r l y small a n d p a r t i c u l a r l y evil-looking, that's w h a t t h e girl
told u s , " said t h e officer.
Mr U t t e r s o n c o n s i d e r e d this, a n d t h e n , raising his h e a d , said "If you'll
c o m e w i t h me in my c a r r i a g e , I t h i n k I can t a k e you to his h o u s e . "
A s t h e c a r r i a g e s t o p p e d i n front o f t h e S o h o a d d r e s s t h a t H y d e had
g i v e n h i m , t h e fog cleared a little a n d Mr U t t e r s o n l o o k e d a r o u n d . He
s a w a d u l l a n d d i r t y street, a beer s h o p , a c h e a p foreign r e s t a u r a n t , a
n u m b e r o f p o o r l y c l o t h e d c h i l d r e n t r e m b l i n g w i t h cold i n t h e doorways,
a n d w o m e n o f m a n y different nationalities m a k i n g their w a y t o t h e shop
for a m o r n i n g glass of beer. T h e n e x t m o m e n t t h e fog settled d o w n again
a n d c u t h i m off f r o m his evil s u r r o u n d i n g s . H e r e w a s t h e h o m e o f Henry
Jekyll's favourite, t h e m a n w h o w o u l d be a q u a r t e r of a m i l l i o n pounds
r i c h e r o n Jekyll's d e a t h .
A silver-haired old w o m a n o p e n e d t h e door. She h a d an evil face, but
h e r m a n n e r s w e r e excellent. Yes, she said, this w a s Mr H y d e ' s house, but he
w a s n o t a t h o m e . H e h a d c o m e i n very late i n the n i g h t a n d h a d g o n e again
in less t h a n an h o u r ; t h e r e w a s n o t h i n g strange in that, since his habits were
very i r r e g u l a r a n d he w a s often away for long periods. Yesterday, for
e x a m p l e , w a s t h e f i r s t t i m e she h a d seen h i m for t w o m o n t h s .
"Very well t h e n , we w i s h to see his r o o m s , " said t h e lawyer. A n d when
t h e w o m a n said t h a t it w a s impossible, he a d d e d : "I'd better tell you who
this p e r s o n is. T h i s is I n s p e c t o r N e w c o m e , of S c o t l a n d Y a r d . "
A flash of cruel joy a p p e a r e d on t h e w o m a n ' s face.
" A h ! " said she. " H e ' s i n t r o u b l e ! W h a t has h e d o n e ? "
M r U t t e r s o n a n d t h e inspector e x c h a n g e d looks.
" H e d o e s n ' t s e e m a very p o p u l a r character," t h e p o l i c e m a n remarked.
" A n d n o w , m y g o o d w o m a n , just let m e a n d this g e n t l e m a n h a v e a look
round."
I n the w h o l e h o u s e , w h i c h w a s e m p t y except for t h e old w o m a n , M r

Hyde h a d used only t w o r o o m s , b u t these c o n t a i n e d e x p e n s i v e f u r n i t u r e
and w e r e d e c o r a t e d in g o o d taste. A c u p b o a r d w a s filled w i t h w i n e , t h e
spoons a n d forks w e r e o f silver, a n d several g o o d p i c t u r e s h u n g o n t h e
walls (gifts from Jekyll, U t t e r s o n s u p p o s e d ) . B u t at this m o m e n t t h e
rooms s h o w e d every sign of a r e c e n t a n d h u r r i e d search. C l o t h e s lay on
the f l o o r , w i t h their pockets inside o u t , d r a w e r s w e r e o p e n , a n d i n t h e
fireplace t h e r e w a s a pile of grey ashes, as if m a n y p a p e r s h a d been
burned. F r o m these t h e inspector p i c k e d o u t t h e t h i c k e n d o f a g r e e n
chequebook w h i c h h a d failed t o b u r n . T h e o t h e r h a l f o f t h e b r o k e n stick
was found b e h i n d t h e door, a n d as this r e m o v e d all d o u b t s , t h e officer
said that he w a s h a p p y . A visit to t h e b a n k , w h e r e several t h o u s a n d
pounds were found to be lying in t h e m u r d e r e r ' s a c c o u n t , c o m p l e t e d his
satisfaction.
" I have h i m i n m y h a n d s , sir," h e told M r U t t e r s o n . " Y o u can d e p e n d
o n that. H e m u s t h a v e been m a d w i t h fear, o r h e w o u l d n e v e r h a v e left
that b r o k e n stick a n d b u r n e d t h a t c h e q u e b o o k . H e ' l l n e e d m o n e y , s o w e
have n o t h i n g t o d o b u t w a i t for h i m a t t h e b a n k , a n d p u t o u t s o m e public
notices a n n o u n c i n g t h a t he is w a n t e d for m u r d e r . "
But describing h i m i n t h e notices w a s n o t s o easy. M r H y d e w a s
known t o few; even t h e girl's e m p l o y e r h a d only seen h i m tw i c e . H e
seemed to have no family, he h a d n e v e r b e e n p h o t o g r a p h e d , a n d different
people gave widely different d e s c r i p t i o n s , a s they usually d o . O n l y on o n e
point did they all a g r e e : t h e r e w a s s o m e t h i n g m y s t e r i o u s l y u n n a t u r a l
about his a p p e a r a n c e .
The Letter
I t w a s late i n t h e a f t e r n o o n w h e n M r U t t e r s o n r e a c h e d D r Jekyll's door,

w h e r e h e w a s a t o n c e a d m i t t e d b y Poole, a n d led d o w n past t h e kitchen
a n d across a g a r d e n t o t h e b u i l d i n g t h a t w a s k n o w n a s t h e laboratory.
I t w a s t h e f i r s t t i m e t h a t t h e l a w y e r h a d been received t h e r e , instead
o f i n t h e h o u s e . H e e x a m i n e d t h e dirty, u n w e l c o m i n g b u i l d i n g with
interest, a n d felt s t r a n g e l y u n c o m f o r t a b l e as he passed t h r o u g h t h e silent
l a b o r a t o r y itself; c h e m i c a l e q u i p m e n t covered its tables, o p e n packing
cases w e r e scattered a r o u n d t h e floor, a n d a w e a k light fell t h r o u g h a
d u s t y w i n d o w h i g h in t h e roof. At t h e far e n d , stairs led up to t h e doctor's
study. T h i s w a s a l a r g e r o o m , lit by t h r e e old w i n d o w s w i t h iron bars that
l o o k e d o u t across a y a r d . Its f u r n i t u r e i n c l u d e d a d e s k , several glass-
fronted c u p b o a r d s , a n d a l o n g m i r r o r fixed to t h e wall. A fire was
b u r n i n g a n d t h e l a m p w a s a l r e a d y lit on a shelf a b o v e it, a n d t h e r e , close
to t h e w a r m t h , sat Dr Jekyll, l o o k i n g as sick as a m a n on his d e a t h b e d . He
d i d n o t rise to g r e e t his visitor, b u t h e l d o u t a cold h a n d a n d welcomed
h i m in a c h a n g e d voice.
" A n d n o w , " said Mr U t t e r s o n , as soon as t h e b u t l e r h a d left them,

"you've heard the n e w s ? "
T h e d o c t o r t r e m b l e d . " T h e y w e r e c r y i n g it in t h e s q u a r e , " he said. "I

heard them from my dining room."
" O n e w o r d , " said t h e lawyer. "I w a s C a r e w ' s professional adviser, as I
a m y o u r s , a n d I w a n t t o k n o w w h a t I ' m d o i n g . You h a v e n ' t been mad
e n o u g h t o h i d e this m a n ? "
" U t t e r s o n , I s w e a r to G o d , " cried t h e doctor, "I s w e a r to G o d I will
n e v e r see h i m a g a i n . I p r o m i s e you on my h o n o u r t h a t I've finished with
h i m in this w o r l d . It's all at an e n d . In fact, he d o e s n ' t w a n t my h e l p . You
d o n ' t k n o w h i m as I d o . H e ' s safe, q u i t e safe. H e ' l l n e v e r be h e a r d of
The Letter
again, you can d e p e n d on t h a t . "

T h e l a w y e r listened anxiously; he d i d not like his friend's feverish
manner.
"You seem s u r e of t h a t , " said h e , " a n d I h o p e y o u ' r e r i g h t . If he w e r e
tried in court, y o u r n a m e m i g h t a p p e a r . "
"I'm q u i t e s u r e of it," Jekyll replied. "I h a v e reasons to be c e r t a i n t h a t
I can't share w i t h a n y o n e . B u t there's o n e t h i n g o n w h i c h you m a y advise
me. I have — I h a v e received a letter, a n d I ' m w o n d e r i n g w h e t h e r I
should s h o w it to t h e police. I'd like to leave it in y o u r h a n d s , U t t e r s o n .
You'll j u d g e wisely, I k n o w . I h a v e such g r e a t t r u s t in y o u . "
"You're afraid, I s u p p o s e , t h a t it m i g h t lead to his d i s c o v e r y ? " a s k e d
the lawyer.
" N o . I d o n ' t really care w h a t h a p p e n s t o H y d e ; I've f i n i s h e d w i t h h i m .
I was t h i n k i n g o f m y o w n g o o d n a m e , w h i c h this h o r r i b l e business has
rather p u t in d a n g e r . "
Utterson t h o u g h t for a m o m e n t . He w a s s u r p r i s e d at his friend's
words, a n d yet relieved by t h e m .
"Well," he said at last, "let me see t h e letter."
T h e letter w a s w r i t t e n i n a n u n u s u a l u p r i g h t h a n d , a n d signed,
" E d w a r d H y d e " . I t stated, i n very few w o r d s , t h a t t h e w r i t e r ' s friend, Dr
Jekyll, w h o m he h a d so shamefully t r e a t e d in r e t u r n for a t h o u s a n d
kindnesses, n e e d n o t be w o r r i e d a b o u t his safety, as he h a d a c o m p l e t e l y
dependable m e a n s of escape.
T h e lawyer w a s fairly pleased w i t h this letter. I t m a d e t h e f r i e n d s h i p
seem less shameful t h a n he h a d t h o u g h t , a n d he b l a m e d h i m s e l f for s o m e
of his past suspicions.
"Do you h a v e t h e e n v e l o p e ? " h e a s k e d .
"I b u r n e d it," Jekyll replied, "before I realised w h a t I w a s d o i n g . B u t
it had no p o s t m a r k ; it w a s b r o u g h t by h a n d . "
"Shall I k e e p i t a n d m a k e u p m y m i n d i n t h e m o r n i n g ? " U t t e r s o n
asked.
"I w i s h y o u to j u d g e for m e , " w a s t h e reply. "I've lost confidence in

myself."
" W e l l , I shall t h i n k a b o u t it," replied t h e lawyer. " A n d n o w o n e word

m o r e . W a s i t H y d e w h o m a d e you p u t t h a t s e n t e n c e i n y o u r will about
'disappearance'? "
T h e d o c t o r s u d d e n l y l o o k e d terribly w e a k ; h e s h u t his m o u t h tightly

b u t his expression m a d e it clear t h a t his friend's g u e s s w a s correct.
" I k n e w it," said U t t e r s o n . " H e m e a n t t o m u r d e r you. You've had a
n a r r o w escape."
"I've h a d s o m e t h i n g far m o r e i m p o r t a n t t h a n t h a t , " replied the

doctor. "I've h a d a lesson, U t t e r s o n . O h , my G o d , w h a t a lesson I've had!"
A n d h e c o v e r e d his face for a m o m e n t w i t h his h a n d s .
O n his w a y o u t , t h e l a w y e r s t o p p e d a n d h a d a w o r d o r t w o w i t h Poole.
" A letter c a m e today, b y h a n d , " h e said. " W h a t w a s t h e m e s s e n g e r like?"
B u t P o o l e w a s c e r t a i n t h a t n o t h i n g h a d c o m e except b y post. "And
t h a t w a s only a bill," he a d d e d .
T h i s n e w s b r o u g h t b a c k all U t t e r s o n ' s fears. Plainly t h e letter h a d come
t h r o u g h the laboratory d o o r in the side street. Possibly it h a d even been
w r i t t e n in the doctor's study. If t h a t w e r e so, it w o u l d h a v e to be differently
j u d g e d a n d h a n d l e d w i t h g r e a t care. T h e n e w s p a p e r boys, a s h e went,
w e r e c r y i n g loudly a l o n g t h e streets: "Special n e w s ! S h o c k i n g m u r d e r ! "
Soon he w o u l d be at t h e funeral of o n e old friend, a n d he could not
h e l p b e i n g r a t h e r afraid t h a t t h e g o o d n a m e o f a n o t h e r w o u l d b e buried
in t h e s a m e g r a v e . It w a s a very delicate decision t h a t he h a d to make
a b o u t t h e letter, a n d he b e g a n to feel t h e n e e d for s o m e advice. He could
not ask for it directly, b u t p e r h a p s he could get it in an indirect way.
H a l f an h o u r later he w a s sitting at o n e side of t h e fire in his study,
w i t h M r G u e s t , his h e a d clerk, a t t h e o t h e r side. H a l f w a y b e t w e e n them
stood a bottle of a p a r t i c u l a r old w i n e t h a t he k e p t for r a t h e r special
occasions. O u t s i d e t h e w i n d o w s a cold fog h a d settled over the city, but
inside t h e r o o m w a s b r i g h t w i t h firelight.
The Letter
A t f i r s t h e felt a w k w a r d , n o t k n o w i n g h o w t o i n t r o d u c e t h e subject.
With the w a r m t h o f t h e f i r e a n d t h e g o o d r e d w i n e , this a w k w a r d n e s s
gradually m e l t e d away. T h e r e w a s n o m a n h e t r u s t e d m o r e t h a n G u e s t
with professional secrets; in fact, he h a d s o m e t i m e s told h i m m o r e t h a n
he m e a n t to. G u e s t h a d often b e e n on business to t h e doctor's h o u s e ; he
knew Poole; he could h a r d l y h a v e failed to h e a r of Mr H y d e ' s s t r a n g e
position t h e r e ; h e m i g h t already h a v e his o w n suspicions. Surely, t h e n , h e
had better see a letter t h a t h e l p e d to e x p l a i n t h e m y s t e r y ? Besides, his
professional o p i n i o n w a s w o r t h h e a r i n g . H e w o u l d h a r d l y read such a
strange letter w i t h o u t m a k i n g s o m e r e m a r k s , a n d those r e m a r k s m i g h t
guide Mr U t t e r s o n ' s course in d e a l i n g w i t h it.
"This is a sad business a b o u t Sir D a n v e r s , " he said.
"Yes, sir, it is. It has caused s t r o n g p u b l i c feeling," G u e s t replied. " T h e
man, of course, w a s m a d . "
"I should like to h e a r y o u r views on t h a t . I've a letter h e r e in his
handwriting. It's a secret b e t w e e n ourselves, as I h a r d l y k n o w w h a t to do
about it. W h a t e v e r it m a y m e a n , it's a nasty business. B u t t h e r e it is, a n d
it will interest you: a m u r d e r e r ' s h a n d w r i t i n g ! "
Guest's eyes b r i g h t e n e d , a n d he sat back a n d s t u d i e d t h e letter excitedly.
" N o , sir," he said after a m o m e n t . " T h e m a n is n o t m a d , b u t it's very
strange w r i t i n g . "
" A n d a very s t r a n g e w r i t e r , by all a c c o u n t s , " a d d e d t h e lawyer.
Just then a s e r v a n t e n t e r e d w i t h a n o t e .
"Is that from Dr Jekyll, s i r ? " i n q u i r e d t h e clerk. "It is? I t h o u g h t I
recognised t h e w r i t i n g . A n y t h i n g p r i v a t e , M r U t t e r s o n ? "
"Only a n invitation t o d i n n e r . W h y ? D o y o u w a n t t o see i t ? "
"For a m o m e n t , sir, if I m a y . " A n d t h e clerk laid t h e t w o pieces of
paper d o w n n e x t t o each o t h e r a n d carefully c o m p a r e d t h e m . " T h a n k
you, sir," he said at last. "It's very i n t e r e s t i n g h a n d w r i t i n g . "
T h e r e was a p a u s e w h i l e M r U t t e r s o n s t r u g g l e d w i t h himself. " W h y
did you c o m p a r e t h e m , G u e s t ? " h e a s k e d s u d d e n l y .
" W e l l , sir," t h e c l e r k a n s w e r e d , "there's a r a t h e r s t r a n g e likeness

b e t w e e n t h e m . In m a n y w a y s t h e y ' r e t h e s a m e , except for being
differently sloped."
" R a t h e r u n u s u a l , " said U t t e r s o n .
"It is, as y o u say, r a t h e r u n u s u a l , " G u e s t a g r e e d .
"It w o u l d be u n w i s e to speak of this, G u e s t , " said his employer.
"Yes, sir," t h e clerk replied, "I u n d e r s t a n d . "
N o sooner w a s M r U t t e r s o n a l o n e t h a t n i g h t t h a n h e locked the letter
s i g n e d " E d w a r d H y d e " i n his safe, w h e r e i t lay f r o m t h e n on.
" W h a t ! " he w h i s p e r e d to himself. " W o u l d H e n r y Jekyll w r i t e a false
n o t e a n d sign it w i t h t h e n a m e of a m u r d e r e r ? "
The Mysterious Death of Dr Lanyon
T i m e passed. T h o u s a n d s of p o u n d s w e r e offered as a r e w a r d for any

i n f o r m a t i o n , b u t M r H y d e h a d d i s a p p e a r e d a s i f h e h a d never existed.
M u c h of his past w a s d u g u p , a n d it w a s all s h a m e f u l . Stories w e r e told of
his pitiless cruelty a n d violence, of his i m m o r a l life, of his strange
b e h a v i o u r , of t h e h a t r e d t h a t s e e m e d to h a v e s u r r o u n d e d h i m . But not a
w h i s p e r w a s h e a r d of his p r e s e n t h i d i n g place. F r o m t h e t i m e he left the
h o u s e i n S o h o o n t h e m o r n i n g o f t h e m u r d e r , h e h a d s i m p l y melted into
t h e L o n d o n fog.
G r a d u a l l y , as t h e w e e k s passed, Mr U t t e r s o n b e g a n to forget his fears.

T h e d e a t h of Sir D a n v e r s w a s , in his o p i n i o n , fully paid for by the
d i s a p p e a r a n c e of H y d e . At t h e s a m e t i m e a n e w life b e g a n for Dr Jekyll,
n o w t h a t H y d e ' s evil influence h a d been r e m o v e d . H e w e n t out more
frequently, s t r e n g t h e n e d his ties w i t h old friends, a n d b e c a m e once more
their familiar g u e s t a n d e n t e r t a i n e r . H e h a d a l w a y s b e e n k n o w n for his

generosity to t h e poor; he w a s n o w equally recognised for t h e s t r e n g t h of
his religious beliefs. He w a s busy; he spent a g r e a t deal of t i m e in t h e o p e n
air instead of s h u t t i n g h i m s e l f up in his l a b o r a t o r y ; he w a s k i n d a n d
generous to people, a n d he did good. T h e expression on his face w a s
brighter a n d m o r e sincere, as if w i t h consciousness of service, a n d for
more than t w o m o n t h s t h e d o c t o r w a s a t peace.
O n J a n u a r y 8th U t t e r s o n h a d h a d d i n n e r at t h e doctor's w i t h a
number o f o t h e r s . L a n y o n h a d b e e n t h e r e , a n d t h e i r host's eyes h a d
turned from o n e to t h e o t h e r as in t h e old days w h e n t h e t h r e e w e r e t h e
closest friends. B u t on t h e 12th, a n d a g a i n on t h e 14th, t h e l a w y e r w a s
refused entry to t h e h o u s e .
"Dr Jekyll," said Poole, "will go n o w h e r e a n d see no o n e . "
On the 15th U t t e r s o n tried a g a i n , a n d w a s a g a i n refused. F o r t h e last
two m o n t h s he h a d been seeing his friend a l m o s t daily; n o w he m i s s e d his
company a n d felt u n h a p p y w i t h o u t it. T h e n e x t n i g h t he invited G u e s t to
have dinner w i t h h i m , a n d t h e n i g h t after t h a t h e w e n t t o see D r L a n y o n .
T h e r e a t least he w a s n o t refused entry, b u t w h e n he w e n t in he w a s
shocked a t t h e c h a n g e t h a t h a d t a k e n place i n t h e doctor's a p p e a r a n c e . H e
looked like s o m e o n e w h o has b e e n t h r e a t e n e d w i t h d e a t h . H i s rosy face
had g r o w n pale, he h a d lost a lot of w e i g h t a n d m o s t of his hair, a n d he
looked very m u c h older. B u t w h a t s t r u c k t h e l a w y e r w a s n o t just these
signs of s u d d e n decay in his friend's b o d y ; he w a s s t r u c k e v e n m o r e by a
look in the eye a n d a s t r a n g e n e s s of m a n n e r t h a t could only be caused by
some deep-seated t e r r o r of t h e m i n d . It w a s u n l i k e l y t h a t t h e d o c t o r
would fear d e a t h , b u t t h a t w a s w h a t U t t e r s o n w a s t e m p t e d to suspect.
"Yes," h e t h o u g h t , "he's a d o c t o r a n d h e m u s t k n o w his o w n
condition. T h e k n o w l e d g e o f his c o m i n g d e a t h i s m o r e t h a n h e can bear."
But w h e n U t t e r s o n r e m a r k e d h o w ill h e l o o k e d , t h e d o c t o r d e c l a r e d
in a perfectly firm a n d n a t u r a l m a n n e r t h a t he w a s a d y i n g m a n .
"I've had a s h o c k , " he said, " a n d I shall n e v e r recover. It's a q u e s t i o n
of w e e k s . W e l l , life h a s been pleasant. I liked it; yes, sir, I used to like it. I
s o m e t i m e s t h i n k t h a t if we k n e w e v e r y t h i n g , w e ' d be m o r e pleased to get
away."
"Jekyll's ill, t o o , " U t t e r s o n told h i m . " H a v e you seen h i m since we had
dinner there?"
L a n y o n ' s face c h a n g e d , a n d he h e l d up a t r e m b l i n g h a n d . "I don't
w i s h to see or h e a r a n y m o r e of H e n r y Jekyll," he said in a l o u d , unsteady
voice. "I've q u i t e finished w i t h t h a t p e r s o n . I b e g y o u to m a k e no further
m e n t i o n of s o m e o n e w h o I r e g a r d as d e a d . "
Mr U t t e r s o n w a s s h o c k e d by L a n y o n ' s w o r d s . T h e n , after a pause, he
a s k e d : " C a n ' t I do a n y t h i n g ? W e ' r e t h r e e very old friends, Lanyon. We
s h a n ' t m a k e such friends a g a i n . "
" N o t h i n g can b e d o n e , " L a n y o n replied. " A s k Jekyll himself."
" H e refuses t o see m e , " said t h e lawyer.
" I ' m n o t s u r p r i s e d at t h a t , " w a s t h e reply. " S o m e day, Utterson, after
I ' m d e a d , y o u m a y p e r h a p s l e a r n t h e t r u t h . I c a n n o t tell you. N o w , if you
can sit a n d talk w i t h me a b o u t o t h e r t h i n g s , stay a n d do so. B u t if you can't
avoid this u n p l e a s a n t subject, t h e n in G o d ' s n a m e go, because I cannot
bear it."
As soon as he g o t h o m e , U t t e r s o n sat d o w n a n d w r o t e to Jekyll,
c o m p l a i n i n g t h a t he w a s n o t a l l o w e d to see h i m a n d a s k i n g the cause of
his q u a r r e l w i t h L a n y o n . T h e n e x t d a y b r o u g h t h i m a l o n g answer, often
very pitifully expressed a n d s o m e t i m e s d a r k l y m y s t e r i o u s .
" T h e q u a r r e l w i t h L a n y o n c a n n o t b e m a d e t o g o away," Jekyll wrote.
"I d o n ' t b l a m e o u r old friend, b u t I s h a r e his v i e w t h a t we m u s t never
m e e t . F r o m n o w o n , I m e a n to live q u i t e alone. You m u s t n ' t be surprised,
n o r m u s t you d o u b t my f r i e n d s h i p , if my d o o r is often shut even to you.
You m u s t let me go my o w n d a r k way. I've b r o u g h t on myself a
p u n i s h m e n t a n d a d a n g e r t h a t I c a n n o t n a m e . If I h a v e been the most evil
of m e n , I h a v e also suffered t h e m o s t for my evil. I n e v e r imagined that
such suffering a n d t e r r o r w e r e possible in this w o r l d . T h e r e ' s only one
thing that you can d o , U t t e r s o n , t o h e l p m e bear w h a t has h a p p e n e d , a n d

that is to ask me n o t h i n g a b o u t it."
Utterson could h a r d l y believe w h a t h e w a s r e a d i n g . Since H y d e ' s
dark influence h a d b e e n r e m o v e d , t h e d o c t o r h a d r e t u r n e d t o his old
duties and friendships. A w e e k ago he h a d b e e n l o o k i n g f o r w a r d to a
bright and h o n o u r e d f u t u r e . B u t n o w , in a m o m e n t , f r i e n d s h i p a n d peace
of mind a n d t h e w h o l e course of his life w e r e d e s t r o y e d . S u c h a s u d d e n
and unexpected c h a n g e s e e m e d at first like a sign of m a d n e s s , b u t w h e n
Utterson r e m e m b e r e d L a n y o n ' s m a n n e r a n d w o r d s , h e realised t h a t t h e r e
must be some d e e p e r cause.
A week a f t e r w a r d s , Dr L a n y o n w a s too ill to leave his b e d ; a n d less
than two w e e k s later h e w a s d e a d . T h e n i g h t after t h e funeral, at w h i c h
he had almost cried, U t t e r s o n l o c k e d t h e d o o r of his s t u d y a n d , sitting
there by the light of o n e m i s e r a b l e c a n d l e , he t o o k an e n v e l o p e from his
pocket. It was sealed w i t h his d e a d friend's seal a n d w a s a d d r e s s e d in t h e
dead man's w r i t i n g : " P R I V A T E : for G. J. U t t e r s o n A L O N E , a n d to be
destroyed unread if he dies before m e . "
T h e lawyer h a r d l y d a r e d to o p e n it. "I've b u r i e d o n e friend today," he
thought. " S u p p o s i n g this w e r e to cost me a n o t h e r ! " T h e n he felt a s h a m e d
of his fear, a n d b r o k e t h e seal. I n s i d e , t h e r e w a s a n o t h e r e n v e l o p e , also
sealed, and m a r k e d : " N o t t o b e o p e n e d u n t i l t h e d e a t h o r d i s a p p e a r a n c e
of H e n r y Jekyll."
Utterson could hardly believe his eyes. Yes, the word was
"disappearance". H e r e a g a i n , a s i n t h e m a d will t h a t h e h a d l o n g a g o
given back to Jekyll, h e r e a g a i n w a s t h e s u g g e s t i o n t h a t Jekyll m i g h t
disappear. W r i t t e n b y t h e h a n d o f L a n y o n , w h a t c o u l d i t m e a n ? H i s
desire to k n o w u r g e d h i m strongly to ignore L a n y o n ' s wishes a n d get to
the bottom of this m y s t e r y ; b u t professional h o n o u r a n d loyalty to his
dead friend p r e v e n t e d h i m , a n d t h e e n v e l o p e w a s p u t t o rest in t h e
drawer of his p r i v a t e safe.
It is doubtful w h e t h e r U t t e r s o n w a s so eager, after t h a t day, for t h e
c o m p a n y of his r e m a i n i n g friend. He t h o u g h t of h i m kindly, but his

t h o u g h t s w e r e a n x i o u s a n d fearful. W h e n h e w e n t t o call, p e r h a p s h e was
r a t h e r relieved to be refused entry. P e r h a p s , in his h e a r t , he preferred to
s p e a k w i t h P o o l e on t h e d o o r s t e p , s u r r o u n d e d by t h e fresh air and
familiar s o u n d s of t h e city. P o o l e h a d , in fact, no pleasant n e w s to give
h i m . T h e d o c t o r h a r d l y e v e r left his s t u d y i n t h e l a b o r a t o r y building, and
s o m e t i m e s h e even slept t h e r e . H e w a s m i s e r a b l e , h e h a d g r o w n very
silent, he d i d n o t r e a d ; it s e e m e d as if he h a d s o m e t h i n g on his mind.
U t t e r s o n b e c a m e so u s e d to t h e u n c h a n g i n g n a t u r e of these reports that
his visits g r a d u a l l y b e c a m e less f r e q u e n t .
The Face at the Window
I t h a p p e n e d o n e S u n d a y w h e n M r U t t e r s o n w a s o n his usual walk with

M r E n f i e l d , t h a t t h e i r w a y lay o n c e a g a i n t h r o u g h t h e side street, and
w h e n they r e a c h e d t h e l a b o r a t o r y d o or, they b o t h s t o p p e d to look at it.
" W e l l , " said Enfield, " t h a t story's at an e n d , at least. We shall never see
Mr H y d e again."
"I h o p e n o t , " said U t t e r s o n . " D i d I ever tell you t h a t I once saw him
a n d s h a r e d y o u r feeling o f d i s g u s t ? "
"It w a s impossible to feel a n y t h i n g else," Enfield replied. "But you
m u s t h a v e t h o u g h t me s t u p i d for n o t k n o w i n g t h a t this w a s a back way
i n t o Dr Jekyll's! It w a s partly y o u r o w n fault t h a t I ever f o u n d that out."
"So you f o u n d it o u t , d i d y o u ? " said U t t e r s o n . " I n t h a t case, let's step
i n t o this y a r d a n d t a k e a look at t h e w i n d o w s . To tell y o u t h e t r u t h , I'm
a n x i o u s a b o u t p o o r Jekyll; e v e n o u t s i d e , t h e p r e s e n c e of a friend might do
him good."
The Face at the Window
T h e yard w a s very cool a n d r a t h e r d a r k , t h o u g h t h e sky, h i g h

overhead, w a s still b r i g h t w i t h sunset. T h e m i d d l e o n e o f t h e t h r e e
windows w a s h a l f o p e n ; a n d t h e p e r s o n sitting beside it, t a k i n g t h e air
with a miserable look on his face like s o m e hopeless prisoner, w a s Dr
Jekyll.
" W h a t ! Jekyll!" U t t e r s o n cried. " I h o p e y o u ' r e b e t t e r ? "
"I'm in a very p o o r state," replied t h e d o c t o r in a t i r e d voice. " B u t it
won't last long, I t h a n k G o d for that."
"You stay inside too m u c h , " said t h e lawyer. " Y o u s h o u l d be o u t s i d e ,
taking exercise, like M r Enfield a n d m e . L e t m e i n t r o d u c e you: m y cousin
M r Enfield, D r Jekyll. C o m e n o w . G e t y o u r h a t , a n d t a k e a q u i c k w a l k
with us."
"You're very k i n d , a n d I'd like t o very m u c h , " t h e d o c t o r s i g h e d . " B u t ,
no, no, n o , it's q u i t e impossible. I d o n ' t d a r e to. B u t I ' m very g l a d to see
you, Utterson; this is really a g r e a t pleasure. I'd ask you a n d Mr Enfield
to come in, if this place w e r e fit for guests. I ' m afraid it isn't."
" W h y t h e n , " said t h e l a w y e r g o o d - n a t u r e d l y , " t h e best t h i n g w e c a n
do is to stay o u t h e r e , a n d speak w i t h you from w h e r e we a r e . "
"That's just w h a t I w a s g o i n g to suggest," t h e d o c t o r replied, w i t h a
smile. But t h e w o r d s w e r e h a r d l y s p o k e n w h e n t h e smile w a s s u d d e n l y
struck from his face, a n d it w a s followed by an expression of c o m p l e t e
terror and u n c o n t r o l l a b l e m i s e r y t h a t froze t h e b l o o d o f t h e t w o
gentlemen below t h e w i n d o w . T h e y only s a w it for a m o m e n t , as t h e
window was i m m e d i a t e l y closed; b u t t h a t m o m e n t h a d b e e n e n o u g h , a n d
they t u r n e d a n d left t h e y a r d w i t h o u t a w o r d . In silence, too, they w a l k e d
along until they t u r n e d t h e c o r n e r into t h e n e x t street, w h e r e even on a
Sunday there w e r e p e o p l e a b o u t . T h e n M r U t t e r s o n s t o p p e d a n d l o o k e d
at his c o m p a n i o n . T h e y w e r e b o t h pale, a n d each s a w his o w n h o r r o r in
the other's eyes.
"God forgive us! G o d forgive u s ! " said M r U t t e r s o n .
T h e t w o m e n w a l k e d o n once m o r e i n silence.
Dr Jekyll's Last Night
Mr U t t e r s o n w a s sitting by his fireside o n e e v e n i n g after d i n n e r when he

w a s s u r p r i s e d to receive a visit from P o o l e .
" G o o d h e a v e n s , P o o l e , w h a t b r i n g s you h e r e ? " h e cried. T h e n , taking
a second look, he a d d e d : " W h a t ' s t h e m a t t e r ? Is t h e d o c t o r ill?"
" M r U t t e r s o n , " said t h e butler, "there's s o m e t h i n g w r o n g . "
" T a k e a seat, a n d here's a glass of w i n e for y o u , " t h e l a w y e r answered
k i n d l y . " N o w , there's n o h u r r y ; just tell m e plainly w h a t you w a n t . "
"You k n o w t h e doctor's w a y s , sir," Poole b e g a n . "You k n o w how he
s h u t s h i m s e l f u p . W e l l , he's s h u t up a g a i n in his study, a n d I d o n ' t like it,
sir, I s w e a r I d o n ' t like it. Mr U t t e r s o n , sir, I ' m afraid."
" N o w , m y g o o d m a n , " said t h e lawyer, "tell m e plainly. W h a t are you
afraid o f ? "
"I've b e e n afraid for a b o u t a w e e k , " t h e b u t l e r told h i m , without
a n s w e r i n g t h e q u e s t i o n , " a n d I can't bear it any longer."
T h e m a n ' s a p p e a r a n c e p r o v e d t h e t r u t h o f his w o r d s . H i s m a n n e r was
u n u s u a l l y n e r v o u s , a n d except w h e n he first a n n o u n c e d his fear he had
n o t l o o k e d t h e l a w y e r in t h e face. E v e n n o w , he sat w i t h t h e glass of wine
u n t a s t e d in his h a n d , a n d w i t h his eyes d i r e c t e d to a c o r n e r of the floor. "I
can't bear it any longer," he r e p e a t e d .
" C o m e , " said t h e lawyer, "I see you h a v e s o m e g o o d reason to be afraid,
Poole. I see there's s o m e t h i n g seriously w r o n g . T r y to tell me w h a t it is."
"I t h i n k there's b e e n a h o r r i b l e c r i m e , " said P o o l e in a b r o k e n voice.
"A h o r r i b l e c r i m e ! " cried t h e lawyer, a g o o d deal frightened, and
r a t h e r a n g r y w i t h h i m s e l f because o f t h a t . " W h a t h o r r i b l e crime? What
do you m e a n ? "
"I d a r e n ' t say w h a t I m e a n , sir," w a s t h e a n s w e r . " B u t will you come
DrJekyll's Last Night
along w i t h me a n d see for y o u r s e l f ? "

M r U t t e r s o n ' s only reply w a s to rise a n d get his h a t a n d coat. B u t he
noticed w i t h w o n d e r t h e look o f relief o n t h e butler's face a n d , w i t h n o
less w o n d e r , t h e fact t h a t t h e w i n e w a s still u n t a s t e d w h e n P o o l e p u t
down his glass.
It was a w i l d , cold n i g h t w i t h a pale m o o n , w h i c h w a s l y i n g on its b a c k
as if the w i n d h a d b l o w n it over. It certainly s e e m e d to h a v e s w e p t
everyone off t h e streets; M r U t t e r s o n h a d n e v e r k n o w n t h e m t o b e s o
empty, just w h e n he w o u l d r a t h e r h a v e seen t h e m c r o w d e d . In spite of all
his efforts to r e m a i n calm, his m i n d w a s filled w i t h fear t h a t s o m e terrible
thing was a b o u t to h a p p e n .
T h e s q u a r e , w h e n they got t h e r e , w a s full o f w i n d a n d d u s t . Poole,
who had k e p t a few steps a h e a d , n o w s t o p p e d o u t s i d e t h e h o u s e , a n d in
spite of t h e freezing w e a t h e r he t o o k off his h a t a n d w i p e d his h o t face.
But it was hot from fear, n o t from violent exercise; his face w a s w h i t e , a n d
when he s p o k e his voice w a s w e a k a n d n e r v o u s .
"Well, sir," he said, " h e r e we a r e , a n d I p r a y t h a t my fears h a v e b e e n
mistaken."
"So do I, P o o l e , " said t h e lawyer.
T h e butler k n o c k e d gently on t h e door, a n d a voice inside a s k e d : "Is
that you, P o o l e ? "
"Yes, it's all r i g h t , " said Poole. " O p e n the door."
T h e hall, w h e n they e n t e r e d it, w a s b r i g h t l y lit. All t h e servants, m e n
and w o m e n , w e r e c r o w d e d t o g e t h e r t h e r e like f r i g h t e n e d sheep. At t h e
sight of Mr U t t e r s o n , t h e s e r v a n t girl b u r s t into a flood of tears, a n d t h e
cook, crying o u t , " T h a n k G o d ! It's Mr U t t e r s o n , " r a n f o r w a r d as if to
throw her a r m s a r o u n d h i m .
"What, w h a t ? A r e you all h e r e ? " said t h e lawyer, in a n n o y a n c e . "Very
irregular, very i m p r o p e r . Y o u r m a s t e r w o u l d be far from pleased."
"They're all afraid," said Poole.
Silence followed. It w a s an a d m i s s i o n of their fear. T h e n t h e cook
g a v e a w i l d cry a n d s t a r t e d c r y i n g a g a i n . Poole told h e r to be quiet, in an

a n g r y voice t h a t s h o w e d t h e state of his o w n n e r v e s , because when the
w o m a n h a d cried o u t they h a d all t u r n e d s u d d e n l y t o w a r d s the inner
d o o r w i t h f r i g h t e n e d faces.
" A n d n o w , " c o n t i n u e d t h e butler, a d d r e s s i n g t h e k i t c h e n boy, "bring

me a c a n d l e , a n d we'll get this d o n e i m m e d i a t e l y . " T h e n he begged Mr
U t t e r s o n t o follow h i m , a n d led t h e w a y t o t h e back g a r d e n .
" N o w , sir," said h e , " c o m e as quietly as you can. I w a n t you to hear,
a n d I d o n ' t w a n t you to be h e a r d . A n d see h e r e , sir, if by any chance he
asks you in, d o n ' t g o . "
Mr U t t e r s o n ' s n e r v e s , at this u n e x p e c t e d e n d i n g , g a v e a j u m p that
n e a r l y t h r e w h i m off b a l a n c e ; b u t h e r e c o v e r e d his c o u r a g e a n d followed
t h e b u t l e r i n t o t h e l a b o r a t o r y b u i l d i n g a n d u p t o t h e foot o f t h e stairs.
H e r e P o o l e signalled to h i m to s t a n d on o n e side a n d listen, while he
himself, p u t t i n g d o w n t h e c a n d l e , w e n t slowly u p t h e steps a n d knocked
w i t h a r a t h e r u n c e r t a i n h a n d on t h e study door.
" M r U t t e r s o n , sir, a s k i n g to see y o u , " he called, a n d once more he

signalled violently to t h e l a w y e r to listen.
A voice a n s w e r e d f r o m inside. "Tell h i m I c a n ' t see a n y o n e , " it said
complainingly.
" T h a n k you, sir," said P o o l e , w i t h a n o t e of satisfaction in his voice.

T a k i n g u p his c a n d l e , h e led M r U t t e r s o n b a c k across t h e g a r d e n a n d into
t h e g r e a t k i t c h e n , w h e r e t h e f i r e w a s o u t a n d m i c e w e r e r u n n i n g across
the floor.
"Sir," h e said, l o o k i n g M r U t t e r s o n i n t h e eyes, " w a s t h a t m y master's

voice?"
"It seems m u c h c h a n g e d , " replied t h e lawyer, very pale, b u t returning

the look.
" C h a n g e d ? W e l l , yes, 1 t h i n k it is," said t h e butler. " W h e n I've been

t w e n t y years in this m a n ' s h o u s e , could I be deceived a b o u t his voice? No,
sir. My m a s t e r ' s b e e n g o t rid of. He w a s g o t rid of e i g h t days ago, when
we heard h i m cry o u t in t h e n a m e of G o d .
"And who's in t h e r e instead of h i m , a n d w h y it stays t h e r e , is a
question that cries to h e a v e n for an a n s w e r , Mr U t t e r s o n ! "
"This is a very s t r a n g e story, Poole. T h i s is r a t h e r a w i l d story, my
man," said Mr U t t e r s o n , b i t i n g his finger. " S u p p o s e it w e r e as you
suggest. S u p p o s i n g D r Jekyll t o h a v e b e e n , well, m u r d e r e d . W h a t c o u l d
persuade t h e m u r d e r e r to stay? T h a t d o e s n ' t m a k e sense, it isn't
reasonable."
"Well, Mr U t t e r s o n , y o u ' r e a h a r d m a n to satisfy, b u t I'll do it," said
Poole. "All this last w e e k h e , or it, or w h a t e v e r lives in t h a t study, h a s b e e n
crying night a n d day for s o m e sort of m e d i c i n e , a n d c a n n o t get w h a t he
wants. It was s o m e t i m e s his c u s t o m , my master's t h a t is, to w r i t e his o r d e r s
on a sheet of p a p e r a n d t h r o w it on t h e stairs. W e ' v e h a d n o t h i n g else this
week: n o t h i n g b u t p a p e r s on t h e stairs, a n d a closed d o o r , a n d e v e n his
meals have h a d to be left t h e r e for h i m to t a k e in w h e n no o n e w a s l o o k i n g .
Well, sir, every day, a n d t w o or t h r e e t i m e s a day, t h e r e h a v e b e e n o r d e r s
and complaints, a n d I've been r u s h i n g off to all t h e chemists in L o n d o n .
Every time I b r o u g h t t h e o r d e r back, t h e r e w o u l d be a n o t e telling me to
return it because it w a s n ' t p u r e , a n d t h e n a n o t h e r o r d e r to a different
chemist. W h a t e v e r this d r u g ' s for, sir, it's w a n t e d terribly urgently."
"Do you have any o f these p a p e r s ? " a s k e d M r U t t e r s o n .
Poole felt in his p o c k e t a n d b r o u g h t o u t a n o t e , w h i c h t h e lawyer,
bending n e a r e r t o t h e c a n d l e , carefully e x a m i n e d . I t said: " D r Jekyll
thanks M a w & C o . for t h e i r a t t e n t i o n . H e i s sorry to i n f o r m t h e m t h a t t h e
drug they sent h i m is i m p u r e a n d q u i t e useless for his p r e s e n t p u r p o s e .
Two years ago, Dr J. b o u g h t q u i t e a large q u a n t i t y of it from M a w & C o .
H e now begs t h e m t o s e a r c h w i t h t h e g r e a t e s t c a r e , a n d i f a n y o f t h e s a m e
quality is left, to send it to h i m n o w , w h a t e v e r it costs. T h e i m p o r t a n c e of
this to Dr J. c a n n o t be o v e r s t a t e d . " So far t h e letter h a d r u n quietly, b u t
here, with s u d d e n w i l d m o v e m e n t s from t h e p e n , t h e w r i t e r ' s feelings
had broken loose. " I n G o d ' s n a m e , " h e h a d a d d e d , "find m e s o m e o f t h e
old m e d i c i n e . "
" T h i s is a s t r a n g e n o t e , ' said Mr U t t e r s o n . T h e n he a d d e d sharply:

" W h y is the envelope o p e n ? "
" T h e m a n at M a w ' s w a s very a n g r y , sir, a n d he t h r e w it b a c k t o m e a s
if it w a s d i r t , " P o o l e replied.
" T h i s is u n q u e s t i o n a b l y t h e doctor's w r i t i n g , isn't i t ? " asked the

lawyer.
"I t h o u g h t it l o o k e d like it," said t h e butler, r a t h e r bitterly. T h e n , in a

different voice: "It d o e s n ' t m a t t e r w h a t t h e w r i t i n g ' s l i k e , " he said. "I've
seen h i m ! "
"Seen h i m ? " r e p e a t e d M r U t t e r s o n . " W e l l ? "

"It w a s l i k e t h i s , " said P o o l e . " I c a m e s u d d e n l y i n t o t h e laboratory
from t h e g a r d e n . It seems t h a t he h a d slipped o u t to look for this drug.
T h e s t u d y d o o r w a s o p e n , a n d t h e r e h e w a s , a t t h e far e n d o f the room,
d i g g i n g a m o n g t h e boxes. He l o o k e d up w h e n I c a m e in, gave a kind of
cry, a n d r u s h e d u p s t a i r s i n t o t h e study. I only s a w h i m for a m i n u t e , but
t h e h a i r stood up on my h e a d . Sir, if t h a t w a s my master, w h y did he have
a m a s k on his face? If it w a s my m a s t e r , w h y d i d he cry o u t a n d r u n from
m e ? I've served h i m l o n g e n o u g h t o b e t r u s t e d . A n d t h e n . . . " h e paused,
a n d passed his h a n d o v e r his face.
" T h i s is all very s t r a n g e , " said Mr U t t e r s o n , " b u t I t h i n k I begin to see
d a y l i g h t . Y o u r m a s t e r , P o o l e , has plainly c a u g h t o n e of those diseases that
b o t h give t h e sufferer t e r r i b l e p a i n a n d slowly destroy his whole body.
T h a t e x p l a i n s it all: t h e c h a n g e in his voice, his w e a r i n g a m a s k and
a v o i d i n g his friends, a n d his e a g e r n e s s to find this d r u g by means of
w h i c h t h e p o o r m a n still h o p e s to recover his h e a l t h . I p r a y G o d that he
m a y n o t be d i s a p p o i n t e d ! T h e r e ' s my e x p l a n a t i o n . It's a sad one, Poole,
a n d t e r r i b l e t o c o n s i d e r ; b u t it's p l a i n a n d n a t u r a l a n d m a k e s g o o d sense,
a n d delivers us from all fanciful fears."
"Sir," said t h e butler, t u r n i n g paler, " t h a t t h i n g w a s n ' t my master, and
there's t h e t r u t h . M y m a s t e r , " h e r e h e l o o k e d r o u n d h i m , a n d began t o
DrJekyll'sLast Night
whisper, "is a tall, well-built m a n , a n d this t h i n g w a s q u i t e s h o r t . "

Utterson a t t e m p t e d to i n t e r r u p t . " O h , sir," cried P o o l e , " d o y o u t h i n k I
don't k n o w m y m a s t e r after t w e n t y years? D o you t h i n k I d o n ' t k n o w
where his h e a d reaches to in t h e study d o o r w a y , w h e r e I s a w h i m every
morning o f m y life h e r e ? N o , sir, t h a t t h i n g i n t h e m a s k w a s n e v e r D r
Jekyll; G o d k n o w s w h a t it w a s , b u t it w a s never Dr Jekyll. It's t h e belief
of my heart that he has been m u r d e r e d . "
"Poole," replied t h e lawyer, "if you say t h a t , it will b e c o m e my d u t y to
make certain. A l t h o u g h I have no desire to upset y o u r master, a n d
although this n o t e to t h e c h e m i s t seems to p r o v e h i m to be still alive, I
shall consider it my d u t y to b r e a k in t h a t door."
"Ah, M r U t t e r s o n , n o w y o u ' r e t a l k i n g ! " cried t h e butler.
" A n d h e r e c o m e s t h e second q u e s t i o n , " U t t e r s o n c o n t i n u e d . " W h o ' s
going to do i t ? "
"Why, you a n d I, sir," w a s t h e reply.
" T h a t is very well said," t h e l a w y e r told h i m , " a n d w h a t e v e r h a p p e n s ,
I shall take care t h a t you a r e n o t b l a m e d . "
"There's an axe in t h e laboratory," said P o o l e , " a n d y o u m i g h t t a k e
this iron bar for yourself."
T h e lawyer p i c k e d u p t h e i r o n b a r a n d b a l a n c e d i t i n his h a n d .
"Do you k n o w , P o o l e , " h e said, l o o k i n g u p , " t h a t you a n d I a r e a b o u t
to place ourselves in a position of s o m e d a n g e r ? "
"You m a y say so, sir."
" T h e n w e ' d b e t t e r b e h o n e s t w i t h each other," said t h e lawyer. " W e
both think m o r e t h a n w e ' v e said. N o w let's say just w h a t w e t h i n k . T h i s
masked figure t h a t y o u saw, d i d you recognise i t ? "
"Well, sir, it w e n t so quickly, a n d its b o d y w a s so strangely b e n t , t h a t
I could hardly s w e a r to a n y t h i n g , " t h e b u t l e r a n s w e r e d . " B u t if you m e a n
'Was it Mr H y d e ? ' , w h y , yes, I t h i n k it w a s ! You see, it w a s r o u g h l y his
size, and it h a d t h e s a m e q u i c k light w a y of m o v i n g , a n d w h o else could
have got in by t h e l a b o r a t o r y d o o r ? Y o u ' v e n o t forgotten, sir, that at the
t i m e o f t h e m u r d e r h e still h a d t h e key w i t h h i m . B u t that's n o t all. I don't

k n o w , M r U t t e r s o n , i f y o u ever m e t this M r H y d e ? "
"Yes," said t h e lawyer, "I once s p o k e w i t h h i m . "
" T h e n y o u m u s t k n o w , as well as t h e rest of us d o , that there was
s o m e t h i n g s t r a n g e a b o u t t h a t g e n t l e m a n , s o m e t h i n g t h a t m a d e you feel
q u i t e ill w i t h shock. I d o n ' t really k n o w h o w to describe it, sir, beyond
this: it w a s s o m e t h i n g you felt in y o u r bones, s o m e t h i n g cold a n d thin."
"I a d m i t I felt s o m e t h i n g of w h a t you d e s c r i b e , " said Mr Utterson.
" Q u i t e so, sir," replied Poole. " W e l l , w h e n t h a t m a s k e d t h i n g like a
m o n k e y j u m p e d from a m o n g t h e c h e m i c a l s a n d r u s h e d into the study, it
w e n t d o w n my b a c k b o n e like ice. O h , I k n o w it isn't proof, Mr Utterson;
I ' m e d u c a t e d e n o u g h for t h a t . B u t a m a n h a s his feelings, a n d I give you
m y w o r d o n t h e Bible t h a t i t w a s M r H y d e . "
"Yes, yes," said t h e lawyer. " M y feelings t e n d t h e s a m e way. Evil, I

fear, b r o u g h t h i m a n d y o u r m a s t e r together, a n d evil w a s sure to come of
s u c h a c o n n e c t i o n . Yes, truly, I believe you. I believe p o o r H a r r y is killed,
a n d I believe his m u r d e r e r (for w h a t p u r p o s e , G o d alone can tell) is still
h i d i n g i n his r o o m . W e l l , w e m u s t catch h i m . Call B r a d s h a w . "
T h e s e r v a n t a n s w e r e d Poole's call, l o o k i n g very pale a n d frightened.
" C a l m yourself, B r a d s h a w , " said t h e lawyer. " T h i s fearful uncertainty
has been bad for the nerves of all of you, I k n o w ; b u t we n o w intend to
p u t an e n d to it. P o o l e a n d I a r e g o i n g to force o u r w a y into the study. If
all is well in t h e r e , I ' m q u i t e r e a d y to b e a r t h e b l a m e . B u t in case anything
is really w r o n g , or in case a n y c r i m i n a l tries to escape, y o u a n d the boy
m u s t go r o u n d t h e c o r n e r w i t h a pair of g o o d sticks, a n d t a k e your post at
t h e l a b o r a t o r y door. We give you ten m i n u t e s to be ready at your places."
A s B r a d s h a w left, t h e l a w y e r l o o k e d a t his w a t c h . " A n d now, Poole,
let's g e t to o u r s , " he said. A n d t a k i n g t h e iron b a r u n d e r his a r m , he led
t h e w a y t h r o u g h t h e g a r d e n into t h e laboratory, w h e r e they sat down
silently to w a i t . T h e faint s o u n d s of L o n d o n w e n t on all a r o u n d ; but
n e a r e r a t h a n d t h e stillness w a s b r o k e n only b y t h e s o u n d o f footsteps
going u p a n d d o w n t h e s t u d y f l o o r .
"It w a l k s like t h a t all day, sir," w h i s p e r e d Poole, " a n d for the g r e a t e r
part of the n i g h t as well. O n l y w h e n a fresh d r u g c o m e s from th e c h e m i s t
is there any b r e a k . A h , sir, there's t h e blood of a m u r d e r e d m a n in every
step! But listen a g a i n , a little closer. P u t y o u r h e a r t in y o u r ears, Mr
Utterson, a n d tell me if that's t h e doctor's footstep."
T h e steps fell lightly a n d strangely, w i t h a certain s w i n g , a l t h o u g h
they w e n t so slowly; they w e r e very different from t h e heavy noisy
footsteps of H e n r y Jekyll. U t t e r s o n sighed. "Is t h e r e n e v e r a n y t h i n g
else?" he a s k e d .
" O n c e , " P o o l e a n s w e r e d , " o n c e I h e a r d it c r y i n g ! "
"Crying? W h a t k i n d of c r y i n g ? " a s k e d t h e lawyer, conscious of a
sudden icy feeling of h o r r o r .
" C r y i n g like a w o m a n or a lost soul," said t h e butler. "I c a m e a w a y so
upset that I too could h a v e cried."
But n o w t h e ten m i n u t e s h a d c o m e t o a n e n d . P o o l e p u l l e d o u t t h e axe
from u n d e r a p a c k i n g case; t h e c a n d l e w a s placed on the nearest table to
provide light for their a t t a c k ; a n d , h a r d l y b r e a t h i n g , they w e n t slowly
towards t h e r o o m w h e r e t h a t p a t i e n t foot w a s still w a l k i n g u p a n d d o w n ,
up and d o w n , in t h e q u i e t of t h e n i g h t .
"Jekyll," cried U t t e r s o n , in a l o u d voice, "I d e m a n d to see y o u . " He
paused a m o m e n t , b u t t h e r e w a s no reply. "I give you fair w a r n i n g , we
think there's s o m e t h i n g w r o n g , a n d I m u s t a n d shall see y o u , " he w e n t on;
"if not by fair m e a n s , t h e n by unfair ones. If n o t by y o u r invitation, t h e n
by force!"
" U t t e r s o n , " said t h e voice, "in G o d ' s n a m e , d o n ' t c o m e i n ! "
"Ah, that's n o t Jekyll's voice, it's H y d e ' s ! " cried U t t e r s o n . " B r e a k the
door d o w n , P o o l e ! "
Poole s w u n g t h e axe over his s h o u l d e r ; t h e b l o w s h o o k t h e b u i l d i n g ,
and the d o o r j u m p e d against t h e lock. A terrible cry, as of p u r e a n i m a l
terror, r a n g t h r o u g h t h e study. U p w e n t t h e axe a g a i n , a n d a g a i n t h e d o o r
j u m p e d . F o u r t i m e s t h e b l o w fell, b u t t h e w o o d w a s h a r d a n d t h e f i t t i n g s
w e r e excellently m a d e , a n d it w a s n o t until t h e f i f t h b l o w t h a t t h e lock
b u r s t a p a r t , a n d t h e w r e c k o f t h e d o o r fell i n w a r d s o n t h e floor.
T h e a t t a c k e r s , h o r r o r - s t r u c k b y their o w n violence a n d b y t h e stillness
t h a t followed it, stood b a c k a little a n d l o o k e d into t h e r o o m . T h e r e it lay
in t h e q u i e t l a m p l i g h t , a g o o d fire b u r n i n g cheerfully w i t h w a t e r heating
o v e r it, a d r a w e r or t w o lying o p e n , p a p e r s neatly set o u t on t h e d e s k and,
n e a r e r t h e f i r e , t h e t h i n g s a r r a n g e d for tea; t h e q u i e t e s t r o o m i n L o n d o n
t h a t n i g h t , y o u w o u l d h a v e said, a n d , except for t h e glass-fronted
c u p b o a r d s full o f c h e m i c a l s , t h e m o s t o r d i n a r y o n e .
R i g h t i n t h e m i d d l e t h e r e lay t h e b o d y o f a m a n , h o r r i b l y t w i s t e d and
n o t yet q u i t e still. T h e y w e n t t o w a r d s it carefully, t u r n e d it on its back,
a n d recognised t h e face o f E d w a r d H y d e . H e w a s dressed i n clothes that
w e r e far t o o b i g for h i m , clothes o f t h e d o c t o r ' s size. T h e m u s c l e s o f his
face still m o v e d as if he w e r e alive, b u t life w a s q u i t e g o n e ; a n d by the
b r o k e n bottle i n t h e h a n d a n d t h e s t r o n g smell t h a t h u n g i n t h e air,
U t t e r s o n k n e w t h a t h e w a s l o o k i n g a t t h e b o d y o f a self-destroyer.
" W e h a v e c o m e t o o late," h e said sadly, "either t o save o r t o p u n i s h .
H y d e h a s p a i d for his c r i m e s w i t h his o w n life. I t only r e m a i n s for u s t o
find the body of your master."
T h e y n o w t h o r o u g h l y e x a m i n e d t h e w h o l e b u i l d i n g . Besides the
l a b o r a t o r y a n d t h e s t u d y t h e r e w e r e o n l y s t o r e r o o m s a n d a few big d a r k
c u p b o a r d s . E a c h n e e d e d only a q u i c k look, for they w e r e all e m p t y , a n d
t h e d u s t t h a t fell from t h e i r d o o r s s h o w e d t h a t all h a d l o n g r e m a i n e d
u n o p e n e d . N o w h e r e w a s t h e r e any sign o f H e n r y Jekyll, d e a d o r alive.
P o o l e s t a m p e d o n t h e floor o f t h e passage.
" H e m u s t b e b u r i e d h e r e , " h e said, listening t o the s o u n d .
" O r h e m a y h a v e r u n a w a y , " said U t t e r s o n , a n d h e t u r n e d t o e x a m i n e
t h e d o o r into t h e side street. It w a s l o c k e d , a n d a rusty key w a s lying near
it on t h e floor.
" T h i s d o e s n ' t l o o k as if it has b e e n u s e d for a l o n g t i m e , " t h e lawyer

Dr Jekylls Last Night
remarked.
" U s e d ! " cried Poole. " D o n ' t you see, sir? It's b r o k e n , just as if a m a n
had s t a m p e d on it."
" A h , " said U t t e r s o n , " a n d t h e b r o k e n e d g e s a r e rusty t o o . " T h e t w o
m e n l o o k e d a t each other, w o n d e r i n g w h a t this m e a n t . " T h i s i s b e y o n d
m e , P o o l e , " t h e l a w y e r c o n t i n u e d . "Let's g o b a c k t o t h e s t u d y . "
T h e y w e n t u p t h e stairs i n silence, a n d w i t h a n occasional f r i g h t e n e d
look a t t h e d e a d b o d y they e x a m i n e d e v e r y t h i n g i n t h e r o o m , e v e n m o r e
t h o r o u g h l y t h a n before. A t o n e table t h e r e w e r e signs o f c h e m i c a l w o r k
with various m e a s u r e d piles of s o m e w h i t e salt on s o m e small glass plates,
as if the u n h a p p y m a n had been interrupted d u r i n g some experiment.
" T h a t ' s t h e s a m e d r u g t h a t I w a s a l w a y s b r i n g i n g h i m , " said P o o l e .
A n d a s h e s p o k e , t h e w a t e r h e a t i n g a b o v e t h e f i r e s u d d e n l y boiled over.
T h i s brought t h e m to the fireside, w h e r e the chair was d r a w n up and
the tea t h i n g s stood beside it, even w i t h s u g a r in t h e c u p . T h e r e w e r e
several b o o k s on a shelf, a n d o n e lay o p e n beside t h e tea t h i n g s . U t t e r s o n
was s u r p r i s e d to see t h a t it w a s a religious w o r k w h i c h Jekyll h a d several
times u r g e d h i m t o read, a n d t h a t s o m e s u r p r i s i n g l y irreligious notes h a d
been w r i t t e n on it in t h e doctor's o w n w r i t i n g .
N e x t , t h e searchers c a m e t o t h e l o n g m i r r o r a n d l o o k e d into its d e p t h s
w i t h n e r v o u s fear. B u t it s h o w e d t h e m n o t h i n g except t h e firelight
shining endlessly from t h e glass-fronted c u p b o a r d s , a n d their o w n pale
and f r i g h t e n e d faces l o o k i n g in.
" T h i s m i r r o r has seen s o m e s t r a n g e t h i n g s , sir," w h i s p e r e d Poole.
" A n d surely n o n e w a s s t r a n g e r t h a n itself," replied t h e lawyer, also in
a whisper. " W h a t did J e k y l l . . . " he p a u s e d , h a l f afraid to ask h i m s e l f t h e
question, " w h a t could Jekyll w a n t it f o r ? "
"I h a v e no idea," said Poole.
N e x t they t u r n e d t o t h e d e s k . A m o n g t h e n e a t piles o f p a p e r s t h e r e
was a n e n v e l o p e o n w h i c h w a s w r i t t e n , i n t h e doctor's w r i t i n g , t h e n a m e
of Mr U t t e r s o n . T h e l a w y e r o p e n e d it, a n d several p a p e r s fell to t h e floor.
T h e first w a s a will, as strangely w o r d e d as t h e o n e he h a d r e t u r n e d to the

d o c t o r six m o n t h s before; b u t in place of t h e n a m e of E d w a r d H y d e , the
l a w y e r r e a d , w i t h i n d e s c r i b a b l e s u r p r i s e , t h e n a m e of Gabriel John
U t t e r s o n . He l o o k e d at Poole, a n d t h e n back at t h e will, a n d last of all at
t h e d e a d m a n s t r e t c h e d o n t h e floor.
"I d o n ' t u n d e r s t a n d , " he said. " H e has b e e n h e r e for days. He had no

cause t o like m e . H e m u s t h a v e b e e n a n g r y t o see m y n a m e instead o f his.
B u t h e h a s n o t d e s t r o y e d this p a p e r . "
He p i c k e d up t h e n e x t o n e . It w a s a s h o r t n o t e in t h e doctor's writing,
and dated at the top.
" O h , P o o l e ! " t h e l a w y e r cried. " H e w a s alive a n d h e r e today. H i s body

c a n ' t h a v e been r e m o v e d in such a s h o r t t i m e . He m u s t still be alive, he
m u s t h a v e r u n a w a y ! B u t t h e n , w h y w o u l d h e r u n a w a y ? A n d h o w ? And
if he d i d , can we safely say t h a t this m a n killed himself? O h , we must be
careful. I've a feeling t h a t we m a y still cause y o u r m a s t e r to suffer some
terrible e n d . "
" W h y d o n ' t y o u r e a d t h a t n o t e , s i r ? " a s k e d Poole.

" B e c a u s e I ' m afraid t o , " replied t h e lawyer. "I p r a y G o d that I may
find no cause for my fears!" A n d w i t h t h a t he fixed his eyes on the paper
a n d r e a d as follows:
My dear U t t e r s o n ,
W h e n this c o m e s i n t o y o u r h a n d s , I shall have disappeared. I cannot be

certain as to h o w t h a t will h a p p e n , b u t my feelings and all t h e suspicions of
my situation tell me that the end is sure and m u s t c o m e soon. Go then, and
first read t h e story w h i c h , Lanyon w a r n e d m e , he was going to place in your
hands; and if you wish to hear m o r e , t u r n to the story of,
Your ashamed and unhappy friend,
HENRY JEKYLL.
" T h e r e was a third paper?" asked Utterson.

Dr Lanyon's Story
" H e r e , sir." said Poole, a n d h a n d e d to h i m a fat e n v e l o p e t h a t w a s

sealed in several places.
T h e l a w y e r p u t i t i n his p o c k e t .
" W e ' d better say n o t h i n g a b o u t this. If y o u r m a s t e r has r u n a w a y or is
dead, w e m a y a t least save his g o o d n a m e . It's n o w t e n o'clock. I m u s t g o
home a n d r e a d these p a p e r s in q u i e t ; b u t I shall be b a c k before m i d n i g h t ,
w h e n we shall s e n d for t h e police."
T h e y w e n t out, locking the door of the laboratory behind t h e m . A n d
U t t e r s o n , l e a v i n g t h e s e r v a n t s o n c e m o r e r o u n d t h e f i r e i n t h e hall,
w a l k e d slowly back to his o w n study to read the t w o stories in w h i c h this
mystery w a s n o w t o b e e x p l a i n e d .
Dr Lanyon's Story
On J a n u a r y 9 t h , n o w four days a g o , I received by t h e e v e n i n g post an

envelope addressed in the h a n d w r i t i n g of my colleague and old
schoolfriend, H e n r y Jekyll. I w a s a g o o d deal s u r p r i s e d by this, for we
w e r e by no m e a n s in t h e h a b i t of w r i t i n g to each other. I h a d seen t h e
m a n , a n d h a d d i n n e r w i t h h i m , t h e n i g h t before, a n d I could i m a g i n e n o
reason w h y he s h o u l d s e n d me a letter. T h e subject of it increased my
w o n d e r , for this is h o w t h e letter r a n :
10th December
D e a r Lanyon,
You are one of my oldest friends, and although we may have disagreed
at t i m e s on scientific questions, I cannot r e m e m b e r any break in o u r
friendship. T h e r e was never a day w h e n , if you had said to m e , "Jekyll, my

life, my h o n o u r , my balance of m i n d , all d e p e n d on you," I would not have
given my f o r t u n e or my left hand to help you. Lanyon, my life, my honour,
my balance of m i n d are all in your hands; if you fail me tonight, I am lost.
I w a n t you to delay all o t h e r plans for tonight, yes, even if you were
called to t h e bedside of a q u e e n ; I w a n t you to hire a carriage and, with this
l e t t e r in y o u r h a n d , to drive straight to my h o u s e . Poole, my butler, has his
o r d e r s ; you will find h i m waiting for you w i t h a locksmith. T h e d o o r of my
study is t h e n to be forced o p e n . You are to go in alone: to o p e n the glass
d o o r of t h e c u p b o a r d ( m a r k e d w i t h an E) on t h e left side, breaking the lock
if necessary; and to take o u t , w i t h everything in it, t h e f o u r t h drawer from
t h e t o p or (which is the same thing) the third from t h e b o t t o m . In my
e x t r e m e state of m i n d , I have a t e r r i b l e fear of misdirecting you. But even
if I am mistaken, you will k n o w t h e right d r a w e r by w h a t it contains: some
p o w d e r s , a small glass b o t t l e , and a n o t e b o o k . I b e g you to carry this drawer
back w i t h you to Cavendish Square, just as it is.
T h a t is t h e first p a r t of my r e q u e s t ; n o w c o m e s t h e s e c o n d . You should
be b a c k , if you set o u t as s o o n as you receive this, long before midnight.
At m i d n i g h t , t h e n , I have to ask you to be alone in y o u r study, to admit
w i t h y o u r o w n h a n d i n t o t h e h o u s e a m a n w h o will p r e s e n t himself in my
n a m e , and to place in his hands t h e d r a w e r that you will have brought
from my study. T h e n you will have played y o u r p a r t and e a r n e d my
u n d y i n g t h a n k s . Five m i n u t e s a f t e r w a r d s , if you d e m a n d an explanation,
you will have u n d e r s t o o d t h a t t h e s e a r r a n g e m e n t s are of t h e greatest
possible i m p o r t a n c e , and that by failing to do any o n e of t h e m , regardless
of h o w s t r a n g e it s e e m s , you m i g h t have caused my d e a t h or t h e loss of my
mind.
T h o u g h I am confident that you will t r e a t this despairing r e q u e s t with
all s e r i o u s n e s s , my h e a r t sinks and my h a n d t r e m b l e s at t h e possibility of
y o u r failing m e . T h i n k of me at this h o u r , in a strange place, in darker
hopelessness than t h e w i l d e s t fancy could d e s c r i b e , b u t k n o w i n g that, if
Dr Lanyon's Story
you will h e l p m e , my t r o u b l e s will roll away like a s t o r y t h a t is t o l d . H e l p

m e , my d e a r Lanyon, and save,
Your friend,
H. J.
P. S. I had already sealed this w h e n a fresh t e r r o r s t r u c k my soul. It is
possible that the post office may fail m e , and that this l e t t e r may n o t c o m e
into your hands until t o m o r r o w m o r n i n g . In that case, d e a r Lanyon, do
what I have asked w h e n it shall be m o s t convenient for you in t h e c o u r s e of
the day, and once m o r e e x p e c t my m e s s e n g e r at m i d n i g h t . It may t h e n
already be t o o late; and if that night passes w i t h o u t event, you will k n o w
that you will never see H e n r y Jekyll again.
O n r e a d i n g this letter, I w a s s u r e m y friend w a s m a d . B u t u n t i l t h a t

was p r o v e d b e y o n d t h e possibility of d o u b t , I felt I h a d to do as he
r e q u e s t e d . T h e less I u n d e r s t o o d of this w i l d story, t h e less I could j u d g e
its i m p o r t a n c e ; a n d a r e q u e s t m a d e i n s u c h w o r d s could n o t lightly b e
ignored. So I left my d i n n e r table, called a c a r r i a g e , a n d d r o v e s t r a i g h t to
Jekyll's h o u s e . T h e b u t l e r w a s e x p e c t i n g m e ; h e h a d received b y t h e s a m e
post as m i n e a letter c o n t a i n i n g his o r d e r s , a n d h a d sent i m m e d i a t e l y for
a l o c k s m i t h a n d a c a r p e n t e r . T h e s e m e n c a m e w h i l e we w e r e still
s p e a k i n g , a n d w e m o v e d t o g e t h e r t o t h e laboratory. T h e d o o r o f t h e study
w a s very s t r o n g , a n d its lock w a s excellent; t h e c a r p e n t e r t h o u g h t h e
w o u l d h a v e g r e a t t r o u b l e , a n d w o u l d h a v e to do a lot of d a m a g e , if force
w e r e used; a n d t h e l o c k s m i t h w a s n e a r despair. B u t he w a s a skilful m a n ,
a n d after t w o h o u r s ' w o r k t h e d o o r stood o p e n . T h e c u p b o a r d m a r k e d E
was u n l o c k e d ; a n d I t o o k o u t t h e d r a w e r , h a d it p a c k e d up a n d tied in a
sheet, a n d r e t u r n e d w i t h it to my h o u s e .
H e r e I e x a m i n e d w h a t i t c o n t a i n e d . T h e p o w d e r s w e r e q u i t e carefully
p a c k e d , b u t n o t w i t h t h e neatness of a c h e m i s t ; so it w a s p l a i n t h a t Jekyll
had m a d e t h e m u p himself, a n d w h e n I o p e n e d o n e o f t h e w r a p p e r s I
f o u n d s o m e t h i n g t h a t s e e m e d t o b e a s i m p l e w h i t e salt. T h e bottle, t o
w h i c h I n e x t t u r n e d my a t t e n t i o n , w a s p e r h a p s a b o u t h a l f full of a blood-
r e d l i q u i d . T h e b o o k w a s a n o r d i n a r y n o t e b o o k a n d c o n t a i n e d little but a
list of dates. T h e s e c o v e r e d a p e r i o d of m a n y years, b u t I noticed t h a t they
h a d s t o p p e d q u i t e s u d d e n l y a year a g o . H e r e a n d t h e r e a s h o r t remark
w a s a d d e d to a d a t e , usually no m o r e t h a n a single w o r d : "double"
a p p e a r e d p e r h a p s six t i m e s in a total of several h u n d r e d notes; a n d once,
very early in t h e list, "total failure! ! !".
A l l t h i s , t h o u g h i t s h a r p e n e d m y interest, told m e little. H o w could
t h e p r e s e n c e of these t h i n g s in my h o u s e affect e i t h e r t h e h o n o u r , the
m i n d or t h e life of my fanciful friend? If this m e s s e n g e r could come to
o n e place, w h y c o u l d h e n o t g o t o a n o t h e r ? A n d w h y w a s this gentleman
to be received by me in secret? T h e m o r e I t h o u g h t a b o u t it, the more
certain I g r e w t h a t I w a s d e a l i n g w i t h a case of b r a i n disease. T h o u g h I
sent my s e r v a n t s to b e d , I l o a d e d an o l d g u n , so t h a t I w o u l d be ready to
d e f e n d myself.
T w e l v e o'clock h a d h a r d l y r u n g o u t over L o n d o n w h e n t h e knocker
s o u n d e d very gently on t h e front door. I o p e n e d it myself a n d found a
small m a n l e a n i n g m i s e r a b l y a g a i n s t t h e d o o r p o s t .
" H a v e you c o m e f r o m D r J e k y l l ? " I a s k e d .
H e q u i c k l y a n s w e r e d , "Yes", a n d w h e n I r e q u e s t e d h i m t o enter, h e
d i d so w i t h a s e a r c h i n g b a c k w a r d l o o k i n t o t h e d a r k n e s s of t h e square.
T h e r e w a s a p o l i c e m a n n o t far off, w i t h a l a m p in his h a n d , a n d at the
sight o f h i m m y visitor s e e m e d t o c o m e inside w i t h increased urgency.
T h e s e details m a d e me a n x i o u s , a n d as I followed h i m i n t o t h e bright
light of my study, I k e p t my h a n d ready on my w e a p o n . H e r e , at last, I
h a d a c h a n c e to see h i m clearly. I h a d n e v e r seen h i m before, that was
q u i t e c e r t a i n . He w a s s m a l l , as I h a v e said. I also noticed t h e shocking
expression on his face, t h e m u s c u l a r activity of his o t h e r w i s e w e a k body,
a n d , last b u t n o t least, t h e u n p l e a s a n t effect t h a t his closeness h a d on my
feelings.
T h i s p e r s o n w a s dressed in a fashion t h a t w o u l d h a v e m a d e an
Dr Lanyon's Story
ordinary p e r s o n l a u g h a b l e ; his clothes, a l t h o u g h they w e r e of fine

material, w e r e far too large for h i m in every m e a s u r e m e n t . T h e t r o u s e r s
hung away from his legs a n d w e r e rolled u p t o k e e p t h e m off t h e g r o u n d ;
the waist of t h e coat c a m e b e l o w his s t o m a c h , a n d t h e collar w a s s p r e a d
wide across his s h o u l d e r s . F o r s o m e s t r a n g e reason this l a u g h a b l e
appearance w a s far from m o v i n g m e t o l a u g h t e r . T o m y i n t e r e s t i n his
nature a n d character, t h e r e w a s a d d e d a desire to k n o w s o m e t h i n g of his
origin, his life, his f o r t u n e a n d position in t h e w o r l d .
T h e s e t h o u g h t s , t h o u g h they h a v e t a k e n s o m u c h space i n w r i t i n g ,
were the w o r k only of a few seconds. My visitor w a s on fire w i t h
excitement.
" H a v e you g o t i t ? " h e cried. " H a v e you got i t ? " A n d his i m p a t i e n c e
was so great t h a t he even laid a h a n d on my a r m a n d tried to s h a k e m e .
I was conscious, as he t o u c h e d m e , of a certain icy p a i n r u n n i n g
through my blood. I p u s h e d h i m away.
" C o m e , sir," said I. "You forget t h a t I h a v e n o t yet t h e p l e a s u r e of
k n o w i n g you. Be seated, if you please." A n d I set h i m an e x a m p l e , sitting
down i n m y usual seat a n d w i t h a s m u c h o f m y o r d i n a r y professional
m a n n e r a s the late h o u r , t h e n a t u r e o f m y t h o u g h t s , a n d m y h o r r o r o f m y
visitor, w o u l d let me show.
" I beg y o u r p a r d o n , D r L a n y o n , " h e replied, q u i t e politely. " W h a t you
say is perfectly t r u e ; my i m p a t i e n c e has m a d e me forget my m a n n e r s . I
come here a t t h e r e q u e s t o f y o u r friend, D r H e n r y Jekyll, o n business o f
great i m p o r t a n c e , a n d I u n d e r s t o o d . . ." he p a u s e d a n d p u t a h a n d to his
throat, a n d I could see, in spite of his c a l m m a n n e r , t h a t he w a s s t r u g g l i n g
against some u n c o n t r o l l a b l e feelings, "I u n d e r s t o o d t h a t a d r a w e r . . ."
But h e r e I t o o k pity on my visitor's anxiety, a n d also p e r h a p s on my
own g r o w i n g desire for an e x p l a n a t i o n .
" T h e r e it is, sir," said I, p o i n t i n g to t h e d r a w e r , w h i c h lay on t h e floor
behind a table a n d w a s still covered w i t h a sheet.
He r u s h e d to it, a n d t h e n p a u s e d a n d laid his h a n d on his h e a r t . I
could h e a r his teeth m o v i n g against each other, a n d his face was so pale
a n d so full of h o r r o r t h a t I g r e w e x t r e m e l y w o r r i e d .
" C a l m yourself," I said.
He g a v e me a h o r r i b l e smile a n d t h e n , as if w i t h t h e decision of
despair, h e p u l l e d a w a y t h e sheet. W h e n h e s a w w h a t w a s u n d e r it, h e
g a v e o n e l o u d cry of such relief t h a t I sat t h e r e speechless. A n d the next
m o m e n t , in a voice t h a t w a s a l r e a d y fairly well u n d e r c o n t r o l , " H a v e you
a glass m e a s u r e ? " he a s k e d .
I rose f r o m my place w i t h q u i t e an effort, a n d g a v e h i m w h a t he
a s k e d . He t h a n k e d me w i t h a smile, m e a s u r e d o u t a few d r o p s of the red
liquid a n d a d d e d o n e o f t h e p o w d e r s . T h e m i x t u r e , w h i c h w a s a t f i r s t a
d a r k r e d , soon b e g a n to b r i g h t e n in c o l o u r a n d to g i v e off a little gas.
S u d d e n l y , a n d at t h e s a m e m o m e n t , t h e m i x t u r e c h a n g e d to a dark
p u r p l e , a n d t h e n m o r e slowly to a w a t e r y g r e e n . My visitor, w h o had
w a t c h e d t h i s w i t h a n e a g e r eye, s m i l e d , p u t t h e glass d o w n o n t h e table,
a n d t h e n t u r n e d a n d e x a m i n e d m y face.
" A n d n o w , " he said, "let's settle w h a t is to be d o n e . W i l l you be wise?
W i l l y o u b e g u i d e d ? W i l l y o u let m e t a k e this glass i n m y h a n d a n d leave
y o u r h o u s e w i t h o u t f u r t h e r t a l k ? O r has y o u r desire t o k n o w too strong
a h o l d on y o u ? T h i n k before you a n s w e r ; it shall be d o n e as you decide.
If you w i s h , you shall be left as you w e r e before, n e i t h e r richer n o r wiser,
unless t h e sense of service d o n e to a m a n in terrible p a i n m a y be counted
as riches of t h e soul. O r , if you prefer it, n e w k n o w l e d g e a n d n e w roads
t o f a m e a n d p o w e r shall b e o p e n e d t o y o u , h e r e i n this room,
i m m e d i a t e l y ; a n d y o u r eyes will be b l i n d e d w i t h w o n d e r at a sight that
w o u l d f r i g h t e n t h e devil himself."
"Sir," said I, p r e t e n d i n g to be m u c h c a l m e r t h a n I really was, "you
speak mysteriously, a n d you will p e r h a p s n o t be s u r p r i s e d if I hardly
believe you. B u t I h a v e g o n e too far in t h e w a y of s t r a n g e services to pause
n o w before I see t h e e n d . "
"Very well," replied m y visitor. " L a n y o n , r e m e m b e r y o u r professional
Dr Lanyon's Story
h o n o u r ; w h a t follows m u s t be a secret b e t w e e n us, as d o c t o r s . A n d n o w ,

you w h o h a v e s o l o n g h e l d t h e m o s t n a r r o w a n d t r a d i t i o n a l views, you
w h o h a v e s c o r n e d t h e idea t h a t m e d i c i n e can go b e y o n d t h e laws of
nature, you w h o h a v e l a u g h e d a t wiser m e n , w a t c h t h i s ! "
He p u t t h e glass to his lips a n d d r a n k . A cry followed. He lost his
balance a n d half fell, t h e n c a u g h t at t h e table a n d h e l d o n , his eyes red a n d
wild, b r e a t h i n g heavily. A n d as I w a t c h e d t h e r e c a m e , I t h o u g h t , a
change; he s e e m e d to swell, his face b e c a m e s u d d e n l y black, a n d its shape
seemed t o m e l t a n d r e a r r a n g e itself, a n d t h e n e x t m o m e n t I h a d j u m p e d
t o m y feet a n d back against the wall, w i t h m y a r m raised t o h i d e m e from
that u n n a t u r a l sight a n d w i t h m y m i n d full o f terror.
" O h , G o d ! " I cried, a n d " O h , G o d ! " a g a i n a n d a g a i n . F o r t h e r e i n
front o f m y eyes, pale a n d suffering from s h o c k , a n d h a l f f a i n t i n g , a n d
feeling blindly a r o u n d h i m w i t h his h a n d s , like a d e a d m a n w h o h a s c o m e
back to life, t h e r e stood H e n r y Jekyll!
M y m i n d i s too confused t o w r i t e d o w n w h a t h e told m e i n t h e n e x t
hour. I s a w w h a t I saw, I h e a r d w h a t I h e a r d , a n d it m a d e my soul sick.
But n o w , w h e n t h a t sight has d i s a p p e a r e d from my eyes, I ask m y s e l f if I
believe it, a n d I c a n n o t a n s w e r . My life is s h a k e n to its roots; sleep has left
m e , a n d t e r r o r sits by me at all h o u r s of t h e day a n d n i g h t . I feel t h a t my
last day is c o m i n g , a n d t h a t I m u s t die; b u t still I shall die in disbelief. As
for t h e evil t h a t t h a t m a n has m a d e k n o w n to m e , I c a n n o t t h i n k of it
w i t h o u t a s h o c k e d feeling of h o r r o r , even t h o u g h I cry w i t h s h a m e at t h e
m e m o r y of it. I will tell you only o n e t h i n g , U t t e r s o n , a n d t h a t (if you can
force y o u r m i n d t o believe it) will b e m o r e t h a n e n o u g h . T h e p e r s o n w h o
c a m e t o m y h o u s e t h a t n i g h t w a s , b y Jekyll's o w n a d m i s s i o n , k n o w n b y
t h e n a m e o f H y d e a n d h u n t e d for i n every c o r n e r o f t h e l a n d a s the
murderer of Carew.
HASTIE LANYON
Henry Jekyll's Full statement of the Case
I w a s b o r n i n t o a rich family a n d w a s also gifted w i t h excellent abilities, I

h a d a n a t u r a l taste for h a r d w o r k , a n d I v a l u e d t h e respect of t h e wise and
t h e g o o d a m o n g those a r o u n d m e ; so I w a s certain, you m i g h t have
t h o u g h t , to b e c o m e a respected a n d h o n o u r a b l e m a n . T h e w o r s t of my
faults w a s a k i n d of i m p a t i e n t e x c i t e m e n t a n d desire for entertainment,
such as h a s m a d e m a n y m e n h a p p y ; b u t I f o u n d it h a r d to c o m b i n e this
w i t h m y s t r o n g d e s i r e t o c a r r y m y h e a d h i g h a n d t o w e a r a serious
expression in public. So I k e p t my pleasures secret; a n d w h e n I g r e w old
e n o u g h to t h i n k deeply a n d to consider my progress a n d position in the
w o r l d , I f o u n d myself a l r e a d y l i v i n g a d o u b l e life.
M a n y m e n w o u l d even h a v e s p o k e n p r o u d l y o f such w r o n g d o i n g s a s
I w a s guilty of; b u t from the h i g h s t a n d a r d t h a t I h a d openly set for
myself, I r e g a r d e d t h e m w i t h a d e e p sense of s h a m e . T h o u g h I led this
d o u b l e life, b o t h sides of my c h a r a c t e r w e r e completely sincere. I was no
m o r e m y s e l f w h e n I a l l o w e d my self-control to slide a n d s a n k into secret
s h a m e , t h a n w h e n I publicly d i r e c t e d all my efforts to scientific studies
a n d to t h e relief of suffering.
I h a d r e a c h e d this stage w h e n my l a b o r a t o r y e x p e r i m e n t s began to
t h r o w light on t h e m a t t e r . I b e g a n to realise, m o r e deeply t h a n anyone has
yet stated, h o w c h a n g e a b l e a n d h o w insubstantial this solid-looking body
is in w h i c h we w a l k . I f o u n d t h a t certain d r u g s h a v e t h e p o w e r to shake
a n d pull a p a r t o u r c o v e r i n g of flesh, just as t h e w i n d m i g h t b l o w a curtain
to o n e side. At last I even m a n a g e d to m i x a d r u g t h a t w o u l d c h a n g e the
w h o l e substance of my b o d y a n d m i n d , a n d w o u l d r e s h a p e t h e m in a new
way t h a t w o u l d be no less n a t u r a l because it w a s t h e clear expression of
t h e lowest qualities in my soul.
I w a i t e d for a l o n g t i m e before I tested this idea experimentally.
Henry Jekyll's Full Statement of the Case
I k n e w well t h a t I r i s k e d d e a t h ; any d r u g t h a t so p o w e r f u l l y c o n t r o l l e d
my i n n e r n a t u r e m i g h t , if I t o o k too m u c h of it, c o m p l e t e l y destroy the
body t h a t I w a n t e d it to c h a n g e . B u t t h e t h o u g h t of such a p o w e r f u l
discovery a t last m a d e m e o v e r c o m e m y fears. I h a d a l r e a d y p r e p a r e d t h e
liquid; I n o w b o u g h t a large q u a n t i t y of a p a r t i c u l a r salt f r o m a c h e m i s t ,
which I k n e w , from my e x p e r i m e n t s , to be t h e o n e t h i n g still n e e d e d , a n d
late o n e n i g h t I m i x e d t h e d r u g s . I w a t c h e d t h e m boil a n d s t e a m in a glass,
a n d , w i t h a b u r s t of c o u r a g e , I s w a l l o w e d t h e m i x t u r e .
T h e m o s t terrible pains followed: I e x p e r i e n c e d a c h i n g b o n e s , violent

sickness, a n d a sense of h o r r o r t h a t c a n n o t be w o r s e at t h e h o u r of b i r t h
or d e a t h . T h e n these p a i n s q u i c k l y b e g a n to pass, a n d I r e c o v e r e d as if I
h a d b e e n suffering from a serious illness. I felt s o m e t h i n g s t r a n g e in my
blood, s o m e t h i n g indescribably n e w , unbelievably sweet. I felt y o u n g e r ,
lighter a n d h a p p i e r in body; in my m i n d , I w a s conscious of a w i l d c u r r e n t
o f d i s o r d e r e d fancies a n d o f a n u n k n o w n a n d slightly evil f r e e d o m o f t h e
soul. I k n e w , at t h e first b r e a t h of this n e w life, t h a t I w a s t h e slave of my
original evil, b u t m u c h w o r s e , ten t i m e s w o r s e ; a n d t h e t h o u g h t o f this
s t r e n g t h e n e d a n d pleased m e like w i n e . I s t r e t c h e d o u t m y h a n d s , t a k i n g
pleasure in t h e freshness of these feelings, a n d as I d i d I s u d d e n l y realised
t h a t I h a d lost h e i g h t .
T h e r e w a s n o m i r r o r i n m y s t u d y a t t h a t t i m e . Filled w i t h h o p e a n d
w i t h t h e p r i d e of success, I d e c i d e d to go o u t in my n e w s h a p e as far as my
b e d r o o m . I crossed t h e y a r d ; I w a l k e d softly a l o n g t h e passages, a s t r a n g e r
i n m y o w n h o u s e ; a n d w h e n I a r r i v e d at my r o o m I s a w for t h e first t i m e
the a p p e a r a n c e o f E d w a r d H y d e .
I s p e n t only a m o m e n t in front of t h e m i r r o r . T h e second a n d decisive

e x p e r i m e n t h a d still to be a t t e m p t e d . It r e m a i n e d to be seen w h e t h e r I
h a d lost myself b e y o n d recovery a n d m u s t escape before d a y l i g h t from a
h o u s e t h a t w a s n o l o n g e r m i n e . H u r r y i n g b a c k t o m y study, I p r e p a r e d
a n d d r a n k t h e m i x t u r e once m o r e ; o n c e m o r e I suffered t h e p a i n s o f
d e a t h , a n d once m o r e I r e c o v e r e d , b u t w i t h t h e c h a r a c t e r a n d t h e
a p p e a r a n c e o f H e n r y Jekyll.
T h a t n i g h t I h a d c o m e to a d e a d l y c r o s s r o a d s . If I h a d c o n s i d e r e d my
discovery in a b e t t e r f r a m e of m i n d , if I h a d carried o u t t h e experiment
w h i l e u n d e r t h e influence of g o o d i n t e n t i o n s , e v e r y t h i n g w o u l d have
been different; from these pains of d e a t h a n d b i r t h I w o u l d h a v e c o m e out
as a s e r v a n t of G o d a n d n o t of t h e devil. T h e d r u g itself w a s neither bad
n o r g o o d . It simply shook the d o o r s of t h e prison of my character, and the
evil spirits t h a t h a d b e e n locked t h e r e w e r e s u d d e n l y freed. At that time
all g o o d n e s s i n m e w a s asleep; m y evil w a s r e a d y t o seize its opportunity,
a n d t h e t h i n g t h a t i t p r o d u c e d w a s E d w a r d H y d e . S o a l t h o u g h I n o w had
t w o c h a r a c t e r s as well as t w o a p p e a r a n c e s , o n e w a s completely evil; the
o t h e r w a s still t h e old H e n r y Jekyll, t h a t s t r a n g e m i x t u r e of whose
i m p r o v e m e n t I h a d a l r e a d y l e a r n e d to despair. So t h e t e n d e n c y was
completely towards the worse.
E v e n at t h a t t i m e I h a d n o t yet g a i n e d c o n t r o l of my distaste for a life
of study. I still l i k e d to h a v e a g o o d t i m e . A n d as my p l e a s u r e s w e r e , to say
t h e least, u n s u i t e d to a respectable doctor, a n d I w a s n o t only well known
b u t also g r o w i n g r a t h e r old, this s t r u g g l e b e t w e e n m y t w o characters was
daily b e c o m i n g m o r e u n w e l c o m e . My n e w p o w e r t e m p t e d me until I fell
a n d b e c a m e its slave. S i m p l y d r i n k i n g t h e m i x t u r e , I could be free of the
b o d y o f t h e d o c t o r a n d w e a r instead, like a m a s k , t h a t of E d w a r d Hyde.
I smiled at t h e idea, w h i c h s e e m e d to me at t h e t i m e to be a m u s i n g , and I
m a d e my preparations w i t h particular care.
F i r s t I t o o k t h a t h o u s e in S o h o to w h i c h H y d e w a s t r a c k e d by the
police; a n d I e m p l o y e d as h o u s e k e e p e r a p e r s o n w h o , I well knew,
possessed a silent t o n g u e a n d no p a r t i c u l a r respect for t h e law. T h e n I
a n n o u n c e d to my s e r v a n t s t h a t a Mr H y d e , w h o m I described, was to be
freely accepted in my h o u s e in the s q u a r e a n d t h a t they w e r e to do as he
asked; a n d I even called a n d m a d e myself k n o w n to t h e m in my second
character. I n e x t p r e p a r e d t h a t will, to w h i c h y o u , U t t e r s o n , so strongly
objected, so t h a t if a n y t h i n g h a p p e n e d to me w h i l e I w a s H e n r y Jekyll, I
could c o n t i n u e i n t h e p e r s o n o f E d w a r d H y d e w i t h o u t loss o f m y
possessions. W h e n I h a d m a d e all t h e a r r a n g e m e n t s I c o u l d to p r o t e c t my
interests, I b e g a n to m a k e use of t h e s t r a n g e f r e e d o m of my position.
Men h a v e , before n o w , h i r e d o t h e r s to do their c r i m e s for t h e m . I w a s
the first t h a t ever d i d so just for p l e a s u r e . I w a s t h e first w h o could a p p e a r
respectable in t h e eyes of t h e public, b u t could in a m o m e n t , like a
schoolboy, t h r o w off t h e clothes of respectability a n d j u m p h e a d first into
the sea of f r e e d o m . In my u n r e c o g n i s a b l e m a s k , I w a s c o m p l e t e l y safe.
T h i n k of it, I d i d n o t even exist! Just let me escape into my laboratory, just
give me a second or t w o to m i x a n d s w a l l o w t h e d r u g s t h a t w e r e always
ready, a n d E d w a r d H y d e , w h a t e v e r h e h a d d o n e , w o u l d d i s a p p e a r like a
breath on a m i r r o r . A n d t h e r e instead, quietly at h o m e , w o r k i n g late at
night i n his study, w o u l d b e H e n r y Jekyll, a m a n w h o c o u l d afford t o
laugh at any suspicion.
I do n o t i n t e n d to describe in detail t h e w r o n g s t h a t I a l l o w e d my
other self to do (even n o w I c a n h a r d l y believe t h a t I d i d t h e m ) . I m e a n
only t o p o i n t o u t t h e w a r n i n g s w i t h w h i c h m y p u n i s h m e n t g r a d u a l l y
arrived. T h e r e w a s an accident, w h i c h I just m e n t i o n , as no serious
trouble followed; an act of cruelty to a child s t i r r e d t h e a n g e r of a w i t n e s s ,
w h o m I recognised a few days a g o as y o u r cousin. A d o c t o r a n d t h e child's
family joined h i m . T h e r e w e r e m o m e n t s w h e n m y life w a s i n d a n g e r .
Finally, i n o r d e r t o satisfy t h e m , E d w a r d H y d e h a d t o b r i n g t h e m t o m y
door a n d pay t h e m w i t h a c h e q u e signed by H e n r y Jekyll. B u t this d a n g e r
was easily a v o i d e d for t h e f u t u r e by o p e n i n g an a c c o u n t at a n o t h e r b a n k
i n the n a m e o f E d w a r d H y d e himself; a n d w h e n , b y sloping m y w r i t i n g
b a c k w a r d s , I h a d supplied h i m w i t h a s i g n a t u r e , I t h o u g h t I w o u l d be
safe.
Some t w o m o n t h s before t h e m u r d e r o f Sir D a n v e r s , I h a d been o u t
for one of my a d v e n t u r e s , h a d r e t u r n e d at a late h o u r , a n d w o k e in the
m o r n i n g w i t h a r a t h e r s t r a n g e feeling. I l o o k e d a r o u n d m e , s a w t h e
familiar f u r n i t u r e o f m y big b e d r o o m , a n d recognised t h e p a t t e r n o f t h e
c u r t a i n s r o u n d my b e d . In spite of all this, s o m e t h i n g still k e p t telling me

t h a t I w a s n o t w h e r e I w a s , t h a t I h a d n o t w o k e n w h e r e I seemed to be,
b u t in t h e little r o o m in S o h o w h e r e I used to sleep in t h e body of Edward
Hyde.
I s m i l e d to myself, a n d lazily w o n d e r e d w h y I felt so s t r a n g e , b u t I was
still h a l f asleep a n d my eyes k e p t closing. I w a s still in this d r e a m y state
w h e n , o p e n i n g my eyes for a m o m e n t , I noticed my h a n d . N o w , the hand
of H e n r y Jekyll (as you h a v e often r e m a r k e d , U t t e r s o n ) w a s large, firm,
w h i t e a n d well m a d e , a g o o d doctor's h a n d . B u t t h e h a n d w h i c h I now
s a w l y i n g on t h e b e d c l o t h e s , in the misty yellow light of a London
m o r n i n g , w a s t h i n a n d bony, w i t h r o u g h d a r k s k i n , a n d covered with
t h i c k b l a c k hair. I t w a s t h e h a n d o f E d w a r d H y d e .
I m u s t h a v e l o o k e d at it for h a l f a m i n u t e in s t u p i d w o n d e r before
t e r r o r w o k e in my h e a r t , as s u d d e n a n d f r i g h t e n i n g as a crash of thunder.
I j u m p e d from my b e d a n d r u s h e d t o t h e m i r r o r . A t t h e sight t h a t m e t m y
eyes, my b l o o d r a n cold. Yes, I h a d g o n e to bed as H e n r y Jekyll, a n d I had
woken as Edward Hyde!
H o w w a s this t o b e e x p l a i n e d ? A n d , h e r e c a m e a n o t h e r r u s h o f terror,
h o w w a s it to be p u t r i g h t ? It w a s m o r n i n g , a n d t h e s e r v a n t s w e r e u p . All
my d r u g s w e r e in t h e study, a l o n g j o u r n e y ( d o w n t w o flights of stairs,
a l o n g a passage, across t h e g a r d e n a n d t h r o u g h t h e laboratory) from the
place w h e r e I w a s t h e n s t a n d i n g , h o r r o r - s t r u c k . P e r h a p s it m i g h t be
possible to cover my face. B u t w h a t w a s t h e use of t h a t , w h e n I w a s unable
to h i d e my c h a n g e in size?
A n d t h e n , w i t h a p o w e r f u l feeling of sweet relief, I r e m e m b e r e d that
t h e servants w e r e a l r e a d y used to t h e c o m i n g a n d g o i n g of my second self.
I h a d soon d r e s s e d , as well as I could, in clothes of my o w n size. I walked
t h r o u g h t h e h o u s e , w h e r e t h e s e r v a n t s stood b a c k o n seeing M r H y d e a t
such a n h o u r a n d s o strangely clothed. A n d ten m i n u t e s later, D r Jekyll
h a d r e t u r n e d t o his o w n shape a n d w a s sitting d o w n , w i t h a n anxious
face, t r y i n g to eat his breakfast.
Certainly I h a d no desire for food. T h i s s t r a n g e event, so u n l i k e my

earlier experiences, s e e m e d to be spelling o u t t h e letters of my future. I
began to consider, m o r e seriously t h a n ever before, t h e possible effects of
my double existence. My evil h a l f h a d recently b e e n well exercised a n d
fed. It seemed as if t h e b o d y of E d w a r d H y d e h a d g r o w n larger: as if,
when I w o r e t h a t f o r m , I w e r e a s t r o n g e r m a n . I b e g a n to recognise a
danger that t h e balance o f m y n a t u r e m i g h t b e c h a n g e d , a n d t h a t t h e
character o f E d w a r d H y d e m i g h t b e c o m e m i n e for ever. T h e p o w e r o f
the d r u g had n o t been always e q u a l . O n c e it h a d c o m p l e t e l y failed m e .
Since then I h a d b e e n forced on m o r e t h a n o n e occasion to d o u b l e t h e
mixture; a n d once, at risk of d e a t h , I h a d h a d to t a k e t h r e e times the usual
amount. T h e s e h a d b e e n t h e only d a r k m o m e n t s , s o far, i n m y n e w life.
But now, in t h e light of t h a t m o r n i n g ' s e x p e r i e n c e , I realised t h a t ,
although m y o r i g i n a l p r o b l e m h a d b e e n t o escape from t h e b o d y o f Jekyll,
the opposite situation h a d g r a d u a l l y b u t decidedly c o m e i n t o effect.
Everything, t h e r e f o r e , s e e m e d to p o i n t to this: I w a s slowly losing h o l d of
my original a n d better self, a n d slowly b e c o m i n g my second a n d w o r s e
self.
I n o w felt I h a d to choose b e t w e e n these t w o . My t w o n a t u r e s h a d

memory i n c o m m o n b u t all o t h e r p o w e r s w e r e m o s t u n e q u a l l y s h a r e d
between t h e m . Jekyll s h a r e d i n t h e pleasures a n d a d v e n t u r e s o f H y d e ; b u t
Hyde cared n o t h i n g for Jekyll, o r r e m e m b e r e d h i m only a s t h e r o b b e r
remembers the hole in t h e m o u n t a i n w h e r e he hides. If I chose to be
Jekyll, I w o u l d lose forever those pleasures to w h i c h I h a d given w a y in
secret and had n o w b e g u n to give w a y m o r e frequently. If I chose to be
Hyde, I w o u l d lose a t h o u s a n d interests a n d h o p e s ; I w o u l d b e c o m e ,
immediately a n d for ever, s c o r n e d a n d friendless. T h e choice m i g h t
appear clear, b u t t h e r e w e r e o t h e r c o n s i d e r a t i o n s . T h o u g h Jekyll w o u l d
suffer bitterly in t h e s t r u g g l e for self-control, H y d e w o u l d n o t even k n o w
what h e h a d lost. M y o w n situation w a s s t r a n g e , o f c o u r s e , b u t this
struggle is as old a n d as o r d i n a r y as m a n . A n d so, as you w o u l d expect, I
chose t h e better p a r t a n d t h e n f o u n d t h a t I h a d n o t t h e s t r e n g t h to keep

it.
Yes, I p r e f e r r e d t h e m i d d l e - a g e d a n d dissatisfied doctor, s u r r o u n d e d
by friends a n d full of h o n e s t h o p e s ; a n d I said g o o d b y e to t h e freedom, the
light step, t h e e x c i t e m e n t a n d t h e secret pleasures t h a t I h a d enjoyed in
t h e y o u n g e r c h a r a c t e r o f H y d e . M y choice w a s m a d e p e r h a p s w i t h some
u n c o n s c i o u s d o u b t s , for I n e i t h e r g a v e up t h e h o u s e in S o h o n o r destroyed
t h e clothes of E d w a r d H y d e , w h i c h still lay r e a d y in my study. But for
t w o m o n t h s I w a s t r u e to my d e t e r m i n a t i o n . F o r t w o m o n t h s I led a purer
life t h a n I h a d ever m a n a g e d before.
B u t t i m e b e g a n at last to d u l l t h e freshness of my fear. I b e g a n to suffer
t h e pains of s t r o n g desire, as if H y d e w e r e s t r u g g l i n g for his freedom.
A n d at last, in a m o m e n t of m o r a l w e a k n e s s , I once a g a i n m i x e d and
swallowed the magic drink.
M y devil h a d b e e n l o n g c a g e d . H e c a m e o u t w i t h a wildness you
c a n n o t i m a g i n e . I w a s conscious, even w h e n I t o o k t h e d r u g , of a more
u n c o n t r o l l e d a n d m o r e d e s p e r a t e desire for evil. It m u s t h a v e been this, I
s u p p o s e , t h a t s t i r r e d in my soul t h a t s t o r m of i m p a t i e n c e w i t h which I
listened t o t h e polite w o r d s o f Sir D a n v e r s C a r e w . N o m a n i n his right
m i n d could h a v e b e e n guilty of t h a t c r i m e . B u t I h a d consciously
d e s t r o y e d t h e b a l a n c e t h a t gives e v e n t h e w o r s t m e n a d e g r e e of steadiness
w h e n faced w i t h t e m p t a t i o n ; if I w e r e t e m p t e d , h o w e v e r slightly, I was
certain to fall.
I m m e d i a t e l y t h e spirit o f t h e devil w o k e i n m e a n d r a n w i l d . W i t h evil
joy I h a m m e r e d his old b o d y a n d t o o k real p l e a s u r e in every blow. Only
w h e n m y a r m g r e w t i r e d w a s I s u d d e n l y , i n t h e m i d d l e o f m y m a d anger,
s t r u c k t h r o u g h t h e h e a r t by a cold t e r r o r . I s a w t h a t my life w a s in danger,
a n d I r u s h e d from t h e scene. B u t my h e a r t w a s as full of excitement as of
fear, a n d my desire for evil w a s b o t h e n c o u r a g e d a n d increased. I ran to
t h e h o u s e in S o h o a n d , to h i d e my t r a c k s , I d e s t r o y e d my p a p e r s . T h e n I
h u r r i e d h o m e t h r o u g h t h e l a m p l i t streets.
H y d e h a d a s o n g o n his lips as he m i x e d t h e d r u g s , a n d as he d r a n k he
gave a cheer for t h e d e a d m a n . T h e p a i n s h a d n o t f i n i s h e d t e a r i n g h i m
when H e n r y Jekyll, w i t h s t r e a m i n g tears of relief a n d guilt, fell on his
knees a n d raised his h a n d s to G o d in prayer. I c o u l d h a v e cried o u t loud.
I tried w i t h tears a n d p r a y e r s t o d r o w n t h e h o r r i b l e sights a n d s o u n d s t h a t
crowded t h r o u g h my m e m o r y . E v e n w h i l e I p r a y e d , t h e ugly face of my
evil side l o o k e d d e e p into my soul. B u t this guilty d e s p a i r w a s followed by
a sense of joy, because t h e p r o b l e m of my d o u b l e life w a s solved. H y d e
was n o w impossible. I locked t h e d o o r in t h e side street, t h r o u g h w h i c h
he had so often passed, a n d s t a m p e d on t h e key u n t i l it b r o k e !
T h e n e x t day t h e r e c a m e t h e n e w s t h a t t h e m u r d e r h a d b e e n seen, t h a t
Hyde's guilt w a s clear t o t h e w h o l e w o r l d , a n d t h a t t h e m u r d e r e d m a n
was an h o n o u r e d public figure. It w a s n o t only a c r i m e , it w a s a senseless
act. But I t h i n k I w a s glad to h a v e my better n a t u r e g u a r d e d n o w by t h e
terror o f b e i n g h a n g e d . Jekyll h a d b e c o m e m y h i d i n g place. I f H y d e w e r e
to show his face for a m o m e n t , t h e h a n d s of all m e n w o u l d be raised
against h i m t o t a k e h i m t o his d e a t h .
I was d e t e r m i n e d t h a t my f u t u r e w a y of life s h o u l d p r o v e my s o r r o w
for the past. I can honestly say t h a t this d e t e r m i n a t i o n d i d p r o d u c e s o m e
good. You k n o w h o w seriously I w o r k e d to relieve suffering d u r i n g t h e
last m o n t h s of last year. You k n o w t h a t I d i d m u c h for o t h e r s , a n d t h a t t h e
days passed quietly, a l m o s t happily, for myself. I c a n n o t truly say t h a t I
grew tired of this useful life; in fact, I t h i n k I enjoyed it m o r e fully every
day. But m y d o u b l e n a t u r e w a s still w i t h m e ; a n d a s t i m e d u l l e d t h e
sharpness of my s o r r o w , t h e l o w e r side of m e , w h i c h I h a d given way to
for so long a n d h a d so recently c h a i n e d d o w n , b e g a n d e m a n d i n g to be let
loose. N o t t h a t I d r e a m e d of b r i n g i n g H y d e b a c k to life; even the idea of
that w o u l d frighten m e t o m a d n e s s . N o , i t w a s i n m y o w n p e r s o n , a s
H e n r y Jekyll, t h a t I w a s once m o r e t e m p t e d to give w a y to t e m p t a t i o n .
T h e r e c o m e s an e n d to all t h i n g s . T h e d e e p e s t m e a s u r e is filled at last,
and this g i v i n g w a y to my evil desires d e s t r o y e d t h e b a l a n c e of my soul.
B u t I w a s n o t afraid. T h e fall s e e m e d n a t u r a l , like a r e t u r n to t h e old days

before I h a d m a d e my discovery. It w a s a fine clear day, a n d Regent's Park
w a s s w e e t w i t h t h e smells a n d s o u n d s of s p r i n g . I sat in t h e sun on a
g a r d e n seat. T h e a n i m a l side o f m y n a t u r e w a s still t a s t i n g t h e m e m o r y o f
its pleasures; t h e spiritual side w a s a little sleepy, p r o m i s i n g to show
s o r r o w later b u t n o t yet r e a d y to b e g i n . After all, I t h o u g h t , I w a s like my
neighbours.
T h e n I smiled, c o m p a r i n g m y s e l f w i t h o t h e r m e n , c o m p a r i n g m y
active g o o d n e s s w i t h t h e lazy cruelty of their neglect. A n d at t h e moment
of t h a t p r o u d t h o u g h t a h o r r i b l e sickness seized m e , w i t h terrible
t r e m b l i n g . T h i s passed a w a y , a n d left me faint. T h e n , as in its t u r n the
faintness also passed, I b e g a n to feel a g r e a t e r confidence, a scorn of
d a n g e r , a l o o s e n i n g of t h e ties of d u t y . I l o o k e d d o w n . My clothes hung
shapelessly o n m y s h o r t e n e d body, a n d t h e h a n d t h a t lay o n m y k n e e was
b o n y a n d hairy. I w a s o n c e m o r e E d w a r d H y d e !
A m o m e n t earlier I h a d b e e n w e a l t h y a n d respected, even loved, with
t h e table set for m e i n t h e d i n i n g r o o m a t h o m e . N o w e v e r y o n e was o n
my t r a c k ; I w a s h u n t e d , h o m e l e s s , a k n o w n m u r d e r e r , w i t h a sure end on
a hangman's rope.
My c o u r a g e w a s s h a k e n , b u t it d i d n o t fail me completely. I have more
t h a n once noticed that, i n m y second character, m y m i n d seemed
s h a r p e n e d to a p o i n t a n d I c o u l d r e cover q u i c k l y from any shock. So, in a
situation w h e r e Jekyll w o u l d h a v e s u n k in despair, H y d e rose to the
i m p o r t a n c e of t h e m o m e n t . My d r u g s w e r e in o n e of t h e c u p b o a r d s in my
study. H o w w a s I t o reach t h e m ? T h a t w a s t h e p r o b l e m t h a t , pressing m y
h a n d s against my h e a d , I set myself to solve. I h a d no key to t h e laboratory
d o o r in t h e side street. If I tried to e n t e r by t h e front d o o r of t h e house, my
o w n servants w o u l d seize m e . I saw t h a t I h a d to e m p l o y a n o t h e r hand
a n d I t h o u g h t of L a n y o n . But h o w could I reach h i m , a n d p e r s u a d e him?
E v e n s u p p o s i n g t h a t I escaped r e c o g n i t i o n in t h e streets, h o w was I to
m a k e m y w a y i n t o his p r e s e n c e ? A n d h o w c o u l d I , a n u n k n o w n and
unpleasant visitor, p e r s u a d e t h e f a m o u s d o c t o r t o b r e a k i n t o a n o t h e r
doctor's s t u d y ? T h e n I r e m e m b e r e d that one part of my original
character r e m a i n e d u n c h a n g e d : I could w r i t e in Jekyll's h a n d w r i t i n g . As
soon as this idea c a m e to m e , t h e w a y t h a t I h a d to follow b e c a m e clear.
I a r r a n g e d my clothes as neatly as I could, h i r e d a c a r r i a g e , a n d d r o v e
to a hotel in P o r t l a n d Street w h o s e n a m e I r e m e m b e r e d by c h a n c e . T h e
driver could n o t h i d e his a m u s e m e n t at my a p p e a r a n c e . I l o o k e d at h i m
with an expression of devilish anger, a n d t h e smile froze on his face,
luckily for h i m , a n d even m o r e luckily for myself; if it h a d n o t , I w o u l d
certainly h a v e d r a g g e d h i m off his seat.
As I e n t e r e d t h e hotel, I l o o k e d a r o u n d w i t h such an a n g r y face t h a t
the people w o r k i n g t h e r e t r e m b l e d . T h e y d i d n o t d a r e e x c h a n g e l o o k s i n
my presence. T h e y took my o r d e r s , led me to a r o o m , a n d b r o u g h t me a
pen and paper. H y d e in d a n g e r of his life w a s a n e w p e r s o n : s h a k i n g w i t h
violent anger, ready for m u r d e r , eager to cause p a i n . B u t he w a s clever.
H e controlled his a n g e r w i t h a g r e a t effort, a n d w r o t e his t w o i m p o r t a n t
letters, one t o L a n y o n a n d o n e t o Poole.
After that, he sat all day by the fire in his private r o o m , b i t i n g his nails.
T h e r e he took his dinner, alone w i t h his fears, while the waiter clearly
trembled at his look. A n d from t h e r e , w h e n n i g h t h a d fallen, he set o u t in
a closed carriage a n d was d r i v e n up a n d d o w n the streets of t h e city. " H e "
I say, I c a n n o t say " I " . T h a t child of t h e devil h a d n o t h i n g h u m a n a b o u t
him; n o t h i n g lived i n h i m except fear a n d h a t r e d . A n d w h e n a t last,
t h i n k i n g t h a t the d r i v e r h a d b e g u n to distrust h i m , h e dismissed t h e
carriage a n d c o n t i n u e d on foot (a noticeable object in his badly fitting
clothes), the violence of that fear a n d h a t r e d e x p l o d e d inside h i m like a
storm. He w a l k e d fast, h u n t e d by his fears, t a l k i n g wildly to himself,
hiding in the s h a d o w s of the loneliest streets, a n d c o u n t i n g the m i n u t e s t h a t
still separated h i m from m i d n i g h t . O n c e a w o m a n s p o k e to h i m , offering,
I think, a box of m a t c h e s . He struck h e r in the face, a n d she ran away.
W h e n I recovered myself at L a n y o n ' s , my old friend's h o r r o r m a y
h a v e h a d s o m e effect on m e . I do n o t k n o w . It w a s in any case only a drop

in t h e ocean, c o m p a r e d w i t h t h e sick h a t r e d w i t h w h i c h I l o o k e d back on
these h o u r s . A c h a n g e h a d c o m e over m e . It was no longer the fear of the
h a n g m a n ; it w a s t h e h o r r o r of b e i n g H y d e t h a t I suffered from. Partly in
a d r e a m I listened to L a n y o n ' s cries of t e r r o r a n d a n g e r against m e ; and
partly in a d r e a m I c a m e h o m e to my h o u s e a n d w e n t to b e d . I slept so
heavily t h a t e v e n t h e t e r r o r o f m y d r e a m s c o u l d n o t w a k e m e until
m o r n i n g . T h e n I w o k e , feeling s h a k e n a n d w e a k e n e d b u t refreshed. I
still h a t e d a n d feared t h e t h o u g h t of t h e devil t h a t slept inside m e , and I
h a d n o t of c o u r s e f o r g o t t e n t h e t e r r i b l e d a n g e r s of t h e day before; but I
w a s o n c e m o r e a t h o m e , i n m y o w n h o u s e a n d close t o m y d r u g s , and
t h a n k s to G o d for my escape filled my soul w i t h a n e w h o p e .
I w a s s t e p p i n g across t h e y a r d after breakfast, b r e a t h i n g the cool
m o r n i n g air with pleasure, when I was seized again b y those
i n d e s c r i b a b l e feelings t h a t w e r e t h e first sign of t h e c h a n g e . I only just had
t i m e to g a i n t h e shelter of my study before I w a s o n c e m o r e b u r n i n g and
f r e e z i n g w i t h t h e violent desires of H y d e . On this occasion it took a
d o u b l e a m o u n t o f t h e m i x t u r e t o b r i n g m e back t o m y p r o p e r self. And
six h o u r s later, as I sat l o o k i n g sadly at t h e fire, t h e pains r e t u r n e d and the
d r u g h a d to be t a k e n a g a i n . In s h o r t , f r o m t h a t day on it w a s only by a
g r e a t effort, a n d only u n d e r t h e i m m e d i a t e action of t h e d r u g , that I was
able to w e a r t h e face of Jekyll. At all h o u r s of t h e day a n d n i g h t I was
seized by t h e s u d d e n t r e m b l i n g ; a b o v e all, if I slept for a m o m e n t in my
chair, e v e n lightly, I a l w a y s w o k e as H y d e .
I w a s n o w so w o r n o u t by this c o n t i n u o u s d a n g e r , a n d by the
sleeplessness t h a t it forced on m e , t h a t I b e c a m e seriously w e a k and
feverish b o t h i n b o d y a n d m i n d . A n d m y m i n d w a s occupied b y one
t h o u g h t a l o n e : t h e h o r r o r of my o t h e r self. B u t w h e n I slept, or w h e n the
effect of t h e d r u g s w o r e off, I passed a l m o s t in a m o m e n t (for day by day
t h e p a i n s g r e w less) i n t o t h e possession of a soul boiling w i t h hatred for
e v e r y t h i n g , a n d a b o d y t h a t d i d n o t seem s t r o n g e n o u g h to hold the
explosive e n e r g y of its desires.

It is useless to say m o r e , a n d I h a v e no t i m e . No o n e has ever suffered
in such a terrible way — let t h a t be e n o u g h . B u t my p u n i s h m e n t m i g h t
have g o n e on for years if I h a d n o t h a d this last m i s f o r t u n e , w h i c h n o w
separates m e for ever from my o w n face a n d n a t u r e a s H e n r y Jekyll. M y
original supply of p o w d e r e d salt, w h i c h h a d lasted since I first b e g a n to
use it, b e g a n to r u n low. I sent o u t for a fresh supply, a n d m i x e d t h e d r u g .
T h e colour c h a n g e d once, b u t n o t a second t i m e . I d r a n k it, a n d it h a d no
effect. You will l e a r n from Poole h o w I h a v e h a d L o n d o n s e a r c h e d , f r o m
end to e n d , w i t h o u t success. I n o w h a v e to accept t h e fact t h a t t h e first
supply w a s i m p u r e , a n d t h a t this u n k n o w n i m p u r i t y g a v e t h e d r u g its
special p o w e r .
A b o u t a w e e k has passed, a n d I am n o w finishing this s t a t e m e n t
u n d e r the influence of t h e last of t h e old p o w d e r s . T h i s , t h e n , is t h e last
time, unless h e a v e n t a k e s pity o n m e , t h a t H e n r y Jekyll can t h i n k his o w n
thoughts or see his o w n face ( h o w sadly c h a n g e d ! ) in t h e m i r r o r . A n d I
must not delay too l o n g before b r i n g i n g m y w r i t i n g t o a n e n d ; i f m y story
has so far escaped d e s t r u c t i o n , it has been by a c o m b i n a t i o n of g r e a t care
and good luck. If the pains t a k e me in the act of w r i t i n g this, H y d e will
tear it to pieces; b u t if e n o u g h t i m e has passed after I have w r i t t e n , it m a y
be saved once a g a i n from his scorn.
T h e e n d t h a t i s closing r o u n d u s b o t h has already c h a n g e d a n d
crushed h i m . H a l f a n h o u r from n o w , I k n o w h o w H y d e will sit s h a k i n g
and crying i n m y chair, o r m a r c h restlessly u p a n d d o w n this r o o m (his
last h i d i n g place on e a r t h ) listening in t e r r o r for any s o u n d of possible
danger. Will H y d e b e h a n g e d o n t h e public h a n g m a n ' s rope? O r will h e
find the c o u r a g e to t a k e his o w n life at t h e last m o m e n t ? G o d k n o w s . I do
not care. T h i s is my t r u e h o u r of d e a t h , a n d w h a t follows c o n c e r n s a
person w h o is n o t myself. H e r e , t h e n , as I lay d o w n t h e p e n a n d seal up
my last w o r d s , I b r i n g t h e life of t h a t u n h a p p y H e n r y Jekyll to an e n d .
axe (n) a tool with a heavy metal blade on the end of a long handle, used to cut
wood
blackmail (n) a threat to tell secrets about someone if they do not give you
money or do something for you
butler (n) the main male servant in a house
candle (n) a round stick with a piece of string through the middle that is burnt
to provide light
carpenter (n) someone whose job it is to make and repair wooden objects
carriage (n) a vehicle with wheels that is pulled by a horse
despair (n/v) a feeling of great unhappiness and hopelessness; a person with
this feeling is desperate
disgust (n) a very strong feeling of dislike
distaste (n) a feeling of dislike (less strong than disgust)
experiment (n/v) a thorough test using scientific methods
fancy (n) a desire for something; an idea that is not based on fact (so is
fanciful). Fanciful furniture has a complicated design.
fog (n) cloudy air near the ground which is difficult to see through
horror (n) a strong feeling of shock and fear; something that causes this feeling
is horrible
Inspector (n) the title of a middle-ranking police officer
laboratory (n) a special room in which a scientist tests and prepares substances
locksmith (n) someone who makes and repairs locks
mad (adj) mentally ill
m a s k (n/v) something that covers all or part of your face, to hide it
misery (n) great unhappiness; a miserable person is very unhappy, but a
miserable thing can be something of poor quality
neglect (n) lack of care and attention
recover (v) to get better after a shock or illness
relief (n) the feeling that you have when pain or unhappiness disappears or is
reduced
rusty (adj) covered in a reddish-brown substance that forms on iron and steel
when they get wet
Word List
scorn (n) the feeling that someone or something is stupid or unreasonable

seal (n/v) something used to close a container such as an envelope, and which
you have to break in order to open the container
sigh (v) to breathe in and out with a long sound that shows you are bored,
disappointed, tired, etc.
suspicion (n) a feeling that someone is probably guilty of wrong or dishonest
behaviour; a person who is thought to be guilty is a suspect who is suspected
of a crime
tempt (v) to make someone want to do something that they know they should
not do
victim (n) someone who has been attacked, robbed or murdered
wonder (n/v) a feeling of surprise
Activities
Chapters 1-3
Before you read

1 Look at the W o r d List on pages 62—3. Find words that:
1 describe people's jobs.
2 are about fear and unhappiness.
3 are about scientific practice.
Check the meanings of other words on the list that are new to you.
After you read: Understanding

2 Who:
1 is readier to help people in trouble than to blame them?
2 witnessed a complete lack of feeling for an injured child?
3 was forced to pay money to the child's family?
4 signed the cheque?
5 disapproves of an old friend's ideas?
6 shocks and frightens everyone who meets him?
7 makes a promise to an old friend?
After you read: Speaking

3 Discuss Mr Utterson's character and habits.
4 Explain why Mr Utterson is so worried about Dr Jekyll's will.
Chapters 4 - 6
Before you read

5 W h a t do you think the relationship is between Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde
6 H o w does Mr Utterson plan to destroy Mr Hyde?

Activities

7 Answer the questions.
1 What does a servant girl witness one night?
2 What connects Mr Utterson with the two people involved in the event?
3 Why does Mr Utterson take the police to Soho?
4 What do they find there that is of interest?
5 Why is Mr Utterson upset by Mr Hyde's note?
6 What has caused Dr Lanyon's final illness?

8 Describe the appearances of Mr Hyde and Dr Jekyll.
9 Work in pairs. Take the parts of a policeman and the servant girl.
Question the servant girl about the killing that she witnessed.
Chapters 7-10
Before you read

10 Dr Lanyon left a letter marked "Not to be opened until the death or
disappearance of Henry Jekyll". What do you think the letter contains?

11 Who is talking to whom? Who or what are they talking about?
1 "You should be outside, taking exercise, like Mr Enfield and me."
2 "I think there's been a horrible crime."
3 "We have come too late," he said sadly, "either to save or to punish."
4 "If you wish, you shall be left as you were before . . . Or, if you prefer
it, new knowledge and new roads to fame and power shall be opened
to you . . ."
5 "At the sight that met my eyes, my blood ran cold."
The Strange Ca,se of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde

12 What questions do you imagine that Mr Utterson would like to ask his
friend Dr Jekyll if Jekyll were alive to answer them?
13 If you had to choose between living in the character of Dr Jekyll or as Mr

Hyde, which would you choose and why?
Whole book
Writing
1 Compare Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde. How are their appearances, characters
and behaviour different?
2 How important are letters and written documents to the development of

the story?
3 How does Mr Utterson's attitude to Dr Jekyll change through the story?

How do you think he feels after his friend's death?
4 What part does scientific experimentation play in the book? What do you
think the writer's views are on such experiments? Explain why you are, or
are not, sympathetic to these views.
5 How true do you think it is that men and women have an evil side to their
nature that they must continually struggle to control? Give examples
from your own experience of human nature or from cases that you have
read about.
6 Write a short report on the book. Retell the main events of the story and
explain why you did or did not enjoy it.

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THE STRANGE CASE OF

by Robert Louis Stevenson

Simplified by C. Kingsley Williams a n d A. G. Eyre

© Addison Wesley Longman Limited 1996

First published in the Longman Simplified English Series 1978

ISBN 0 582 27501 6

Set in Adobe Granjon 10.5pt

We are grateful to Addison Wesley Longman Limited for

Cover photograph © Addison Wesley Longman Limited/Gareth Boden

Chapter 1 T h e Story of the D o o r 1

Stevenson suffered from p o o r h e a l t h for m o s t of his life, b u t this d i d

Mr U t t e r s o n , t h e lawyer, w a s a m a n w i t h a severe expression t h a t w a s

b y those w h o m e t t h e m o n their S u n d a y w a l k s t h a t they said n o t h i n g ,

desire to kill h i m . I k n e w w h a t w a s in his m i n d , just as h e k n e w w h a t was

believe t h a t t h e s i g n a t u r e w a s false. B u t it w a s n ' t . It w a s perfectly g o o d . "

T h e y w a l k e d o n t o g e t h e r for s o m e t i m e i n silence, u n t i l M r Utterson

" W i t h all m y h e a r t , " said t h e lawyer. "I'll s h a k e h a n d s w i t h y o u o n

The Search for Mr Hyde

w i t h hateful qualities, a n d , o u t of the mists t h a t h a d s u r r o u n d e d it for so

n o t h i n g w o r s e t h a n t h a t . " H e g a v e his friend a few s e c o n d s t o recover a n d

He had been s t a n d i n g t h e r e for s o m e m i n u t e s w h e n he h e a r d a

" W e h a v e c o m m o n friends," said M r U t t e r s o n .

" T h e r e m u s t be s o m e t h i n g else," he said to himself. " T h e r e is

"Is D r Jekyll a t h o m e , P o o l e ? " a s k e d t h e lawyer.

"I will see, Mr U t t e r s o n , " said P o o l e , a d m i t t i n g t h e visitor to a large,

" H e r e , t h a n k y o u , " said t h e lawyer, a n d h e w e n t t o w a r m himself b y

ago, b u t in G o d ' s l a w t i m e does n o t m a k e a p e r s o n less guilty. Yes, it m u s t

T w o w e e k s later, by excellent g o o d f o r t u n e , t h e d o c t o r g a v e o n e of his

"I've b e e n w a n t i n g to s p e a k to you, Jekyll," t h e l a w y e r b e g a n . "You

S o m e o n e w a t c h i n g t h e d o c t o r closely m i g h t h a v e noticed that he

doctor replied, w i t h a certain confusion of m a n n e r . " I ' m in a delicate

"My dear U t t e r s o n , " said t h e doctor, "this is e x t r e m e l y k i n d of you,

Utterson c o n s i d e r e d this a little, l o o k i n g into t h e fire.

N e a r l y a year later, o n e cold O c t o b e r m o r n i n g , L o n d o n w a s shocked by

gentleman t o o k a step b a c k , as if he w e r e very m u c h s u r p r i s e d a n d

a b o u t w h o h a d u s e d it, for he recognised it as o n e t h a t he h i m s e l f had

I n the w h o l e h o u s e , w h i c h w a s e m p t y except for t h e old w o m a n , M r

I t w a s late i n t h e a f t e r n o o n w h e n M r U t t e r s o n r e a c h e d D r Jekyll's door,

" A n d n o w , " said Mr U t t e r s o n , as soon as t h e b u t l e r h a d left them,

T h e d o c t o r t r e m b l e d . " T h e y w e r e c r y i n g it in t h e s q u a r e , " he said. "I

again, you can d e p e n d on t h a t . "

"I w i s h y o u to j u d g e for m e , " w a s t h e reply. "I've lost confidence in

" W e l l , I shall t h i n k a b o u t it," replied t h e lawyer. " A n d n o w o n e word

T h e d o c t o r s u d d e n l y l o o k e d terribly w e a k ; h e s h u t his m o u t h tightly

"I've h a d s o m e t h i n g far m o r e i m p o r t a n t t h a n t h a t , " replied the

" W e l l , sir," t h e c l e r k a n s w e r e d , "there's a r a t h e r s t r a n g e likeness

The Mysterious Death of Dr Lanyon

T i m e passed. T h o u s a n d s of p o u n d s w e r e offered as a r e w a r d for any

G r a d u a l l y , as t h e w e e k s passed, Mr U t t e r s o n b e g a n to forget his fears.

their familiar g u e s t a n d e n t e r t a i n e r . H e h a d a l w a y s b e e n k n o w n for his

thing that you can d o , U t t e r s o n , t o h e l p m e bear w h a t has h a p p e n e d , a n d

c o m p a n y of his r e m a i n i n g friend. He t h o u g h t of h i m kindly, but his

The Face at the Window

I t h a p p e n e d o n e S u n d a y w h e n M r U t t e r s o n w a s o n his usual walk with

T h e yard w a s very cool a n d r a t h e r d a r k , t h o u g h t h e sky, h i g h

Mr U t t e r s o n w a s sitting by his fireside o n e e v e n i n g after d i n n e r when he

along w i t h me a n d see for y o u r s e l f ? "

g a v e a w i l d cry a n d s t a r t e d c r y i n g a g a i n . Poole told h e r to be quiet, in an

" A n d n o w , " c o n t i n u e d t h e butler, a d d r e s s i n g t h e k i t c h e n boy, "bring

" M r U t t e r s o n , sir, a s k i n g to see y o u , " he called, a n d once more he

" T h a n k you, sir," said P o o l e , w i t h a n o t e of satisfaction in his voice.

"Sir," h e said, l o o k i n g M r U t t e r s o n i n t h e eyes, " w a s t h a t m y master's

"It seems m u c h c h a n g e d , " replied t h e lawyer, very pale, b u t returning

" C h a n g e d ? W e l l , yes, 1 t h i n k it is," said t h e butler. " W h e n I've been