The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde Gradually Hardening German B2

STORYOFTHEDOOR

Mr.

Uttersonthelawyerwasamanofaruggedcountenancethatwasneverlightedbyasmile;

cold,scantyandembarrassedindiscourse;

backwardinsentiment;

lean,long,

staubig

dusty,drearyandyetsomehow

liebenswert

lovable.

Atfriendlymeetings,andwhenthewinewastohistaste,somethingeminentlyhumanbeaconedfromhiseye;

somethingindeedwhichneverfounditswayintohistalk,butwhichspokenotonlyinthesesilentsymbolsoftheafter-dinnerface,butmoreoftenandloudlyintheactsofhislife.

Hewasausterewithhimself;

drank

gin

ginwhenhewasalone,tomortifyatasteforvintages;

andthoughheenjoyedthe

theater

theatre,hadnotcrossedthedoorsofonefortwentyyears.

Buthehadan

genehmigte

approvedtoleranceforothers;

sometimeswondering,almostwith

neid

envy,atthehighpressureofspiritsinvolvedintheirmisdeeds;

andinanyextremityinclinedtohelpratherthantoreprove.

“IinclinetoCain’sheresy,”heusedtosayquaintly:

“Iletmybrothergotothedevilinhisownway.”

Inthischaracter,itwasfrequentlyhisfortunetobethelastreputable

bekannte

acquaintanceandthelastgood

einfluss

influenceinthelivesofdowngoingmen.

Andtosuchasthese,solongastheycameabouthischambers,henevermarkeda

schatten

shadeofchangeinhisdemeanour.

Nodoubtthe

leistung

featwaseasytoMr.Utterson;

forhewasundemonstrativeatthebest,andevenhisfriendshipseemedtobefoundedinasimilarcatholicityofgood-nature.

Itisthemarkofamodestmantoaccepthisfriendlycircleready-madefromthehandsofopportunity;

andthatwasthelawyer’sway.

Hisfriendswerethoseofhisownbloodorthosewhomhehadknownthe

am längsten

longest;

hisaffections,likeivy,werethe

wachstum

growthoftime,theyimpliednoaptnessintheobject.

Daher

Hence,nodoubtthebondthatunitedhimtoMr.RichardEnfield,hisdistantkinsman,thewell-knownmanabouttown.

Itwasa

nuss

nuttocrackformany,whatthesetwocouldseeineachother,orwhatsubjecttheycouldfindincommon.

Itwasreportedbythosewho

begegneten

encounteredthemintheirSundaywalks,thattheysaidnothing,lookedsingularly

langweilig

dullandwouldhailwithobvious

erleichterung

relieftheappearanceofafriend.

Forallthat,thetwomenputthegreateststorebytheseexcursions,countedthemthechiefjewelofeachweek,andnotonlysetasideoccasionsofpleasure,butevenresistedthecallsofbusiness,thattheymightenjoythemuninterrupted.

Itchancedononeoftheseramblesthattheirwayledthemdownaby-streetinabusyquarterofLondon.

Thestreetwassmallandwhatiscalledquiet,butitdroveathrivingtradeontheweekdays.

Theinhabitantswerealldoingwell,itseemedandallemulouslyhopingtodobetterstill,andlayingoutthe

überschuss

surplusoftheirgrainsincoquetry;

sothattheshopfrontsstoodalongthatthoroughfarewithanairof

einladung

invitation,likerowsofsmilingsaleswomen.

EvenonSunday,whenitveileditsmorefloridcharmsandlaycomparativelyemptyof

passage

passage,thestreetshoneoutin

gegensatz

contrasttoitsdingyneighbourhood,likeafireinaforest;

andwithits

frisch

freshlypaintedshutters,well-polishedbrasses,andgeneralcleanlinessandgaietyofnote,

sofort

instantlycaughtandpleasedtheeyeofthepassenger.

Twodoorsfromonecorner,onthelefthandgoingeastthelinewasbrokenbytheentryofacourt;

andjustatthatpointacertainsinisterblockofbuildingthrustforwarditsgableonthestreet.

Itwastwostoreyshigh;

showednowindow,nothingbutadooronthelowerstoreyandablind

stirn

foreheadofdiscolouredwallontheupper;

andboreinevery

merkmal

feature,themarksofprolongedandsordid

nachlässigkeit

negligence.

Thedoor,whichwasequippedwithneitherbellnorknocker,wasblisteredanddistained.

Trampsslouchedintotherecessandstruckmatchesonthepanels;

childrenkeptshopuponthesteps;

theschoolboyhadtriedhisknifeonthemouldings;

andforcloseonageneration,noonehadappearedtodriveawaytheserandomvisitorsorto

reparieren

repairtheirravages.

Mr.

Enfieldandthelawyerwereontheothersideoftheby-street;

butwhentheycameabreastoftheentry,theformerlifteduphiscaneandpointed.

“Didyoueverremarkthatdoor?”

heasked;

andwhenhiscompanionhadrepliedintheaffirmative,“Itisconnectedinmymind,”addedhe,“withaveryoddstory.”

“Indeed?”

saidMr.Utterson,withaslightchangeofvoice,“andwhatwasthat?”

“Well,itwasthisway,”returnedMr.Enfield:

“Iwascominghomefromsomeplaceattheendoftheworld,aboutthreeo’clockofablackwintermorning,andmywaylaythroughapartoftownwheretherewas

buchstäblich

literallynothingtobeseenbutlamps.

Streetafterstreetandallthefolksasleep—streetafterstreet,alllightedupasiffora

prozession

processionandallasemptyasachurch—tillatlastIgotintothatstateofmindwhenamanlistensandlistensandbeginstolongforthesightofapoliceman.

Allatonce,Isawtwofigures:

onealittlemanwhowasstumpingalongeastwardatagoodwalk,andtheotheragirlofmaybeeightortenwhowasrunningashardasshewasabledownacrossstreet.

Well,sir,thetworanintooneanothernaturallyenoughatthecorner;

andthencamethehorriblepartofthething;

forthemantrampledcalmlyoverthechild’sbodyandleftherscreamingontheground.

Itsoundsnothingtohear,butitwashellishtosee.

Itwasn’tlikeaman;

itwaslikesomedamnedJuggernaut.

Igaveafewhalloa,tooktomyheels,collaredmygentleman,andbroughthimbacktowheretherewasalreadyquiteagroupaboutthescreamingchild.

Hewasperfectlycoolandmadeno

widerstand

resistance,butgavemeonelook,souglythatitbroughtoutthesweatonmelikerunning.

Thepeoplewhohadturnedoutwerethegirl’sownfamily;

andprettysoon,thedoctor,forwhomshehadbeensentputinhisappearance.

Well,thechildwasnotmuchtheworse,morefrightened,accordingtothesawbones;

andthereyoumighthavesupposedwouldbeanendtoit.

Buttherewasonecurious

umstand

circumstance.

Ihadtakena

verabscheut

loathingtomygentlemanatfirstsight.

Sohadthechild’sfamily,whichwasonlynatural.

Butthedoctor’scasewaswhatstruckme.

Hewastheusualcutanddryapothecary,ofnoparticularageand

farbe

colour,withastrongEdinburgh

akzent

accentandaboutasemotionalasabagpipe.

Well,sir,hewasliketherestofus;

everytimehelookedatmyprisoner,Isawthatsawbonesturnsickandwhitewiththedesiretokillhim.

Iknewwhatwasinhismind,justasheknewwhatwasinmine;

andkillingbeingoutofthequestion,wedidthenextbest.

Wetoldthemanwecouldandwouldmakesucha

skandal

scandaloutofthisasshouldmakehisname

stinken

stinkfromoneendofLondontotheother.

Ifhehadanyfriendsoranycredit,weundertookthatheshouldlosethem.

Andallthetime,aswewerepitchingitinredhot,wewerekeepingthewomenoffhimasbestwecouldfortheywereaswildasharpies.

Ineversawacircleofsuchhatefulfaces;

andtherewasthemaninthemiddle,withakindofblacksneeringcoolness—frightenedtoo,Icouldseethat—butcarryingitoff,sir,reallylike

Satan

Satan.

‘Ifyouchoosetomakecapitaloutofthisaccident,’saidhe,‘Iam

von natur aus

naturallyhelpless.

Nogentlemanbutwishestoavoidascene,’sayshe.

‘Nameyourfigure.’Well,wescrewedhimuptoahundredpoundsforthechild’sfamily;

hewouldhaveclearlylikedtostickout;

buttherewassomethingaboutthelotofusthatmeantmischief,andatlasthestruck.

Thenextthingwastogetthemoney;

andwheredoyouthinkhecarriedusbuttothatplacewiththedoor?—whippedoutakey,wentin,andpresentlycamebackwiththematteroftenpoundsingoldanda

scheck

chequeforthebalanceonCoutts’s,

gezogen

drawnpayabletobearerandsignedwithanamethatIcan’tmention,thoughit’soneofthepointsofmystory,butitwasanameatleastverywellknownandoftenprinted.

Thefigurewas

steif

stiff;

butthesignaturewasgoodformorethanthatifitwasonly

echt

genuine.

Itookthelibertyofpointingouttomygentlemanthatthewholebusinesslookedapocryphal,andthatamandoesnot,inreallife,walkintoacellardooratfourinthemorningandcomeoutwithanotherman’s

scheck

chequeforcloseuponahundredpounds.

Buthewasquiteeasyandsneering.

‘Setyourmindatrest,’sayshe,‘Iwillstaywithyoutillthebanksopenandcashthe

scheck

chequemyself.’Soweallsetoff,thedoctor,andthechild’sfather,andourfriendandmyself,andpassedtherestofthenightinmychambers;

andnextday,whenwehadbreakfasted,wentinabodytothebank.

Igaveinthe

scheck

chequemyself,andsaidIhadeveryreasontobelieveitwasa

fälschung

forgery.

Notabitofit.

The

scheck

chequewasgenuine.”

“Tut-tut!”

saidMr.Utterson.

“IseeyoufeelasIdo,”saidMr.Enfield.

“Yes,it’sabadstory.

Formymanwasafellowthatnobodycouldhavetodowith,areallydamnableman;

andthepersonthatdrewthe

scheck

chequeistheverypinkoftheproprieties,celebratedtoo,and(whatmakesitworse)oneofyourfellowswhodowhattheycallgood.

Erpressung

Blackmail,Isuppose;

anhonestmanpayingthroughthenoseforsomeofthecapersofhisyouth.

BlackMailHouseiswhatIcalltheplacewiththedoor,inconsequence.

Thougheventhat,youknow,isfarfromexplainingall,”headded,andwiththewordsfellintoa

ader

veinofmusing.

FromthishewasrecalledbyMr.Uttersonaskingrathersuddenly:

“Andyoudon’tknowifthedrawerofthechequelivesthere?”

“Alikelyplace,isn’tit?”

returnedMr.Enfield.

“ButIhappentohavenoticedhisaddress;

helivesinsomesquareorother.”

“Andyouneveraskedaboutthe—placewiththedoor?”

saidMr.Utterson.

“No,sir;

Ihadadelicacy,”wasthe

antwort

reply.

“Ifeelverystronglyaboutputtingquestions;

itpartakestoomuchofthestyleofthedayofjudgment.

Youstartaquestion,andit’slikestartingastone.

Yousitquietlyonthetopofahill;

andawaythestonegoes,startingothers;

andpresentlysomeblandoldbird(thelastyouwouldhavethoughtof)isknockedontheheadinhisownbackgardenandthefamilyhavetochangetheirname.

Nosir,Imakeitaruleofmine:

themoreitlookslikeQueerStreet,thelessIask.”

“Averygoodrule,too,”saidthelawyer.

“ButIhavestudiedtheplaceformyself,”continuedMr.Enfield.

“Itseemsscarcelyahouse.

Thereisnootherdoor,andnobodygoesinoroutofthatonebut,onceinagreatwhile,thegentlemanofmyadventure.

Therearethreewindowslookingonthecourtonthefirstfloor;

nonebelow;

thewindowsarealwaysshutbutthey’reclean.

Andthenthereisa

schornstein

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

beschreiben

describe.

Thereissomethingwrongwithhis

aussehen

appearance;

somethingdispleasing,somethingdown-rightdetestable.

IneversawamanIsodisliked,andyetIscarceknowwhy.

Hemustbedeformedsomewhere;

hegivesastrongfeelingofdeformity,althoughIcouldn’tspecifythepoint.

He’sanextraordinarylookingman,andyetIreallycannamenothingoutoftheway.

No,sir;

Icanmakenohandofit;

Ican’t

beschreiben

describehim.

Andit’snotwantofmemory;

forIdeclareIcanseehimthismoment.”

Mr.

Uttersonagainwalkedsomewayinsilenceandobviouslyunderaweightof

betrachtung

consideration.

“Youaresureheusedakey?”

fragte

inquiredatlast.

“Mydearsir...”

beganEnfield,surprisedoutofhimself.

“Yes,Iknow,”saidUtterson;

“Iknowitmustseemstrange.

Thefactis,ifIdonotaskyouthenameoftheotherparty,itisbecauseIknowitalready.

Yousee,Richard,your

geschichte

talehasgonehome.

Ifyouhavebeeninexactinanypointyouhadbettercorrectit.”

“Ithinkyoumighthavewarnedme,”returnedtheotherwithatouchofsullenness.

“ButIhavebeenpedanticallyexact,asyoucallit.

Thefellowhadakey;

andwhat’smore,hehasitstill.

Isawhimuseitnotaweekago.”

Mr.

Uttersonsigheddeeplybutsaidneveraword;

andtheyoungmanpresentlyresumed.

“Hereisanotherlessontosaynothing,”saidhe.

“Iamashamedofmylongtongue.

Letusmakeabargainnevertorefertothisagain.”

“Withallmyheart,”saidthelawyer.

SEARCHFORMR.HYDE

ThateveningMr.Uttersoncamehometohisbachelorhouseinsombrespiritsandsatdowntodinnerwithoutrelish.

Itwashis

brauch

customofaSunday,whenthismealwasover,tositclosebythefire,a

band

volumeofsomedrydivinityonhisreadingdesk,untiltheclockoftheneighbouringchurchrangoutthehouroftwelve,whenhewouldgosoberlyandgratefullytobed.

Onthisnighthowever,assoonasthe

tuch

clothwastakenaway,hetookupa

kerze

candleandwentintohisbusinessroom.

Thereheopenedhissafe,tookfromthemostprivatepartofitadocumentendorsedonthe

umschlag

envelopeasDr.Jekyll’sWillandsatdownwithaclouded

stirn

browtostudyitscontents.

Thewillwasholograph,forMr.Uttersonthoughhetookchargeofitnowthatitwasmade,hadrefusedtolendtheleast

hilfe

assistanceinthemakingofit;

itprovidednotonlythat,incaseofthedeceaseofHenryJekyll,M.D.,D.C.L.,L.L.D.,F.R.S.,etc.,allhispossessionsweretopassintothehandsofhis“friendand

wohltäter

benefactorEdwardHyde,”butthatincaseofDr.Jekyll’s“disappearanceorunexplained

abwesenheit

absenceforanyperiodexceedingthreecalendarmonths,”thesaidEdwardHydeshouldstepintothesaidHenryJekyll’sshoeswithoutfurther

verzögerung

delayandfreefromanyburthenor

verpflichtung

obligationbeyondthepaymentofafewsmallsumstothemembersofthedoctor’shousehold.

This

dokument

documenthadlongbeenthelawyer’seyesore.

Itoffendedhimbothasalawyerandasaloverofthesaneandcustomarysidesoflife,towhomthefancifulwastheimmodest.

Andhithertoitwashis

unwissenheit

ignoranceofMr.Hydethathadswelledhisindignation;

now,byasuddenturn,itwashisknowledge.

Itwasalreadybadenoughwhenthenamewasbutanameofwhichhecouldlearnnomore.

Itwasworsewhenitbegantobeclotheduponwithdetestableattributes;

andoutoftheshifting,insubstantialmiststhathadsolongbaffledhiseye,thereleapedupthesudden,definitepresentmentofafiend.

“Ithoughtitwasmadness,”hesaid,ashereplacedtheobnoxiouspaperinthesafe,“andnowIbegintofearitisdisgrace.”

Withthatheblewouthis

kerze

candle,putonagreatcoat,andsetforthinthedirectionofCavendishSquare,thatcitadelofmedicine,wherehisfriend,thegreatDr.Lanyon,hadhishouseandreceivedhiscrowdingpatients.

“Ifanyoneknows,itwillbeLanyon,”hehadthought.

Thesolemn

butler

butlerknewandwelcomedhim;

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