STORYOFTHEDOOR
Mr.
Uttersonthelawyerwasamanofa
robust
ruggedcountenancethatwasneverlightedbyasmile;cold,scantyandembarrassedindiscourse;
backwardin
følelser
sentiment;lean,long,dusty,drearyandyetsomehowlovable.
Atfriendlymeetings,andwhenthewinewastohistaste,somethingeminentlyhumanbeaconedfromhiseye;
somethingindeedwhichneverfounditswayintohistalk,butwhichspokenotonlyinthesesilentsymbolsoftheafter-dinnerface,butmoreoftenandloudlyintheactsofhislife.
Hewasausterewithhimself;
drank
gin
ginwhenhewasalone,tomortifyatasteforvintages;andthoughheenjoyedthe
teatret
theatre,hadnotcrossedthedoorsofonefortwentyyears.Buthehadan
godkendt
approvedtoleranceforothers;sometimeswondering,almostwith
misundelse
envy,atthehighpressureofspiritsinvolvedintheirmisdeeds;andinanyextremityinclinedtohelpratherthantoreprove.
“IinclinetoCain’sheresy,”heusedtosayquaintly:
“Iletmybrothergotothedevilinhisownway.”
Inthischaracter,itwas
ofte
frequentlyhisfortunetobethelastreputableacquaintanceandthelastgoodindflydelse
influenceinthelivesofdowngoingmen.Andtosuchasthese,solongastheycameabouthischambers,henevermarkeda
skygge
shadeofchangeinhisdemeanour.NodoubtthefeatwaseasytoMr.Utterson;
forhewasundemonstrativeatthebest,andevenhisfriendshipseemedtobefoundedinasimilarcatholicityofgood-nature.
Itisthemarkofamodestmantoaccepthisfriendlycircleready-madefromthehandsofopportunity;
andthatwasthelawyer’sway.
Hisfriendswerethoseofhisownbloodorthosewhomhehadknownthelongest;
hisaffections,likeivy,werethe
vækst
growthoftime,theyimpliednoaptnessintheobject.Derfor
Hence,nodoubtthebondthatunitedhimtoMr.RichardEnfield,hisdistantkinsman,thewell-knownmanabouttown.Itwasanuttocrackformany,whatthesetwocouldseeineachother,orwhatsubjecttheycouldfindincommon.
Itwasreportedbythosewho
stødte
encounteredthemintheirSundaywalks,thattheysaidnothing,lookedsingularlykedelig
dullandwouldhailwithobviouslettelse
relieftheappearanceofafriend.Forallthat,thetwomenputthegreateststorebytheseexcursions,countedthemthechiefjewelofeachweek,andnotonlysetasideoccasionsofpleasure,buteven
modstod
resistedthecallsofbusiness,thattheymightenjoythemuninterrupted.Itchancedononeoftheseramblesthattheirwayledthemdownaby-streetinabusyquarterofLondon.
Thestreetwassmallandwhatiscalledquiet,butitdroveathrivingtradeontheweekdays.
Theinhabitantswerealldoingwell,itseemedandallemulouslyhopingtodobetterstill,andlayingoutthesurplusoftheirgrainsincoquetry;
sothattheshopfrontsstoodalongthatthoroughfarewithanairofinvitation,likerowsofsmilingsaleswomen.
EvenonSunday,whenitveileditsmoreflorid
charmer
charmsandlaycomparativelyemptyofpassage
passage,thestreetshoneoutincontrasttoitsdingykvarter
neighbourhood,likeafireinaforest;andwithitsfreshlypaintedshutters,well-polishedbrasses,andgeneralcleanlinessandgaietyofnote,
øjeblikkeligt
instantlycaughtandpleasedtheeyeofthepassenger.Twodoorsfromonecorner,onthelefthandgoingeastthelinewasbrokenbytheentryofacourt;
andjustatthatpointacertainsinisterblockofbuildingthrustforwarditsgableonthestreet.
Itwastwostoreyshigh;
showednowindow,nothingbutadooronthelowerstoreyandablind
pande
foreheadofdiscolouredwallontheøverste
upper;andboreinevery
træk
feature,themarksofprolongedandsordiduagtsomhed
negligence.Thedoor,whichwasequippedwithneitherbellnorknocker,wasblisteredanddistained.
Trampsslouchedintotherecessandstruckmatchesonthepanels;
childrenkeptshopuponthesteps;
theschoolboyhadtriedhisknifeonthemouldings;
andforcloseonageneration,noonehadappearedtodriveawaythese
tilfældige
randomvisitorsortorepairtheirravages.Mr.
Enfieldandthelawyerwereontheothersideoftheby-street;
butwhentheycameabreastoftheentry,theformerlifteduphis
stok
caneandpointed.“Didyoueverremarkthatdoor?”
heasked;
andwhenhiscompanionhadrepliedintheaffirmative,“Itis
forbundet
connectedinmymind,”addedhe,“withaveryoddstory.”“Indeed?”
saidMr.Utterson,witha
lille
slightchangeofvoice,“andwhatwasthat?”“Well,itwasthisway,”returnedMr.Enfield:
“Iwascominghomefromsomeplaceattheendoftheworld,aboutthreeo’clockofablackwintermorning,andmywaylaythroughapartoftownwheretherewas
bogstaveligt talt
literallynothingtobeseenbutlamps.Streetafterstreetandallthefolksasleep—streetafterstreet,alllightedupasiffora
procession
processionandallasemptyasachurch—tillatlastIgotintothatstateofmindwhenamanlistensandlistensandbeginstolongforthesightofapolitimand
policeman.Allatonce,Isawtwofigures:
onealittlemanwhowasstumpingalongeastwardatagoodwalk,andtheotheragirlofmaybeeightortenwhowasrunningashardasshewasabledownacrossstreet.
Well,sir,thetworanintooneanother
naturligt
naturallyenoughatthecorner;andthencamethehorriblepartofthething;
forthemantrampled
roligt
calmlyoverthechild’sbodyandleftherscreamingontheground.Itsoundsnothingtohear,butitwashellishtosee.
Itwasn’tlikeaman;
itwaslikesomedamnedJuggernaut.
Igaveafewhalloa,tooktomyheels,collaredmygentleman,andbroughthimbacktowheretherewasalreadyquiteagroupaboutthescreamingchild.
Hewasperfectlycoolandmadeno
modstand
resistance,butgavemeonelook,souglythatitbroughtoutthesweatonmelikerunning.Thepeoplewhohadturnedoutwerethegirl’sownfamily;
andprettysoon,thedoctor,forwhomshehadbeensentputinhis
udseende
appearance.Well,thechildwasnotmuchtheworse,morefrightened,accordingtothesawbones;
andthereyoumighthavesupposedwouldbeanendtoit.
Buttherewasonecurious
omstændighed
circumstance.Ihadtakenaloathingtomygentlemanatfirstsight.
Sohadthechild’sfamily,whichwasonlynatural.
Butthedoctor’scasewaswhatstruckme.
Hewastheusualcutanddryapothecary,ofnoparticularageand
farve
colour,withastrongEdinburghaccent
accentandaboutasemotionalasabagpipe.Well,sir,hewasliketherestofus;
everytimehelookedatmyprisoner,Isawthatsawbonesturnsickandwhitewiththedesiretokillhim.
Iknewwhatwasinhismind,justasheknewwhatwasinmine;
andkillingbeingoutofthequestion,wedidthenextbest.
Wetoldthemanwecouldandwouldmakesucha
skandale
scandaloutofthisasshouldmakehisnamestinke
stinkfromoneendofLondontotheother.Ifhehadanyfriendsoranycredit,weundertookthatheshouldlosethem.
Andallthetime,aswewerepitchingitinredhot,wewerekeepingthewomenoffhimasbestwecouldfortheywereaswildasharpies.
Ineversawacircleofsuchhatefulfaces;
andtherewasthemaninthemiddle,withakindofblacksneeringcoolness—frightenedtoo,Icouldseethat—butcarryingitoff,sir,reallylike
Satan
Satan.‘Ifyouchoosetomakecapitaloutofthisaccident,’saidhe,‘Iam
naturligvis
naturallyhelpless.Nogentlemanbutwishestoavoidascene,’sayshe.
‘Nameyourfigure.’Well,wescrewedhimuptoahundredpoundsforthechild’sfamily;
hewouldhaveclearlylikedtostickout;
buttherewassomethingaboutthelotofusthatmeantmischief,andatlasthestruck.
Thenextthingwastogetthemoney;
andwheredoyouthinkhecarriedusbuttothatplacewiththedoor?—whippedoutakey,wentin,andpresentlycamebackwiththematteroftenpoundsingoldanda
check
chequeforthebalanceonCoutts’s,drawnpayabletobearerandsignedwithanamethatIcan’tmention,thoughit’soneofthepointsofmystory,butitwasanameatleastverywellknownandoftentrykt
printed.Thefigurewasstiff;
butthesignaturewasgoodformorethanthatifitwasonly
ægte
genuine.Itookthelibertyofpointingouttomygentlemanthatthewholebusinesslookedapocryphal,andthatamandoesnot,inreallife,walkintoa
kælder
cellardooratfourinthemorningandcomeoutwithanotherman’scheck
chequeforcloseuponahundredpounds.Buthewasquiteeasyandsneering.
‘Setyourmindatrest,’sayshe,‘Iwillstaywithyoutillthebanksopenandcashthechequemyself.’Soweallsetoff,thedoctor,andthechild’sfather,andourfriendandmyself,andpassedtherestofthenightinmychambers;
andnextday,whenwehadbreakfasted,wentinabodytothebank.
Igaveinthechequemyself,andsaidIhadeveryreasontobelieveitwasa
forfalskning
forgery.Notabitofit.
Thechequewasgenuine.”
“Tut-tut!”
saidMr.Utterson.
“IseeyoufeelasIdo,”saidMr.Enfield.
“Yes,it’sabadstory.
Formymanwasafellowthatnobodycouldhavetodowith,areallydamnableman;
andthepersonthatdrewthechequeistheverypinkoftheproprieties,celebratedtoo,and(whatmakesitworse)oneofyourfellowswhodowhattheycallgood.
Afpresning
Blackmail,Isuppose;anhonestmanpayingthroughthenoseforsomeofthecapersofhisyouth.
BlackMailHouseiswhatIcalltheplacewiththedoor,in
følge
consequence.Thougheventhat,youknow,isfarfromexplainingall,”headded,andwiththewordsfellintoa
vene
veinofmusing.FromthishewasrecalledbyMr.Uttersonaskingrathersuddenly:
“Andyoudon’tknowifthedrawerofthechequelivesthere?”
“Alikelyplace,isn’tit?”
returnedMr.Enfield.
“ButIhappentohavenoticedhisaddress;
helivesinsomesquareorother.”
“Andyouneveraskedaboutthe—placewiththedoor?”
saidMr.Utterson.
“No,sir;
Ihadadelicacy,”wasthe
svaret
reply.“Ifeelverystronglyaboutputtingquestions;
itpartakestoomuchofthestyleofthedayofjudgment.
Youstartaquestion,andit’slikestartingastone.
Yousitquietlyonthetopofahill;
andawaythestonegoes,startingothers;
andpresentlysomeblandoldbird(thelastyouwouldhavethoughtof)isknockedontheheadinhisownbackgardenandthefamilyhavetochangetheirname.
Nosir,Imakeitaruleofmine:
themoreitlookslikeQueerStreet,thelessIask.”
“Averygoodrule,too,”saidthelawyer.
“ButIhavestudiedtheplaceformyself,”continuedMr.Enfield.
“Itseems
næppe
scarcelyahouse.Thereisnootherdoor,andnobodygoesinoroutofthatonebut,onceinagreatwhile,thegentlemanofmy
eventyr
adventure.Therearethreewindowslookingonthecourtonthefirstfloor;
nonebelow;
thewindowsarealwaysshutbutthey’reclean.
Andthenthereisa
skorsten
chimneywhichisgenerallysmoking;sosomebodymustlivethere.
Andyetit’snotsosure;
forthebuildingsaresopackedtogetheraboutthecourt,thatit’shardtosaywhereoneendsandanotherbegins.”
Thepairwalkedonagainforawhileinsilence;
andthen“Enfield,”saidMr.Utterson,“that’sagoodruleofyours.”
“Yes,Ithinkitis,”returnedEnfield.
“Butforallthat,”continuedthelawyer,“there’sonepointIwanttoask.
Iwanttoaskthenameofthatmanwhowalkedoverthechild.”
“Well,”saidMr.Enfield,“Ican’tseewhatharmitwoulddo.
ItwasamanofthenameofHyde.”
“Hm,”saidMr.Utterson.
“Whatsortofamanishetosee?”
“Heisnoteasyto
beskrive
describe.Thereissomethingwrongwithhis
udseende
appearance;somethingdispleasing,somethingdown-rightdetestable.
IneversawamanIsodisliked,andyetIscarceknowwhy.
Hemustbedeformedsomewhere;
hegivesastrongfeelingofdeformity,althoughIcouldn’t
specificere
specifythepoint.He’sanextraordinarylookingman,andyetIreallycannamenothingoutoftheway.
No,sir;
Icanmakenohandofit;
Ican’t
beskrive
describehim.Andit’snotwantofmemory;
forI
erklærer
declareIcanseehimthismoment.”Mr.
Uttersonagainwalkedsomewayinsilenceandobviouslyunderaweightof
overvejelse
consideration.“Youaresureheusedakey?”
he
spurgte
inquiredatlast.“Mydearsir...”
beganEnfield,surprisedoutofhimself.
“Yes,Iknow,”saidUtterson;
“Iknowitmustseemstrange.
Thefactis,ifIdonotaskyouthenameoftheotherparty,itisbecauseIknowitalready.
Yousee,Richard,your
fortælling
talehasgonehome.Ifyouhavebeeninexactinanypointyouhadbettercorrectit.”
“Ithinkyoumighthavewarnedme,”returnedtheotherwithatouchofsullenness.
“ButIhavebeenpedanticallyexact,asyoucallit.
Thefellowhadakey;
andwhat’smore,hehasitstill.
Isawhimuseitnotaweekago.”
Mr.
Utterson
sukkede
sigheddeeplybutsaidneveraword;andtheyoungmanpresently
genoptog
resumed.“Hereisanotherlessontosaynothing,”saidhe.
“Iamashamedofmylongtongue.
Letusmakeabargainneverto
henvise
refertothisagain.”“Withallmyheart,”saidthelawyer.
SEARCHFORMR.HYDE
ThateveningMr.Uttersoncamehometohis
bachelor
bachelorhouseinsombrespiritsandsatdowntodinnerwithoutrelish.Itwashis
skik
customofaSunday,whenthismealwasover,tositclosebythefire,abind
volumeofsomedrydivinityonhisreadingdesk,untiltheclockoftheneighbouringchurchrangoutthehouroftwelve,whenhewouldgosoberlyandgratefullytobed.Onthisnighthowever,assoonastheclothwastakenaway,hetookupa
stearinlys
candleandwentintohisbusinessroom.Thereheopenedhissafe,tookfromthemostprivatepartofita
dokument
documentendorsedontheenvelopeasDr.Jekyll’sWillandsatdownwithacloudedpande
browtostudyitscontents.Thewillwasholograph,forMr.Uttersonthoughhetookchargeofitnowthatitwasmade,hadrefusedtolendtheleast
hjælp
assistanceinthemakingofit;itprovidednotonlythat,incaseofthedeceaseofHenryJekyll,M.D.,D.C.L.,L.L.D.,F.R.S.,etc.,allhispossessionsweretopassintothehandsofhis“friendandbenefactorEdwardHyde,”butthatincaseofDr.Jekyll’s“disappearanceorunexplained
fravær
absenceforanyperiodexceedingthreecalendarmonths,”thesaidEdwardHydeshouldstepintothesaidHenryJekyll’sshoeswithoutfurtherforsinkelse
delayandfreefromanyburthenorforpligtelse
obligationbeyondthepaymentofafewsmallsumstothemembersofthedoctor’shusstand
household.Thisdocumenthadlongbeenthelawyer’seyesore.
It
fornærmede
offendedhimbothasalawyerandasaloverofthefornuftige
saneandcustomarysidesoflife,towhomthefancifulwastheimmodest.Andhithertoitwashis
uvidenhed
ignoranceofMr.Hydethathadswelledhisindignation;now,byasuddenturn,itwashisknowledge.
Itwasalreadybadenoughwhenthenamewasbutanameofwhichhecouldlearnnomore.
Itwasworsewhenitbegantobeclotheduponwithdetestableattributes;
andoutoftheshifting,insubstantialmiststhathadsolongbaffledhiseye,there
sprang
leapedupthesudden,definitepresentmentofadjævel
fiend.“Ithoughtitwasmadness,”hesaid,ashereplacedtheobnoxiouspaperinthesafe,“andnowIbegintofearitisdisgrace.”
Withthatheblewouthis
stearinlys
candle,putonagreatcoat,andsetforthinthedirectionofCavendishSquare,thatcitadelofmedicine,wherehisfriend,thegreatDr.Lanyon,hadhishouseandreceivedhiscrowdingpatients.“Ifanyoneknows,itwillbeLanyon,”hehadthought.
The
højtidelige
solemnbutlerknewandwelcomedhim;