STORYOFTHEDOOR
Mr.
Uttersonthelawyerwasamanofa
robuste
ruggedcountenancethatwasneverlightedbyasmile;cold,scantyand
embarrassé
embarrassedindiscourse;backwardin
sentiment
sentiment;lean,long,dusty,drearyandyetsomehow
adorable
lovable.Atfriendlymeetings,andwhenthewinewastohistaste,somethingeminentlyhumanbeaconedfromhiseye;
somethingindeedwhichneverfounditswayintohistalk,butwhichspokenotonlyinthesesilentsymbolsoftheafter-dinnerface,butmoreoftenand
fort
loudlyintheactsofhislife.Hewasausterewithhimself;
drank
gin
ginwhenhewasalone,tomortifyatasteforvintages;andthoughheenjoyedthetheatre,hadnotcrossedthedoorsofonefortwentyyears.
Buthehadanapproved
tolérance
toleranceforothers;sometimeswondering,almostwith
envie
envy,atthehighpressureofspiritsinvolvedintheirmisdeeds;andinanyextremityinclinedtohelpratherthantoreprove.
“IinclinetoCain’sheresy,”heusedtosayquaintly:
“Iletmybrothergotothedevilinhisownway.”
Inthischaracter,itwas
fréquemment
frequentlyhisfortunetobethelastreputableacquaintanceandthelastgoodinfluence
influenceinthelivesofdowngoingmen.Andtosuchasthese,solongastheycameabouthischambers,henevermarkeda
ombre
shadeofchangeinhisdemeanour.NodoubtthefeatwaseasytoMr.Utterson;
forhewasundemonstrativeatthebest,andevenhisfriendshipseemedtobefoundedinasimilarcatholicityofgood-nature.
Itisthemarkofa
modeste
modestmantoaccepthisfriendlycircleready-madefromthehandsofopportunity;andthatwasthelawyer’sway.
Hisfriendswerethoseofhisownbloodorthosewhomhehadknownthe
plus
longest;hisaffections,likeivy,werethe
croissance
growthoftime,theyimpliednoaptnessintheobject.D'où
Hence,nodoubtthebondthatunitedhimtoMr.RichardEnfield,hiséloigné
distantkinsman,thewell-knownmanabouttown.Itwasa
noix
nuttocrackformany,whatthesetwocouldseeineachother,orwhatsubjecttheycouldfindincommon.ItwasreportedbythosewhoencounteredthemintheirSundaywalks,thattheysaidnothing,lookedsingularlydullandwouldhailwithobvious
soulagement
relieftheappearanceofafriend.Forallthat,thetwomenputthegreateststorebytheseexcursions,countedthemthechief
joyau
jewelofeachweek,andnotonlysetasideoccasionsofpleasure,butevenresistedthecallsofbusiness,thattheymightenjoythemuninterrupted.Itchancedononeoftheseramblesthattheirwayledthemdownaby-streetinabusyquarterofLondon.
Thestreetwassmallandwhatiscalledquiet,butitdroveathrivingtradeontheweekdays.
Theinhabitantswerealldoingwell,itseemedandallemulouslyhopingtodobetterstill,andlayingoutthesurplusoftheirgrainsincoquetry;
sothattheshopfrontsstoodalongthatthoroughfarewithanairofinvitation,likerowsofsmilingsaleswomen.
EvenonSunday,whenit
voilait
veileditsmorefloridcharmsandlaycomparativelyemptyofpassage
passage,thestreetshoneoutincontraste
contrasttoitsdingyneighbourhood,likeafireinaforest;andwithitsfreshlypaintedshutters,well-polishedbrasses,andgeneralcleanlinessandgaietyofnote,
instantanément
instantlycaughtandpleasedtheeyeofthepassager
passenger.Twodoorsfromonecorner,onthelefthandgoingeastthelinewasbrokenbytheentryofacourt;
andjustatthatpointacertain
sinistre
sinisterblockofbuildingthrustforwarditsgableonthestreet.Itwastwostoreyshigh;
showednowindow,nothingbutadooronthelowerstoreyandablind
front
foreheadofdiscolouredwallontheupper;andboreineveryfeature,themarksofprolongedand
sordide
sordidnegligence.Thedoor,whichwasequippedwithneitherbellnorknocker,wasblisteredanddistained.
Trampsslouchedintotherecessandstruckmatchesonthepanels;
childrenkeptshopuponthesteps;
theschoolboyhadtriedhisknifeonthemouldings;
andforcloseonageneration,noonehadappearedtodriveawaytheserandomvisitorsorto
réparer
repairtheirravages.Mr.
Enfieldandthelawyerwereontheothersideoftheby-street;
butwhentheycameabreastoftheentry,theformerlifteduphis
canne
caneandpointed.“Didyouever
remarqué
remarkthatdoor?”heasked;
andwhenhis
compagnon
companionhadrepliedintheaffirmative,“Itisconnectedinmymind,”addedhe,“withaveryoddstory.”“Indeed?”
saidMr.Utterson,withaslightchangeofvoice,“andwhatwasthat?”
“Well,itwasthisway,”returnedMr.Enfield:
“Iwascominghomefromsomeplaceattheendoftheworld,aboutthreeo’clockofablackwintermorning,andmywaylaythroughapartoftownwheretherewas
littéralement
literallynothingtobeseenbutlamps.Streetafterstreetandallthefolksasleep—streetafterstreet,alllightedupasiffora
procession
processionandallasemptyasachurch—tillatlastIgotintothatstateofmindwhenamanlistensandlistensandbeginstolongforthesightofapolicier
policeman.Allatonce,Isawtwofigures:
onealittlemanwhowasstumpingalongeastwardatagoodwalk,andtheotheragirlofmaybeeightortenwhowasrunningashardasshewasabledownacrossstreet.
Well,sir,thetworanintooneanother
naturellement
naturallyenoughatthecorner;andthencamethehorriblepartofthething;
forthemantrampled
calmement
calmlyoverthechild’sbodyandleftherscreamingontheground.Itsoundsnothingtohear,butitwashellishtosee.
Itwasn’tlikeaman;
itwaslikesomedamnedJuggernaut.
Igaveafewhalloa,tooktomyheels,collaredmygentleman,andbroughthimbacktowheretherewasalreadyquiteagroupaboutthescreamingchild.
Hewasperfectlycoolandmadenoresistance,butgavemeonelook,souglythatitbroughtoutthesweatonmelikerunning.
Thepeoplewhohadturnedoutwerethegirl’sownfamily;
andprettysoon,thedoctor,forwhomshehadbeensentputinhis
apparence
appearance.Well,thechildwasnotmuchtheworse,more
effrayé
frightened,accordingtothesawbones;andthereyoumighthavesupposedwouldbeanendtoit.
Buttherewasonecurious
circonstance
circumstance.Ihadtakenaloathingtomygentlemanatfirstsight.
Sohadthechild’sfamily,whichwasonlynatural.
Butthedoctor’scasewaswhatstruckme.
Hewastheusualcutanddryapothecary,ofnoparticularageand
couleur
colour,withastrongEdinburghaccent
accentandaboutasemotionalasabagpipe.Well,sir,hewasliketherestofus;
everytimehelookedatmyprisoner,Isawthatsawbonesturnsickandwhitewiththedesiretokillhim.
Iknewwhatwasinhismind,justasheknewwhatwasinmine;
andkillingbeingoutofthequestion,wedidthenextbest.
Wetoldthemanwecouldandwouldmakesucha
scandale
scandaloutofthisasshouldmakehisnamestinkfromoneendofLondontotheother.Ifhehadanyfriendsoranycredit,we
engagés
undertookthatheshouldlosethem.Andallthetime,aswewerepitchingitinredhot,wewerekeepingthewomenoffhimasbestwecouldfortheywereaswildasharpies.
Ineversawacircleofsuch
haineux
hatefulfaces;andtherewasthemaninthemiddle,withakindofblacksneeringcoolness—frightenedtoo,Icouldseethat—butcarryingitoff,sir,reallylike
Satan
Satan.‘Ifyouchoosetomakecapitaloutofthisaccident,’saidhe,‘Iam
naturellement
naturallyhelpless.Nogentlemanbutwishestoavoidascene,’sayshe.
‘Nameyourfigure.’Well,wescrewedhimuptoahundredpoundsforthechild’sfamily;
hewouldhaveclearlylikedtostickout;
buttherewassomethingaboutthelotofusthatmeantmischief,andatlasthestruck.
Thenextthingwastogetthemoney;
andwheredoyouthinkhecarriedusbuttothatplacewiththedoor?—whippedoutakey,wentin,andpresentlycamebackwiththematteroftenpoundsingoldanda
chèque
chequeforthebalanceonCoutts’s,drawnpayabletoporteur
bearerandsignedwithanamethatIcan’tmention,thoughit’soneofthepointsofmystory,butitwasanameatleastverywellknownandoftenimprimé
printed.Thefigurewasstiff;
butthe
signature
signaturewasgoodformorethanthatifitwasonlyauthentique
genuine.Itookthelibertyofpointingouttomygentlemanthatthewholebusinesslookedapocryphal,andthatamandoesnot,inreallife,walkintoa
cave
cellardooratfourinthemorningandcomeoutwithanotherman’schèque
chequeforcloseuponahundredpounds.Buthewasquiteeasyandsneering.
‘Setyourmindatrest,’sayshe,‘Iwillstaywithyoutillthebanksopenandcashthe
chèque
chequemyself.’Soweallsetoff,thedoctor,andthechild’sfather,andourfriendandmyself,andpassedtherestofthenightinmychambers;andnextday,whenwehadbreakfasted,wentinabodytothebank.
Igaveinthe
chèque
chequemyself,andsaidIhadeveryreasontobelieveitwasaforgery.Notabitofit.
The
chèque
chequewasgenuine.”“Tut-tut!”
saidMr.Utterson.
“IseeyoufeelasIdo,”saidMr.Enfield.
“Yes,it’sabadstory.
Formymanwasafellowthatnobodycouldhavetodowith,areallydamnableman;
andthepersonthatdrewthe
chèque
chequeistheverypinkoftheproprieties,celebratedtoo,and(whatmakesitworse)oneofyourfellowswhodowhattheycallgood.Chantage
Blackmail,Isuppose;anhonestmanpayingthroughthenoseforsomeofthecapersofhisyouth.
BlackMailHouseiswhatIcalltheplacewiththedoor,inconsequence.
Thougheventhat,youknow,isfarfromexplainingall,”headded,andwiththewordsfellintoa
veine
veinofmusing.Fromthishewas
rappelé
recalledbyMr.Uttersonaskingrathersuddenly:“Andyoudon’tknowifthedrawerofthe
chèque
chequelivesthere?”“Alikelyplace,isn’tit?”
returnedMr.Enfield.
“ButIhappentohavenoticedhisaddress;
helivesinsomesquareorother.”
“Andyouneveraskedaboutthe—placewiththedoor?”
saidMr.Utterson.
“No,sir;
Ihadadelicacy,”wasthe
réponse
reply.“Ifeelverystronglyaboutputtingquestions;
itpartakestoomuchofthestyleofthedayof
jugement
judgment.Youstartaquestion,andit’slikestartingastone.
Yousitquietlyonthetopofahill;
andawaythestonegoes,startingothers;
andpresentlysomeblandoldbird(thelastyouwouldhavethoughtof)isknockedontheheadinhisownbackgardenandthefamilyhavetochangetheirname.
Nosir,Imakeitaruleofmine:
themoreitlookslikeQueerStreet,thelessIask.”
“Averygoodrule,too,”saidthelawyer.
“ButIhavestudiedtheplaceformyself,”continuedMr.Enfield.
“Itseemsscarcelyahouse.
Thereisnootherdoor,andnobodygoesinoroutofthatonebut,onceinagreatwhile,thegentlemanofmy
aventure
adventure.Therearethreewindowslookingonthecourtonthefirstfloor;
nonebelow;
thewindowsarealwaysshutbutthey’reclean.
Andthenthereisa
cheminée
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
décrire
describe.Thereissomethingwrongwithhis
apparence
appearance;somethingdispleasing,somethingdown-rightdetestable.
IneversawamanIsodisliked,andyetIscarceknowwhy.
Hemustbedeformedsomewhere;
hegivesastrongfeelingofdeformity,althoughIcouldn’t
spécifier
specifythepoint.He’sanextraordinarylookingman,andyetIreallycannamenothingoutoftheway.
No,sir;
Icanmakenohandofit;
Ican’t
décrire
describehim.Andit’snotwantofmemory;
forI
déclare
declareIcanseehimthismoment.”Mr.
Uttersonagainwalkedsomewayinsilenceandobviouslyunderaweightof
considération
consideration.“Youaresureheusedakey?”
heinquiredatlast.
“Mydearsir...”
beganEnfield,surprisedoutofhimself.
“Yes,Iknow,”saidUtterson;
“Iknowitmustseemstrange.
Thefactis,ifIdonotaskyouthenameoftheotherparty,itisbecauseIknowitalready.
Yousee,Richard,your
histoire
talehasgonehome.Ifyouhavebeeninexactinanypointyouhadbettercorrectit.”
“Ithinkyoumighthavewarnedme,”returnedtheotherwithatouchofsullenness.
“ButIhavebeenpedanticallyexact,asyoucallit.
Thefellowhadakey;
andwhat’smore,hehasitstill.
Isawhimuseitnotaweekago.”
Mr.
Utterson
soupira
sigheddeeplybutsaidneveraword;andtheyoungmanpresently
repris
resumed.“Hereisanotherlessontosaynothing,”saidhe.
“Iamashamedofmylongtongue.
Letusmakea
marché
bargainnevertorefertothisagain.”“Withallmyheart,”saidthelawyer.
SEARCHFORMR.HYDE
ThateveningMr.Uttersoncamehometohis
célibataire
bachelorhouseinsombrespiritsandsatdowntodinnerwithoutrelish.Itwashis
coutume
customofaSunday,whenthismealwasover,tositclosebythefire,avolume
volumeofsomedrydivinityonhisreadingdesk,untiltheclockoftheneighbouringchurchrangoutthehouroftwelve,whenhewouldgosoberlyandgratefullytobed.Onthisnighthowever,assoonasthe
tissu
clothwastakenaway,hetookupabougie
candleandwentintohisbusinessroom.Thereheopenedhissafe,tookfromthemostprivatepartofitadocumentendorsedontheenvelopeasDr.Jekyll’sWillandsatdownwithaclouded
front
browtostudyitscontents.Thewillwasholograph,forMr.Uttersonthoughhetookchargeofitnowthatitwasmade,hadrefusedtolendtheleast
assistance
assistanceinthemakingofit;itprovidednotonlythat,incaseofthedeceaseofHenryJekyll,M.D.,D.C.L.,L.L.D.,F.R.S.,etc.,allhispossessionsweretopassintothehandsofhis“friendand
bienfaiteur
benefactorEdwardHyde,”butthatincaseofDr.Jekyll’s“disappearanceorunexplainedabsenceforanyperiodexceedingthreecalendarmonths,”thesaidEdwardHydeshouldstepintothesaidHenryJekyll’sshoeswithoutfurtherdelayandfreefromanyburthenorobligation
obligationbeyondthepaymentofafewsmallsumstothemembersofthedoctor’sménage
household.Thisdocumenthadlongbeenthelawyer’seyesore.
It
offensé
offendedhimbothasalawyerandasaloverofthesaneandcustomarysidesoflife,towhomthefancifulwastheimmodest.Andhithertoitwashis
ignorance
ignoranceofMr.Hydethathadgonflé
swelledhisindignation;now,byasuddenturn,itwashisknowledge.
Itwasalreadybadenoughwhenthenamewasbutanameofwhichhecouldlearnnomore.
Itwasworsewhenitbegantobeclotheduponwithdetestableattributes;
andoutoftheshifting,insubstantialmiststhathadsolongbaffledhiseye,there
sauté
leapedupthesudden,definitepresentmentofafiend.“Ithoughtitwasmadness,”hesaid,ashe
replaçait
replacedtheobnoxiouspaperinthesafe,“andnowIbegintofearitisdisgrace.”Withthatheblewouthis
bougie
candle,putonagreatcoat,andsetforthinthedirectionofCavendishSquare,thatcitadelofmedicine,wherehisfriend,thegreatDr.Lanyon,hadhishouseandreceivedhiscrowdingpatients.“Ifanyoneknows,itwillbeLanyon,”hehadthought.
The
solennel
solemnbutlerknewandwelcomedhim;