STORYOFTHEDOOR
Mr.
Uttersonthe
advocaat
lawyerwasamanofaruggedcountenancethatwasneverlightedbyaglimlach
smile;cold,scantyandembarrassedindiscourse;
backwardinsentiment;
lean,long,dusty,drearyandyetsomehowlovable.
Atfriendlymeetings,andwhenthe
wijn
winewastohistaste,somethingeminentlyhumanbeaconedfromhisoog
eye;somethingindeedwhichneverfounditswayintohistalk,butwhichspokenotonlyinthesesilentsymbolsoftheafter-dinnerface,butmoreoftenandloudlyintheactsofhislife.
Hewasausterewithhimself;
drankginwhenhewasalone,tomortifya
smaak
tasteforvintages;andthoughhe
genoot
enjoyedthetheatre,hadnotcrossedthedoorsofonefortwentyyears.Buthehadanapprovedtoleranceforothers;
sometimeswondering,almostwithenvy,atthehighpressureofspirits
betrokken
involvedintheirmisdeeds;andinanyextremityinclinedtohelpratherthantoreprove.
“IinclinetoCain’sheresy,”heusedtosayquaintly:
“Iletmybrothergotothedevilinhisownway.”
Inthischaracter,itwasfrequentlyhisfortunetobethelastreputableacquaintanceandthelastgoodinfluenceinthelivesofdowngoingmen.
Andtosuchasthese,solongastheycameabouthischambers,henevermarkedashadeofchangeinhisdemeanour.
No
twijfel
doubtthefeatwaseasytoMr.Utterson;forhewasundemonstrativeatthebest,andevenhisfriendship
leek
seemedtobefoundedinasimilarcatholicityofgood-nature.Itisthemarkofamodestmanto
accepteren
accepthisfriendlycircleready-madefromthehandsofopportunity;andthatwasthelawyer’sway.
Hisfriendswerethoseofhisownbloodorthosewhomhehadknownthelongest;
hisaffections,likeivy,werethegrowthoftime,theyimpliednoaptnessintheobject.
Hence,nodoubtthebondthatunitedhimtoMr.RichardEnfield,hisdistantkinsman,thewell-knownmanabouttown.
Itwasanuttocrackformany,whatthesetwocouldseeineachother,orwhatsubjecttheycouldfindincommon.
ItwasreportedbythosewhoencounteredthemintheirSundaywalks,thattheysaidnothing,lookedsingularlydullandwouldhailwithobviousrelieftheappearanceofafriend.
Forallthat,thetwomenputthegreateststorebytheseexcursions,countedthemthechiefjewelofeachweek,andnotonlysetasideoccasionsof
plezier
pleasure,butevenresistedthecallsofbusiness,thattheymightgenieten
enjoythemuninterrupted.Itchancedononeoftheseramblesthattheirway
leidde
ledthemdownaby-streetinadrukke
busyquarterofLondon.Thestreetwassmallandwhatiscalledquiet,butitdroveathrivingtradeontheweekdays.
Theinhabitantswerealldoingwell,it
leek
seemedandallemulouslyhopingtodobetterstill,andlayingoutthesurplusoftheirgrainsincoquetry;sothattheshopfrontsstoodalongthatthoroughfarewithanairofinvitation,likerowsofsmilingsaleswomen.
EvenonSunday,whenitveileditsmorefloridcharmsandlaycomparatively
leeg
emptyofpassage,thestreetshoneoutincontrasttoitsdingyneighbourhood,likeafireinaforest;andwithitsfreshlypaintedshutters,well-polishedbrasses,and
algemene
generalcleanlinessandgaietyofnote,instantlycaughtandpleasedtheoog
eyeofthepassenger.Twodoorsfromonecorner,onthelefthandgoing
oosten
eastthelinewasbrokenbytheentryofahof
court;andjustatthatpointacertainsinisterblockof
gebouw
buildingthrustforwarditsgableonthestreet.Itwastwostoreyshigh;
showedno
raam
window,nothingbutadooronthelowerstoreyandablindforeheadofdiscolouredmuur
wallontheupper;and
droeg
boreineveryfeature,themarksofprolongedandsordidnegligence.Thedoor,whichwasequippedwithneitherbellnorknocker,wasblisteredanddistained.
Trampsslouchedintotherecessandstruckmatchesonthepanels;
childrenkept
winkelden
shopuponthesteps;theschoolboyhadtriedhis
mes
knifeonthemouldings;andforcloseonageneration,noonehadappearedtodriveawaytheserandomvisitorsortorepairtheirravages.
Mr.
Enfieldandthe
advocaat
lawyerwereontheothersideoftheby-street;butwhentheycameabreastoftheentry,theformerlifteduphiscaneandpointed.
“Didyoueverremarkthatdoor?”
heasked;
andwhenhiscompanionhadrepliedintheaffirmative,“Itisconnectedinmymind,”addedhe,“withaveryoddstory.”
“Indeed?”
saidMr.Utterson,withaslightchangeof
stem
voice,“andwhatwasthat?”“Well,itwasthisway,”returnedMr.Enfield:
“Iwascominghomefromsomeplaceattheendoftheworld,aboutthreeo’clockofablackwintermorning,andmywaylaythroughapartoftownwheretherewasliterallynothingtobeseenbutlamps.
Streetafterstreetandallthefolksasleep—streetafterstreet,alllightedupasifforaprocessionandallas
leeg
emptyasachurch—tillatlastIgotintothatstateofmindwhenamanlistensandlistensandbegint
beginstolongforthesightofapoliceman.Allatonce,Isawtwofigures:
onealittlemanwhowasstumpingalongeastwardatagoodwalk,andtheotheragirlofmaybe
acht
eightortenwhowasrunningashardasshewasabledownacrossstreet.Well,sir,thetworanintooneanothernaturallyenoughatthecorner;
andthencamethehorriblepartofthething;
forthemantrampledcalmlyoverthechild’sbodyandleftherscreamingontheground.
Itsoundsnothingtohear,butitwashellishtosee.
Itwasn’tlikeaman;
itwaslikesomedamnedJuggernaut.
Igaveafewhalloa,tooktomyheels,collaredmygentleman,andbroughthimbacktowheretherewasalreadyquitea
groep
groupaboutthescreamingchild.Hewasperfectlycoolandmadenoresistance,butgavemeonelook,so
lelijk
uglythatitbroughtoutthesweatonmelikerunning.Thepeoplewhohadturnedoutwerethegirl’sownfamily;
andprettysoon,thedoctor,forwhomshehadbeensentputinhisappearance.
Well,thechildwasnotmuchthe
erger
worse,morefrightened,accordingtothesawbones;andthereyoumighthavesupposedwouldbeanendtoit.
Buttherewasonecuriouscircumstance.
Ihadtakenaloathingtomygentlemanatfirstsight.
Sohadthechild’sfamily,whichwasonlynatural.
Butthedoctor’scasewaswhatstruckme.
Hewastheusualcutanddryapothecary,ofnoparticular
leeftijd
ageandcolour,withasterk
strongEdinburghaccentandaboutasemotionalasabagpipe.Well,sir,hewasliketherestofus;
everytimehelookedatmyprisoner,Isawthatsawbonesturnsickandwhitewiththedesiretokillhim.
Iknewwhatwasinhismind,justasheknewwhatwasinmine;
andkillingbeingoutofthequestion,wedidthenextbest.
WetoldthemanwecouldandwouldmakesuchascandaloutofthisasshouldmakehisnamestinkfromoneendofLondontotheother.
Ifhehadanyfriendsoranycredit,weundertookthatheshouldlosethem.
Andallthetime,aswewerepitchingitinredhot,wewerekeepingthewomenoffhimasbestwecouldfortheywereas
wild
wildasharpies.Ineversawacircleofsuchhatefulfaces;
andtherewasthemaninthe
midden
middle,withakindofblacksneeringcoolness—frightenedtoo,Icouldseethat—butcarryingitoff,sir,reallylikeSatan.‘Ifyouchoosetomakecapitaloutofthisaccident,’saidhe,‘Iamnaturallyhelpless.
Nogentlemanbutwishestoavoidascene,’sayshe.
‘Nameyourfigure.’Well,wescrewedhimuptoa
honderd
hundredpoundsforthechild’sfamily;hewouldhaveclearlylikedtostickout;
buttherewassomethingaboutthelotofusthatmeantmischief,andatlasthestruck.
Thenextthingwastogetthemoney;
andwheredoyouthinkhe
voor
carriedusbuttothatplacewiththedoor?—whippedoutasleutel
key,wentin,andpresentlycamebackwiththematteroftenpoundsingoud
goldandachequeforthebalanceonCoutts’s,drawnpayabletobearerandsignedwithanamethatIcan’tnoemen
mention,thoughit’soneofthepointsofmystory,butitwasanameatleastverywellknownandvaak
oftenprinted.Thefigurewasstiff;
butthesignaturewasgoodformorethanthatifitwasonlygenuine.
Itookthelibertyofpointingouttomygentlemanthatthewholebusinesslookedapocryphal,andthatamandoesnot,inreallife,walkintoacellardooratfourinthemorningandcomeoutwithanotherman’schequeforcloseupona
honderd
hundredpounds.Buthewasquiteeasyandsneering.
‘Setyourmindatrest,’sayshe,‘Iwillstaywithyoutillthebanksopenandcashthechequemyself.’Soweallsetoff,thedoctor,andthechild’sfather,andourfriendandmyself,andpassedtherestofthenightinmychambers;
andnextday,whenwehadbreakfasted,wentinabodytothe
bank
bank.Igaveinthechequemyself,andsaidIhadeveryreasontobelieveitwasaforgery.
Notabitofit.
Thechequewasgenuine.”
“Tut-tut!”
saidMr.Utterson.
“IseeyoufeelasIdo,”saidMr.Enfield.
“Yes,it’sabadstory.
Formymanwasafellowthatnobodycouldhavetodowith,areallydamnableman;
andthepersonthatdrewthechequeistheverypinkoftheproprieties,celebratedtoo,and(whatmakesitworse)oneofyourfellowswhodowhattheycallgood.
Blackmail,Isuppose;
anhonestmanpayingthroughthe
neus
noseforsomeofthecapersofhisyouth.BlackMailHouseiswhatIcalltheplacewiththedoor,inconsequence.
Thougheventhat,youknow,isfarfrom
uit te leggen
explainingall,”headded,andwiththewordsfellintoaveinofmusing.FromthishewasrecalledbyMr.Uttersonasking
nogal
rathersuddenly:“Andyoudon’tknowifthedrawerofthechequelivesthere?”
“Alikelyplace,isn’tit?”
returnedMr.Enfield.
“ButIhappentohavenoticedhis
adres
address;helivesinsomesquareorother.”
“Andyouneveraskedaboutthe—placewiththedoor?”
saidMr.Utterson.
“No,sir;
Ihadadelicacy,”wasthereply.
“Ifeelverystronglyaboutputtingquestions;
itpartakestoomuchofthestyleofthedayofjudgment.
Youstartaquestion,andit’slikestartingastone.
Yousitquietlyonthetopofahill;
andawaythestonegoes,startingothers;
andpresentlysomeblandoldbird(thelastyouwouldhavethoughtof)isknockedontheheadinhisownbackgardenandthefamilyhavetochangetheirname.
Nosir,Imakeita
regel
ruleofmine:themoreitlookslikeQueerStreet,the
minder
lessIask.”“Averygood
regel
rule,too,”saidthelawyer.“ButIhavestudiedtheplaceformyself,”continuedMr.Enfield.
“It
lijkt
seemsscarcelyahouse.Thereisnootherdoor,andnobodygoesinoroutofthatonebut,onceinagreatwhile,thegentlemanofmyadventure.
Therearethreewindowslookingonthecourtonthefirst
verdieping
floor;nonebelow;
thewindowsarealwaysshutbutthey’re
schoon
clean.Andthenthereisachimneywhichisgenerally
rookt
smoking;sosomebodymustlivethere.
Andyetit’snotsosure;
forthebuildingsaresopackedtogetheraboutthe
hof
court,thatit’shardtosaywhereoneendsandanotherbegins.”Thepairwalkedonagainforawhileinsilence;
andthen“Enfield,”saidMr.Utterson,“that’sagood
regel
ruleofyours.”“Yes,Ithinkitis,”returnedEnfield.
“Butforallthat,”continuedthe
advocaat
lawyer,“there’sonepointIwanttoask.Iwanttoaskthenameofthatmanwhowalkedoverthechild.”
“Well,”saidMr.Enfield,“Ican’tseewhatharmitwoulddo.
ItwasamanofthenameofHyde.”
“Hm,”saidMr.Utterson.
“Whatsortofamanishetosee?”
“Heisnoteasytodescribe.
Thereissomethingwrongwithhisappearance;
somethingdispleasing,somethingdown-rightdetestable.
IneversawamanIsodisliked,andyetIscarceknowwhy.
Hemustbedeformedsomewhere;
hegivesa
sterk
strongfeelingofdeformity,althoughIcouldn’tspecifythepoint.He’sanextraordinarylookingman,andyetIreallycannamenothingoutoftheway.
No,sir;
Icanmakenohandofit;
Ican’tdescribehim.
Andit’snotwantof
geheugen
memory;forIdeclareIcanseehimthismoment.”
Mr.
Uttersonagainwalkedsomewayinsilenceand
duidelijk
obviouslyunderaweightofconsideration.“Youaresureheusedakey?”
heinquiredatlast.
“Mydearsir...”
begon
beganEnfield,surprisedoutofhimself.“Yes,Iknow,”saidUtterson;
“Iknowitmust
lijkt
seemstrange.Thefactis,ifIdonotaskyouthenameoftheotherparty,itisbecauseIknowitalready.
Yousee,Richard,yourtalehasgonehome.
Ifyouhavebeeninexactinanypointyouhadbettercorrectit.”
“Ithinkyoumighthavewarnedme,”returnedtheotherwithatouchofsullenness.
“ButIhavebeenpedanticallyexact,asyoucallit.
Thefellowhada
sleutel
key;andwhat’smore,hehasitstill.
Isawhimuseitnotaweekago.”
Mr.
Uttersonsigheddeeplybutsaidneveraword;
andtheyoungmanpresentlyresumed.
“Hereisanotherlessontosaynothing,”saidhe.
“Iamashamedofmylongtongue.
Letusmakeabargainnevertorefertothisagain.”
“Withallmyheart,”saidthe
advocaat
lawyer.SEARCHFORMR.HYDE
That
avond
eveningMr.Uttersoncamehometohisbachelorhouseinsombrespiritsandsatdowntodinnerwithoutrelish.ItwashiscustomofaSunday,whenthismealwasover,tositclosebythefire,avolumeofsomedrydivinityonhisreadingdesk,untilthe
klok
clockoftheneighbouringchurchrangoutthehouroftwelve,whenhewouldgosoberlyandgratefullytobed.Onthisnight
echter
however,assoonastheclothwastakenaway,hetookupacandleandwentintohisbusinessroom.Thereheopenedhissafe,tookfromthemost
privé
privatepartofitadocumentendorsedontheenvelopeasDr.Jekyll’sWillandsatdownwithacloudedbrowtobestuderen
studyitscontents.Thewillwasholograph,forMr.Uttersonthoughhetookchargeofitnowthatitwasmade,hadrefusedtolendtheleastassistanceinthemakingofit;
itprovidednotonlythat,incaseofthedeceaseofHenryJekyll,M.D.,D.C.L.,L.L.D.,F.R.S.,etc.,allhispossessionsweretopassintothehandsofhis“friendandbenefactorEdwardHyde,”butthatincaseofDr.Jekyll’s“disappearanceorunexplainedabsenceforanyperiodexceedingthreecalendarmonths,”thesaidEdwardHydeshouldstepintothesaidHenryJekyll’s
schoenen
shoeswithoutfurtherdelayandfreefromanyburthenorobligationbeyondthepaymentofafewsmallsumstothemembersofthedoctor’shousehold.Thisdocumenthadlongbeenthelawyer’seyesore.
Itoffendedhimbothasa
advocaat
lawyerandasaloverofthesaneandcustomarysidesoflife,towhomthefancifulwastheimmodest.AndhithertoitwashisignoranceofMr.Hydethathadswelledhisindignation;
now,byasuddenturn,itwashisknowledge.
Itwasalreadybadenoughwhenthenamewasbutanameofwhichhecould
leren
learnnomore.Itwas
erger
worsewhenitbegantobeclotheduponwithdetestableattributes;andoutoftheshifting,insubstantialmiststhathadsolongbaffledhis
oog
eye,thereleapedupthesudden,definitepresentmentofafiend.“Ithoughtitwasmadness,”hesaid,ashereplacedtheobnoxious
papier
paperinthesafe,“andnowIbegin
begintofearitisdisgrace.”Withthathe
blies
blewouthiscandle,putonagreatcoat,andsetforthinthedirectionofCavendishSquare,thatcitadelofmedicine,wherehisfriend,thegreatDr.Lanyon,hadhishouseandreceivedhiscrowdingpatients.“Ifanyoneknows,itwillbeLanyon,”hehadthought.
Thesolemnbutlerknewandwelcomedhim;