The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde Progressive Translation Books for Italian A2 Students

STORYOFTHEDOOR

Mr.

Uttersonthelawyerwasamanofaruggedcountenancethatwasneverlightedbya

sorriso

smile;

cold,scantyandembarrassedindiscourse;

backwardinsentiment;

lean,long,dusty,drearyandyetsomehowlovable.

Atfriendlymeetings,andwhenthe

vino

winewastohistaste,somethingeminentlyhumanbeaconedfromhis

occhio

eye;

somethingindeedwhichneverfounditswayintohistalk,butwhichspokenotonlyinthesesilentsymbolsoftheafter-dinnerface,butmore

spesso

oftenandloudlyintheactsofhislife.

Hewasausterewithhimself;

drankginwhenhewasalone,tomortifya

gusto

tasteforvintages;

andthoughheenjoyedthetheatre,hadnot

attraversato

crossedthedoorsofonefortwentyyears.

Buthehadanapprovedtoleranceforothers;

sometimes

meravigliano

wondering,almostwithenvy,atthehighpressureofspirits

coinvolti

involvedintheirmisdeeds;

andinanyextremityinclinedtohelp

piuttosto

ratherthantoreprove.

“IinclinetoCain’sheresy,”heusedtosayquaintly:

“Iletmybrothergotothedevilinhisownway.”

Inthischaracter,itwasfrequentlyhisfortunetobethelastreputableacquaintanceandthelastgoodinfluenceinthelivesofdowngoingmen.

Andtosuchasthese,solongastheycameabouthischambers,henevermarkedashadeofchangeinhisdemeanour.

dubbio

doubtthefeatwaseasytoMr.Utterson;

forhewasundemonstrativeatthebest,andevenhisfriendship

sembrava

seemedtobefoundedinasimilarcatholicityofgood-nature.

Itisthe

segno

markofamodestmanto

accettare

accepthisfriendlycircleready-madefromthehandsofopportunity;

andthatwasthelawyer’sway.

Hisfriendswerethoseofhisownbloodorthosewhomhehadknownthelongest;

hisaffections,likeivy,werethegrowthoftime,theyimpliednoaptnessintheobject.

Hence,no

dubbio

doubtthebondthatunitedhimtoMr.RichardEnfield,hisdistantkinsman,thewell-knownmanabouttown.

Itwasanuttocrackformany,whatthesetwocouldseeineachother,orwhatsubjecttheycouldfindincommon.

Itwas

riferito

reportedbythosewhoencounteredthemintheirSundaywalks,thattheysaidnothing,lookedsingularlydullandwouldhailwithobviousrelieftheappearanceofafriend.

Forallthat,thetwomenputthegreateststorebytheseexcursions,countedthemthe

principale

chiefjewelofeachweek,andnotonlysetasideoccasionsof

piacere

pleasure,butevenresistedthecallsofbusiness,thattheymight

godere

enjoythemuninterrupted.

Itchancedononeoftheseramblesthattheirwayledthemdownaby-streetinabusyquarterofLondon.

Thestreetwassmallandwhatiscalledquiet,butitdroveathrivingtradeontheweekdays.

Theinhabitantswerealldoingwell,it

sembrava

seemedandallemulouslyhopingtodobetterstill,and

stendendo

layingoutthesurplusoftheirgrainsincoquetry;

sothattheshopfrontsstoodalongthatthoroughfarewithanairofinvitation,likerowsofsmilingsaleswomen.

EvenonSunday,whenitveileditsmorefloridcharmsandlaycomparatively

vuoto

emptyofpassage,thestreetshoneoutincontrasttoitsdingyneighbourhood,likeafireinaforest;

andwithitsfreshlypaintedshutters,well-polishedbrasses,and

generale

generalcleanlinessandgaietyofnote,instantlycaughtandpleasedtheeyeofthepassenger.

Twodoorsfromonecorner,onthelefthandgoing

est

eastthelinewasbrokenbytheentryofa

tribunale

court;

andjustatthatpointa

certo

certainsinisterblockofbuildingthrust

avanti

forwarditsgableonthestreet.

Itwastwostoreyshigh;

showednowindow,nothingbutadooronthelowerstoreyandablindforeheadofdiscoloured

parete

wallontheupper;

andboreineveryfeature,themarksofprolongedandsordidnegligence.

Thedoor,whichwasequippedwithneitherbellnorknocker,wasblisteredanddistained.

Trampsslouchedintotherecessandstruckmatchesonthepanels;

childrenkeptshopuponthesteps;

theschoolboyhadtriedhis

coltello

knifeonthemouldings;

andforcloseonageneration,noonehadappearedtodriveawaytheserandomvisitorsortorepairtheirravages.

Mr.

Enfieldandthelawyerwereontheothersideoftheby-street;

butwhentheycameabreastoftheentry,theformerlifteduphiscaneandpointed.

“Didyoueverremarkthatdoor?”

heasked;

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

“Indeed?”

saidMr.Utterson,withaslightchangeof

voce

voice,“andwhatwasthat?”

“Well,itwasthisway,”returnedMr.Enfield:

“Iwascominghomefromsomeplaceattheendoftheworld,aboutthreeo’clockofablackwintermorning,andmywaylaythroughapartoftownwheretherewasliterallynothingtobeseenbutlamps.

Streetafterstreetandallthefolksasleep—streetafterstreet,alllightedupasifforaprocessionandallasemptyasachurch—tillatlastIgotintothat

stato

stateofmindwhenamanlistensandlistensand

comincia

beginstolongforthesightofapoliceman.

Allatonce,Isawtwofigures:

onealittlemanwhowasstumpingalongeastwardatagoodwalk,andtheotheragirlofmaybe

otto

eightortenwhowasrunningashardasshewasabledownacrossstreet.

Well,sir,thetworanintooneanothernaturallyenoughatthecorner;

andthencamethehorriblepartofthething;

forthemantrampledcalmlyoverthechild’sbodyandleftherscreamingonthe

terra

ground.

Itsoundsnothingtohear,butitwashellishtosee.

Itwasn’tlikeaman;

itwaslikesomedamnedJuggernaut.

Igaveafewhalloa,tooktomyheels,collaredmygentleman,andbroughthimbacktowheretherewasalreadyquitea

gruppo

groupaboutthescreamingchild.

Hewasperfectlycoolandmadenoresistance,butgavemeonelook,so

brutto

uglythatitbroughtoutthesweatonmelikerunning.

Thepeoplewhohadturnedoutwerethegirl’sownfamily;

andprettysoon,thedoctor,forwhomshehadbeensentputinhisappearance.

Well,thechildwasnotmuchthe

peggio

worse,morefrightened,accordingtothesawbones;

andthereyoumighthave

supporre

supposedwouldbeanendtoit.

Buttherewasonecuriouscircumstance.

Ihadtakenaloathingtomygentlemanatfirstsight.

Sohadthechild’sfamily,whichwasonlynatural.

Butthedoctor’scasewaswhatstruckme.

Hewastheusualcutanddryapothecary,ofnoparticularageandcolour,witha

forte

strongEdinburghaccentandaboutasemotionalasabagpipe.

Well,sir,hewasliketherestofus;

everytimehelookedatmyprisoner,Isawthatsawbonesturnsickandwhitewiththedesiretokillhim.

Iknewwhatwasinhismind,justasheknewwhatwasinmine;

andkillingbeingoutofthequestion,wedidthenextbest.

WetoldthemanwecouldandwouldmakesuchascandaloutofthisasshouldmakehisnamestinkfromoneendofLondontotheother.

Ifhehadanyfriendsoranycredit,weundertookthatheshouldlosethem.

Andallthetime,aswewerepitchingitinredhot,wewerekeepingthewomenoffhimasbestwecouldfortheywereaswildasharpies.

Ineversawacircleofsuchhatefulfaces;

andtherewasthemaninthe

centro

middle,withakindofblacksneeringcoolness—frightenedtoo,Icouldseethat—butcarryingitoff,sir,reallylikeSatan.

‘Ifyou

scegli

choosetomakecapitaloutofthisaccident,’saidhe,‘Iamnaturallyhelpless.

Nogentlemanbutwishestoavoidascene,’sayshe.

‘Nameyourfigure.’Well,wescrewedhimuptoa

cento

hundredpoundsforthechild’sfamily;

hewouldhaveclearlylikedtostickout;

buttherewassomethingaboutthelotofusthatmeantmischief,andatlasthestruck.

Thenextthingwastogetthemoney;

andwheredoyouthinkhecarriedusbuttothatplacewiththedoor?—whippedouta

chiave

key,wentin,andpresentlycamebackwiththematteroftenpoundsin

oro

goldandachequeforthebalanceonCoutts’s,drawnpayabletobearerandsignedwithanamethatIcan’t

menzionare

mention,thoughit’soneofthepointsofmystory,butitwasanameatleastverywellknownand

spesso

oftenprinted.

Thefigurewasstiff;

butthesignaturewasgoodformorethanthatifitwasonlygenuine.

Itookthelibertyofpointingouttomygentlemanthatthewholebusinesslookedapocryphal,andthatamandoesnot,inreallife,walkintoacellardooratfourinthemorningandcomeoutwithanotherman’schequeforcloseupona

cento

hundredpounds.

Buthewasquiteeasyandsneering.

‘Setyourmindatrest,’sayshe,‘Iwillstaywithyoutillthebanksopenand

incasserò

cashthechequemyself.’Soweallsetoff,thedoctor,andthechild’sfather,andourfriendandmyself,and

passammo

passedtherestofthenightinmychambers;

andnextday,whenwehadbreakfasted,wentinabodytothe

banca

bank.

Igaveinthechequemyself,andsaidIhadeveryreasontobelieveitwasaforgery.

Notabitofit.

Thechequewasgenuine.”

“Tut-tut!”

saidMr.Utterson.

“IseeyoufeelasIdo,”saidMr.Enfield.

“Yes,it’sabadstory.

Formymanwasafellowthatnobodycouldhavetodowith,areallydamnableman;

andthepersonthatdrewthechequeistheverypinkoftheproprieties,celebratedtoo,and(whatmakesitworse)oneofyourfellowswhodowhattheycallgood.

Blackmail,I

suppongo

suppose;

anhonestmanpayingthroughthe

naso

noseforsomeofthecapersofhisyouth.

BlackMailHouseiswhatIcalltheplacewiththedoor,inconsequence.

Thougheventhat,youknow,isfarfrom

spiegare

explainingall,”headded,andwiththewordsfellintoaveinofmusing.

FromthishewasrecalledbyMr.Uttersonasking

piuttosto

rathersuddenly:

“Andyoudon’tknowifthedrawerofthechequelivesthere?”

“Alikelyplace,isn’tit?”

returnedMr.Enfield.

“ButIhappentohave

notare

noticedhisaddress;

helivesinsomesquareorother.”

“Andyouneveraskedaboutthe—placewiththedoor?”

saidMr.Utterson.

“No,sir;

Ihadadelicacy,”wasthereply.

“Ifeelverystronglyaboutputtingquestions;

itpartakestoomuchofthestyleofthedayofjudgment.

Youstartaquestion,andit’slikestartingastone.

Yousitquietlyonthetopofahill;

andawaythestonegoes,startingothers;

andpresentlysomeblandoldbird(thelastyouwouldhavethoughtof)is

colpito

knockedontheheadinhisownbackgardenandthefamilyhavetochangetheirname.

Nosir,Imakeita

regola

ruleofmine:

themoreitlookslikeQueerStreet,the

meno

lessIask.”

“Averygoodrule,too,”saidthelawyer.

“ButIhave

studiato

studiedtheplaceformyself,”

continuò

continuedMr.Enfield.

“Itseemsscarcelyahouse.

Thereisnootherdoor,andnobodygoesinoroutofthatonebut,onceinagreatwhile,thegentlemanofmyadventure.

Therearethreewindowslookingonthecourtonthefirst

piano

floor;

nonebelow;

thewindowsarealwaysshutbutthey’re

pulite

clean.

Andthenthereisachimneywhichisgenerallysmoking;

sosomebodymustlivethere.

Andyetit’snotsosure;

forthebuildingsaresopackedtogetheraboutthe

corte

court,thatit’shardtosaywhereoneendsandanotherbegins.”

Thepairwalkedonagainforawhileinsilence;

andthen“Enfield,”saidMr.Utterson,“that’sagoodruleofyours.”

“Yes,Ithinkitis,”returnedEnfield.

“Butforallthat,”

continuò

continuedthelawyer,“there’sonepointIwanttoask.

Iwanttoaskthenameofthatmanwhowalkedoverthechild.”

“Well,”saidMr.Enfield,“Ican’tseewhatharmitwoulddo.

ItwasamanofthenameofHyde.”

“Hm,”saidMr.Utterson.

“Whatsortofamanishetosee?”

“Heisnoteasytodescribe.

Thereissomethingwrongwithhisappearance;

somethingdispleasing,somethingdown-rightdetestable.

IneversawamanIsodisliked,andyetIscarceknowwhy.

Hemustbedeformedsomewhere;

hegivesa

forte

strongfeelingofdeformity,althoughIcouldn’tspecifythepoint.

He’sanextraordinarylookingman,andyetIreallycannamenothingoutoftheway.

No,sir;

Icanmakenohandofit;

Ican’tdescribehim.

Andit’snotwantof

memoria

memory;

forIdeclareIcanseehimthismoment.”

Mr.

Uttersonagainwalkedsomewayinsilenceand

ovviamente

obviouslyunderaweightofconsideration.

“Youaresureheusedakey?”

heinquiredatlast.

“Mydearsir...”

iniziò

beganEnfield,surprisedoutofhimself.

“Yes,Iknow,”saidUtterson;

“Iknowitmust

sembrare

seemstrange.

Thefactis,ifIdonotaskyouthenameoftheotherparty,itisbecauseIknowitalready.

Yousee,Richard,yourtalehasgonehome.

Ifyouhavebeeninexactinanypointyouhadbettercorrectit.”

“Ithinkyoumighthavewarnedme,”returnedtheotherwithatouchofsullenness.

“ButIhavebeenpedanticallyexact,asyoucallit.

Thefellowhada

chiave

key;

andwhat’smore,hehasitstill.

Isawhimuseitnotaweekago.”

Mr.

Uttersonsigheddeeplybutsaidneveraword;

andtheyoungmanpresentlyresumed.

“Hereisanotherlessontosaynothing,”saidhe.

“Iamashamedofmylongtongue.

Letusmakeabargainnevertorefertothisagain.”

“Withallmyheart,”saidthelawyer.

Ricerca

SEARCHFORMR.HYDE

ThateveningMr.Uttersoncamehometohisbachelorhouseinsombrespiritsandsatdowntodinnerwithoutrelish.

ItwashiscustomofaSunday,whenthismealwasover,tositclosebythefire,avolumeofsomedrydivinityonhisreadingdesk,untiltheclockoftheneighbouring

chiesa

churchrangoutthehouroftwelve,whenhewouldgosoberlyandgratefullytobed.

Onthisnighthowever,assoonastheclothwastakenaway,hetookupacandleandwentintohisbusinessroom.

Thereheopenedhissafe,tookfromthemostprivatepartofitadocumentendorsedontheenvelopeasDr.Jekyll’sWillandsatdownwithacloudedbrowto

studiare

studyitscontents.

Thewillwasholograph,forMr.Uttersonthoughhetookchargeofitnowthatitwasmade,hadrefusedtolendtheleastassistanceinthemakingofit;

itprovidednotonlythat,incaseofthedeceaseofHenryJekyll,M.D.,D.C.L.,L.L.D.,F.R.S.,etc.,allhispossessionswereto

passare

passintothehandsofhis“friendandbenefactorEdwardHyde,”butthatincaseofDr.Jekyll’s“disappearanceorunexplainedabsenceforanyperiodexceedingthreecalendarmonths,”thesaidEdwardHydeshouldstepintothesaidHenryJekyll’s

scarpe

shoeswithoutfurtherdelayandfreefromanyburthenorobligationbeyondthepaymentofafewsmallsumstothemembersofthedoctor’shousehold.

Thisdocumenthadlongbeenthelawyer’seyesore.

Itoffendedhimbothasa

avvocato

lawyerandasaloverofthesaneandcustomarysidesoflife,towhomthefancifulwastheimmodest.

AndhithertoitwashisignoranceofMr.Hydethathadswelledhisindignation;

now,byasuddenturn,itwashisknowledge.

Itwasalreadybadenoughwhenthenamewasbutanameofwhichhecould

imparare

learnnomore.

Itwas

peggio

worsewhenitbegantobeclotheduponwithdetestableattributes;

andoutoftheshifting,insubstantialmiststhathadsolongbaffledhis

occhio

eye,thereleapedupthesudden,definitepresentmentofafiend.

“Ithoughtitwasmadness,”hesaid,ashereplacedtheobnoxious

carta

paperinthesafe,“andnowI

comincio

begintofearitisdisgrace.”

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

“Ifanyoneknows,itwillbeLanyon,”hehadthought.

Thesolemnbutlerknewandwelcomedhim;

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