MrUttersonthelawyerwasamanofaruggedcountenance，thatwasneverlightedbyasmile；cold，scantyandembarrassedindiscourse；backwardinsentiment；lean，long，dusty，dreary，andyetsomehowlovable。Atfriendlymeetings，andwhenthewinewastohistaste，somethingeminentlyhumanbeaconedfromhiseye；somethingindeedwhichneverfounditswayintohistalk，butwhichspokenotonlyinthesesilentsymbolsoftheafter-dinnerface，butmoreoftenandloudlyintheactsofhislife。Hewasausterewithhimself；drankginwhenhewasalone，tomortifyatasteforvintages；
　　andthoughheenjoyedthetheatre，hadnotcrossedthedoorsofonefortwentyyears。Buthehadanapprovedtoleranceforothers；sometimeswondering，almostwithenvy，atthehighpressureofspiritsinvolvedintheirmisdeeds；
　　andinanyextremityinclinedtohelpratherthantoreprove。`IinclinetoCain'sheresy，'heusedtosayquaintly:`Iletmybrothergotothedevilinhisownway。Inthischaracteritwasfrequentlyhisfortunetobethelastreputableacquaintanceandthelastgoodinfluenceinthelivesofdown-goingmen。Andtosuchasthese，solongastheycameabouthischambers，henevermarkedashadeofchangeinhisdemeanour。
　　NodoubtthefeatwaseasytoMrUtterson；forhewasundemonstrativeatthebest，andevenhisfriendshipsseemedtobefoundedinasimilarcatholicityofgoodnature。Itisthemarkofamodestmantoaccepthisfriendlycirclereadymadefromthehandsofopportunity；andthatwasthelawyer'sway。Hisfriendswerethoseofhisownblood，orthosewhomhehadknownthelongest；hisaffections，likeivy，werethegrowthoftime，theyimpliednoaptnessintheobject。Hence，nodoubt，thebondthatunitedhimtoMrRichardEnfield，hisdistantkinsman，thewell-knownmanabouttown。Itwasanuttocrackformany，whatthesetwocouldseeineachother，orwhatsubjecttheycouldfindincommon。ItwasreportedbythosewhoencounteredthemintheirSundaywalks，thattheysaidnothing，lookedsingularlydull，andwouldhailwithobviousrelieftheappearanceofafriend。Forallthat，thetwomenputthegreateststorebytheseexcursions，countedthemthechiefjewelofeachweek，andnotonlysetasideoccasionsofpleasure，butevenresistedthecallsofbusiness，thattheymightenjoythemuninterrupted。
　　ItchancedononeoftheseramblesthattheirwayledthemdownabystreetinabusyquarterofLondon。Thestreetwassmallandwhatiscalledquiet，butitdroveathrivingtradeontheweek-days。Theinhabitantswerealldoingwell，itseemed，andallemulouslyhopingtodobetterstill，andlayingoutthesurplusoftheirgainsincoquetry；sothattheshopfrontsstoodalongthatthoroughfarewithanairofinvitation，likerowsofsmilingsaleswomen。EvenonSunday，whenitveileditsmorefloridcharmsandlaycomparativelyemptyofpassage，thestreetshoneoutincontrasttoitsdingyneighbourhood，likeafireinaforest；andwithitsfreshlypaintedshutters，well-polishedbrasses，andgeneralcleanlinessandgaietyofnote，instantlycaughtandpleasedtheeyeofthepassenger。
　　Twodoorsfromonecorner，onthelefthandgoingeast，thelinewasbrokenbytheentryofacourt；andjustatthatpoint，acertainsinisterblockofbuildingthrustforwarditsgableonthestreet。Itwastwostoreyshigh；showednowindow，nothingbutadooronthelowerstoreyandablindforeheadofdiscolouredwallontheupper；andboreineveryfeaturethemarksofprolongedandsordidnegligence。Thedoor，whichwasequippedwithneitherbellnorknocker，wasblisteredanddistained。Trampsslouchedintotherecessandstruckmatchesonthepanels；childrenkeptshopuponthesteps；theschoolboyhadtriedhisknifeonthemouldings；andforcloseonagenerationnoonehadappearedtodriveawaytheserandomvisitorsortorepairtheirravages。
　　MrEnfieldandthelawyerwereontheothersideofthebystreet；butwhentheycameabreastoftheentry，theformerlifteduphiscaneandpointed。
　　`Didyoueverremarkthatdoor？'heasked；andwhenhiscompanionhadrepliedintheaffirmative，`Itisconnectedinmymind，'addedhe，`withaveryoddstory。'
　　`Indeed'saidMrUtterson，withaslightchangeofvoice，`andwhatwasthat？'
　　`Well，itwas'thisway，'returnedMrEnfield:`Iwascominghomefromsomeplaceattheendoftheworld，aboutthreeo'clockofablackwintermorning，andmywaylaythroughapartoftownwheretherewasliterallynothingtobeseenbutlamps。Streetafterstreet，andallthefolksasleep-streetafterstreet，alllightedupasifforaprocession，andallasemptyasachurch-tillatlastIgotintothatstateofmindwhenamanlistensandlistensandbeginstolongforthesightofapoliceman。Allatonce，Isawtwofigures:onealittlemanwhowasstumpingalongeastwardatagoodwalk，andtheotheragirlofmaybeeightortenwhowasrunningashardasshewasabledownacross-street。Well，sir，thetworanintooneanothernaturallyenoughatthecorner；andthencamethehorriblepartofthething；forthemantrampledcalmlyoverthechild'sbodyandleftherscreamingontheground。Itsoundsnothingtohear，butitwashellishtosee。Itwasn'tlikeaman；itwaslikesomedamnedJuggernaut。
　　Igaveaviewhalloa，tooktomyheels，collaredmygentleman，andbroughthimbacktowheretherewasalreadyquiteagroupaboutthescreamingchild。
　　Hewasperfectlycoolandmadenoresistance，butgavemeonelook，souglythatitbroughtoutthesweatonmelikerunning。Thepeoplewhohadturnedoutwerethegirl'sownfamily；andprettysoonthedoctor，forwhomshehadbeensent，putinhisappearance。Well，thechildwasnotmuchtheworse，morefrightened，accordingtotheSawbones；andthereyoumighthavesupposed'wouldbeanendtoit。Buttherewasonecuriouscircumstance。
　　Ihadtakenaloathingtomygentlemanatfirstsight。Sohadthechild'sfamily，whichwasonlynatural。Butthedoctor'scasewaswhatstruckme。
　　Hewastheusualcut-and-dryapothecary，ofnoparticularageandcolour，withastrongEdinburghaccent，andaboutasemotionalasabagpipe。Well，sir，hewasliketherestofus:everytimehelookedatmyprisoner，I
　　sawthatSawbonesturnedsickandwhitewiththedesiretokillhim。I
　　knewwhatwasinhismind，justasheknewwhatwasinmine；andkillingbeingoutofthequestion，wedidthenextbest。Wetoldthemanwecouldandwouldmakesuchascandaloutofthis，asshouldmakehisnamestinkfromoneendofLondontotheother。Ifhehadanyfriendsoranycredit，weundertookthat'heshouldlosethem。Andallthetime，aswewerepitchingitinredhot，wewerekeepingthewomenoffhimasbestwecould，fortheywereaswildasharpies。Ineversawacircleofsuchhatefulfaces；
　　andtherewasthemaninthemiddle，withakindofblacksneeringcoolness-frightenedtoo，Icouldseethat-butcarryingitoff，sir，reallylikeSatan。``Ifyouchoosetomakecapitaloutofthisaccident，''saidhe，``Iamnaturallyhelpless。Nogentle-manbutwishestoavoidascene，''
　　sayshe。``Nameyourfigure。''Well，wescrewedhimuptoahundredpoundsforthechild'sfamily；hewouldhaveclearlylikedtostickout；buttherewassomethingaboutthelotofusthatmeantmischief，andatlasthestruck。
　　Thenextthingwastogetthemoney；andwheredoyouthinkhecarriedusbuttothatplacewiththedoor？-whippedoutakey，wentin，andpresentlycamebackwiththematteroftenpoundsingoldandachequeforthebalanceonCoutts's，drawnpayabletobearer，andsignedwithanamethatIcan'tmention，thoughit'soneofthepointsofmystory，butitwasanameatleastverywellknownandoftenprinted。Thefigurewasstiff；butthesignaturewasgoodformorethanthat，ifitwasonlygenuine。Itookthelibertyofpointingouttomygentlemanthatthewholebusinesslookedapocryphal；andthatamandoesnot，inreallife，walkintoacellardooratfourinthemorningandcomeoutofitwithanotherman'schequeforcloseuponahundredpounds。Buthewasquiteeasyandsneering。``Setyourmindatrest，''sayshe；``Iwillstaywithyoutillthebanksopen，andcashthechequemyself。''Soweallsetoff，thedoctor，andthechild'sfather，andourfriendandmyself，andpassedtherestofthenightinmychambers；andnextday，whenwehadbreakfasted，wentinabodytothebank。Igaveinthechequemyself，andsaidIhadeveryreasontobelieveitwasaforgery。Notabitofit。Thechequewasgenuine。'
　　`Tut-tut！'saidMrUtterson。
　　`IseeyoufeelasIdo，'saidMrEnfield。`Yes，it'sabadstory。Formymanwasafellowthatnobodycouldhavetodowith，areallydamnableman；andthepersonthatdrewthechequeistheverypinkoftheproprieties，celebratedtoo，and（whatmakesitworse）oneofyourfellowswhodowhattheycallgood。Blackmail，Isuppose；anhonestmanpayingthroughthenoseforsomeofthecapersofhisyouth。BlackmailHouseiswhatIcallthatplacewiththedoor，inconsequence。Thougheventhat，youknow，isfarfromexplainingall，'headded；andwiththewordsfellintoaveinofmusing。
　　FromthishewasrecalledbyMrUttersonaskingrathersuddenly:`Andyoudon'tknowifthedrawerofthechequelivesthere？'
　　`Alikelyplace，isn'tit？'returnedMrEnfield。`ButIhappentohavenoticedhisaddress；helivesinsomesquareorother。'
　　`Andyouneveraskedabout-theplacewiththedoor？'saidMrUtterson。
　　`No，sir:Ihadadelicacy，'wasthereply。`Ifeelverystronglyaboutputtingquestions；itpartakestoomuchofthestyleofthedayofjudgment。
　　Youstartaquestion，andit'slikestartingastone。Yousitquietlyonthetopofahill；andawaythestonegoes，startingothers；andpresentlysomeblandoldbird（thelastyouwouldhavethoughtof）isknockedontheheadinhisownbackgarden，andthefamilyhavetochangetheirname。
　　No，sir，Imakeitaruleofmine:themoreitlookslikeQueerStreet，thelessIask。'
　　`Averygoodrule，too，'saidthelawyer。
　　`ButIhavestudiedtheplaceformyself，'continuedMrEnfield。`Itseemsscarcelyahouse。Thereisnootherdoor，andnobodygoesinoroutofthatone，but，onceinagreatwhile，thegentlemanofmyadventure。
　　Therearethreewindowslookingonthecourtonthefirstfloor；nonebelow；
　　thewindowsarealwaysshut，butthey'reclean。Andthenthereisachimney，whichisgenerallysmoking；sosomebodymustlivethere。Andyetit'snotsosure；forthebuildingsaresopackedtogetheraboutthatcourt，thatit'shardtosaywhereoneendsandanotherbegins。'
　　Thepairwalkedonagainforawhileinsilence；andthen-`Enfield，'
　　saidMrUtterson，`that'sagoodruleofyours。
　　`Yes，Ithinkitis，'returnedEnfield。
　　`Butforallthat，'continuedthelawyer，`there'sonepointIwanttoask:Iwanttoaskthenameofthatmanwhowalkedoverthechild。'
　　`Well，'saidMrEnfield，`Ican'tseewhatharmitwoulddo。ItwasamanofthenameofHyde。'
　　`Hm，'saidMrUtterson。`Whatsortofamanishetosee？'
　　`Heisnoteasytodescribe。Thereissomethingwrongwithhisappearance；
　　somethingdispleasing，somethingdownrightdetestable。IneversawamanIsodisliked，andyetIscarceknowwhy。Hemustbedeformedsomewhere；
　　hegivesastrongfeelingofdeformity，althoughIcouldn'tspecifythepoint。He'sanextraordinary-lookingman，andyetIreallycannamenothingoutoftheway。No，sir；Icanmakenohandofit；Ican'tdescribehim。
　　Andit'snotwantofmemory；forIdeclareIcanseehimthismoment。'
　　MrUttersonagainwalkedsomewayinsilence，andobviouslyunderaweightofconsideration。`Youaresureheusedakey？'heinquiredatlast。
　　`Mydearsir……'beganEnfield，surprisedoutofhimself。
　　`Yes，Iknow，'saidUtterson；`Iknowitmustseemstrange。Thefactis，ifIdonotaskyouthenameoftheotherparty，itisbecauseIknowitalready。Yousee，Richard，yourtalehasgonehome。Ifyouhavebeeninexactinanypoint，youhadbettercorrectit。'
　　`Ithinkyoumighthavewarnedme，'returnedtheother，withatouchofsullenness。`ButIhavebeenpedanticallyexact，asyoucallit。Thefellowhadakey；and，what'smore，hehasitstill。Isawhimuseit，notaweekago。
　　MrUttersonsigheddeeply，butsaidneveraword；andtheyoungmanpresentlyresumed。`Hereisanotherlessontosaynothing，'saidhe。`I
　　amashamedofmylongtongue。Letusmakeabargainnevertorefertothisagain。'
　　`Withallmyheart，'saidthelawyer。`Ishakehandsonthat，Richard。'
　　SEARCHFORMRHYDE
　　ThateveningMrUttersoncamehometohisbachelorhouseinsombrespirits，andsatdowntodinnerwithoutrelish。ItwashiscustomofaSunday，whenthismealwasover，tositclosebythefire，avolumeofsomedrydivinityonhisreading-desk，untiltheclockoftheneighbouringchurchrangoutthehouroftwelve，whenhewouldgosoberlyandgratefullytobed。Onthisnight，however，assoonastheclothwastakenaway，hetookupacandleandwentintohisbusinessroom。Thereheopenedhissafe，tookfromthemostprivatepartofitadocumentendorsedontheenvelopeasDrJekyll'sWill，andsatdownwithacloudedbrowtostudyitscontents。
　　Thewillwasholograph；forMrUtterson，thoughhetookchargeofitnowthatitwasmade，hadrefusedtolendtheleastassistanceinthemakingofit；itprovidednotonlythat，incaseofthedeceaseofHenryJekyll，M。D。，D。C。L。，LL。D。，F。R。S。，&；c。，allhispossessionsweretopassintothehandsofhis`friendandbenefactorEdwardHyde'；butthatincaseofDrJekyll's`disappearanceorunexplainedabsenceforanyperiodexceedingthreecalendarmonths'，thesaidEdwardHydeshouldstepintothesaidHenryJekyll'sshoeswithoutfurtherdelay，andfreefromanyburdenorobligation，beyondthepaymentofafewsmallsumstothemembersofthedoctor'shousehold。Thisdocumenthadlongbeenthelawyer'seyesore。
　　Itoffendedhimbothasalawyerandasaloverofthesaneandcustomarysidesoflife，towhomthefancifulwastheimmodest。AndhithertoitwashisignoranceofMrHydethathadswelledhisindignation；now，byasuddenturn，itwashisknowledge。Itwasalreadybadenoughwhenthenamewasbutanameofwhichhecouldlearnnomore。Itwasworsewhenitbegantobeclotheduponwithdetestableattributes；andoutoftheshifting，insubstantialmiststhathadsolongbaffledhiseye，thereleapedupthesudden，definitepresentmentofafiend。
　　`Ithoughtitwasmadness，'hesaid，ashereplacedtheobnoxiouspaperinthesafe；`andnowIbegintofearitisdisgrace。
　　Withthatheblewouthiscandle，putonagreatcoat，andsetforthinthedirectionofCavendishSquare，thatcitadelofmedicine，wherehisfriend，thegreatDrLanyon，hadhishouseandreceivedhiscrowdingpatients。
　　`Ifanyoneknows，itwillbeLanyon，'hehadthought。
　　Thesolemnbutlerknewandwelcomedhim；hewassubjectedtonostageofdelay，butushereddirectfromthedoortothediningroom，whereDrLanyonsataloneoverhiswine。Thiswasahearty，healthy，dapper，red-facedgentleman，withashockofhairprematurelywhite，andaboisterousanddecidedmanner。AtsightofMrUtterson，hesprangupfromhischairandwelcomedhimwithbothhands。Thegeniality，aswasthewayoftheman，wassomewhattheatricaltotheeye；butitreposedongenuinefeeling。
　　Forthesetwowereoldfriends，oldmatesbothatschoolandcollege，boththoroughrespectersofthemselvesandofeachother，and，whatdoesnotalwaysfollow，menwhothoroughlyenjoyedeachother'scompany。
　　Alteralittleramblingtalk，thelawyerleduptothesubjectwhichsodisagreeablypreoccupiedhismind。
　　`Isuppose，Lanyon，'hesaid，`youandImustbethetwooldestfriendsthatHenryJekyllhas？'
　　`Iwishthefriendswereyounger，'chuckledDrLanyon。`ButIsupposeweare。Andwhatofthat？Iseelittleofhimnow。'
　　`Indeed！'saidUtterson。`Ithoughtyouhadabondofcommoninterest。'
　　`Wehad，'washisreply。`ButitismorethantenyearssinceHenryJekyllbecametoofancifulforme。Hebegantogowrong，wronginmind；
　　andthough，ofcourse，Icontinuetotakeaninterestinhimforoldsake'ssakeastheysay，IseeandIhaveseendevilishlittleoftheman。Suchunscientificbalderdash，'addedthedoctor，flushingsuddenlypurple，`wouldhaveestrangedDamonandPythias。'
　　ThislittlespirtoftemperwassomewhatofarelieftoMrUtterson。
　　`Theyhaveonlydifferedonsomepointofscience，'hethought；andbeingamanofnoscientificpassions（exceptinthematterofconveyancing），heevenadded:`Itisnothingworsethanthat！'Hegavehisfriendafewsecondstorecoverhiscomposure，andthenapproachedthequestionhehadcometoput。
　　`Didyouevercomeacrossaproté；gé；ofhis-oneHyde？'heasked。
　　`Hyde？'repeatedLanyon。`No。Neverheardofhim。Sincemytime。
　　Thatwastheamountofinformationthatthelawyercarriedbackwithhimtothegreat，darkbedonwhichhetossedtoandfrountilthesmallhoursofthemorningbegantogrowlarge。Itwasanightoflittleeasetohistoilingmind，toilinginmeredarknessandbesiegedbyquestions。
　　Sixo'clockstruckonthebellsofthechurchthatwassoconvenientlyneartoMrUtterson'sdwelling，andstillhewasdiggingattheproblem。