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