STORYOFTHEDOOR
Mr.
Uttersonthelawyerwasamanofaruggedcountenancethatwasneverlightedbya
leende
smile;cold,scantyandembarrassedindiscourse;
backwardinsentiment;
lean,long,dusty,drearyandyetsomehowlovable.
Atfriendlymeetings,andwhenthe
vinet
winewastohistaste,somethingeminentlyhumanbeaconedfromhisöga
eye;somethingindeedwhichneverfounditswayintohistalk,butwhichspokenotonlyinthesesilentsymbolsoftheafter-dinnerface,butmoreoftenandloudlyintheactsofhislife.
Hewasausterewithhimself;
drankginwhenhewasalone,tomortifya
smak
tasteforvintages;andthoughheenjoyedthetheatre,hadnot
korsat
crossedthedoorsofonefortwentyyears.Buthehadanapprovedtoleranceforothers;
sometimes
undrar
wondering,almostwithenvy,atthehighpressureofspiritsinblandade
involvedintheirmisdeeds;andinanyextremityinclinedtohelp
snarare
ratherthantoreprove.“IinclinetoCain’sheresy,”heusedtosayquaintly:
“Iletmybrothergotothedevilinhisownway.”
Inthischaracter,itwasfrequentlyhisfortunetobethelastreputableacquaintanceandthelastgoodinfluenceinthelivesofdowngoingmen.
Andtosuchasthese,solongastheycameabouthischambers,henevermarkedashadeofchangeinhisdemeanour.
No
tvekan
doubtthefeatwaseasytoMr.Utterson;forhewasundemonstrativeatthebest,andevenhisfriendship
verkade
seemedtobefoundedinasimilarcatholicityofgood-nature.Itisthemarkofamodestmanto
acceptera
accepthisfriendlycircleready-madefromthehandsofopportunity;andthatwasthelawyer’sway.
Hisfriendswerethoseofhisownbloodorthosewhomhehadknownthelongest;
hisaffections,likeivy,werethegrowthoftime,theyimpliednoaptnessintheobject.
Hence,no
tvivel
doubtthebondthatunitedhimtoMr.RichardEnfield,hisdistantkinsman,thewell-knownmanabouttown.Itwasanuttocrackformany,whatthesetwocouldseeineachother,orwhatsubjecttheycouldfindincommon.
ItwasreportedbythosewhoencounteredthemintheirSundaywalks,thattheysaidnothing,lookedsingularlydullandwouldhailwithobviousrelieftheappearanceofafriend.
Forallthat,thetwomenputthegreateststorebytheseexcursions,
räknade
countedthemthechiefjewelofeachweek,andnotonlysetasideoccasionsofnöje
pleasure,butevenresistedthecallsofbusiness,thattheymightnjuta
enjoythemuninterrupted.Itchancedononeoftheseramblesthattheirway
ledde
ledthemdownaby-streetinabusyquarterofLondon.Thestreetwassmallandwhatiscalledquiet,butitdroveathrivingtradeontheweekdays.
Theinhabitantswerealldoingwell,it
tycktes
seemedandallemulouslyhopingtodobetterstill,andlade
layingoutthesurplusoftheirgrainsincoquetry;sothattheshopfrontsstoodalongthatthoroughfarewithanairofinvitation,likerowsofsmilingsaleswomen.
EvenonSunday,whenitveileditsmorefloridcharmsandlaycomparatively
tom
emptyofpassage,thestreetshoneoutincontrasttoitsdingyneighbourhood,likeafireinaforest;andwithitsfreshlypaintedshutters,well-polishedbrasses,and
allmän
generalcleanlinessandgaietyofnote,instantlycaughtandpleasedtheögat
eyeofthepassenger.Twodoorsfromonecorner,onthelefthandgoing
öster
eastthelinewasbrokenbytheentryofadomstol
court;andjustatthatpointa
viss
certainsinisterblockofbuildingthrustfram
forwarditsgableonthestreet.Itwastwostoreyshigh;
showedno
fönster
window,nothingbutadooronthelowerstoreyandablind
blindforeheadofdiscolouredwallontheupper;and
bar
boreineveryfeature,themarksofprolongedandsordidnegligence.Thedoor,whichwasequippedwith
varken
neitherbellnorknocker,wasblisteredanddistained.Trampsslouchedintotherecessandstruckmatchesonthepanels;
childrenkept
handlade
shopuponthesteps;theschoolboyhadtriedhis
kniv
knifeonthemouldings;andforcloseonageneration,noonehadappearedtodriveawaytheserandomvisitorsortorepairtheirravages.
Mr.
Enfieldandthelawyerwereontheothersideoftheby-street;
butwhentheycameabreastoftheentry,theformerlifteduphiscaneandpointed.
“Didyoueverremarkthatdoor?”
heasked;
andwhenhiscompanionhadrepliedintheaffirmative,“Itisconnectedinmymind,”addedhe,“withaveryoddstory.”
“Indeed?”
saidMr.Utterson,withaslightchangeofvoice,“andwhatwasthat?”
“Well,itwasthisway,”returnedMr.Enfield:
“Iwascominghomefromsomeplaceattheendoftheworld,aboutthreeo’clockofablackwintermorning,andmywaylaythroughapartoftownwheretherewasliterallynothingtobeseenbutlamps.
Streetafterstreetandallthefolksasleep—streetafterstreet,alllightedupasifforaprocessionandallas
tomma
emptyasachurch—tillatlastIgotintothatstateofmindwhenamanlistensandlistensandbörjar
beginstolongforthesightofapoliceman.Allatonce,Isawtwofigures:
onealittlemanwhowasstumpingalongeastwardatagoodwalk,andtheotheragirlofmaybe
åtta
eightortenwhowasrunningashardasshewasabledownacrossstreet.Well,sir,thetworanintooneanothernaturallyenoughatthecorner;
andthencamethehorriblepartofthething;
forthemantrampledcalmlyoverthechild’sbodyandleftherscreamingonthe
marken
ground.Itsoundsnothingtohear,butitwashellishtosee.
Itwasn’tlikeaman;
itwaslikesomedamnedJuggernaut.
Igaveafewhalloa,tooktomyheels,collaredmygentleman,andbroughthimbacktowheretherewasalreadyquitea
grupp
groupaboutthescreamingchild.Hewasperfectlycoolandmadenoresistance,butgavemeonelook,so
ful
uglythatitbroughtoutthesweatonmelikerunning.Thepeoplewhohadturnedoutwerethegirl’sownfamily;
andprettysoon,thedoctor,forwhomshehadbeensentputinhisappearance.
Well,thechildwasnotmuchthe
värre
worse,morefrightened,accordingtothesawbones;andthereyoumighthavesupposedwouldbeanendtoit.
Buttherewasonecuriouscircumstance.
Ihadtakenaloathingtomygentlemanatfirstsight.
Sohadthechild’sfamily,whichwasonlynatural.
Butthedoctor’scasewaswhatstruckme.
Hewastheusualcutanddryapothecary,ofnoparticular
ålder
ageandcolour,withastark
strongEdinburghaccentandaboutasemotionalasabagpipe.Well,sir,hewasliketherestofus;
everytimehelookedatmyprisoner,Isawthatsawbonesturnsickandwhitewiththedesiretokillhim.
Iknewwhatwasinhismind,justasheknewwhatwasinmine;
andkillingbeingoutofthequestion,wedidthenextbest.
WetoldthemanwecouldandwouldmakesuchascandaloutofthisasshouldmakehisnamestinkfromoneendofLondontotheother.
Ifhehadanyfriendsoranycredit,weundertookthatheshouldlosethem.
Andallthetime,aswewerepitchingitinredhot,wewerekeepingthewomenoffhimasbestwecouldfortheywereas
vilda
wildasharpies.Ineversawacircleofsuchhatefulfaces;
andtherewasthemaninthe
mitten
middle,withakindofblacksneeringcoolness—frightenedtoo,Icouldseethat—butbär
carryingitoff,sir,reallylikeSatan.‘Ifyou
väljer
choosetomakecapitaloutofthisaccident,’saidhe,‘Iamnaturallyhelpless.Nogentlemanbutwishestoavoidascene,’sayshe.
‘Nameyourfigure.’Well,wescrewedhimuptoahundredpoundsforthechild’sfamily;
hewouldhaveclearlylikedto
sticka
stickout;buttherewassomethingaboutthelotofusthatmeantmischief,andatlasthestruck.
Thenextthingwastogetthemoney;
andwheredoyouthinkhecarriedusbuttothatplacewiththedoor?—whippedouta
nyckel
key,wentin,andpresentlycamebackwiththematteroftenpoundsinguld
goldandachequeforthebalanceonCoutts’s,drawnpayabletobearerandsignedwithanamethatIcan’tnämna
mention,thoughit’soneofthepointsofmystory,butitwasanameatleastverywellknownandofta
oftenprinted.Thefigurewasstiff;
butthesignaturewasgoodformorethanthatifitwasonlygenuine.
Itookthelibertyofpointingouttomygentlemanthatthewholebusinesslookedapocryphal,andthatamandoesnot,inreallife,walkintoacellardooratfourinthemorningandcomeoutwithanotherman’schequeforcloseupona
hundra
hundredpounds.Buthewasquiteeasyandsneering.
‘Setyourmindatrest,’sayshe,‘Iwillstaywithyoutillthebanksopenandcashthechequemyself.’Soweallsetoff,thedoctor,andthechild’sfather,andourfriendandmyself,andpassedtherestofthenightinmychambers;
andnextday,whenwehadbreakfasted,wentinabodytothe
banken
bank.Igaveinthechequemyself,andsaidIhadeveryreasontobelieveitwasaforgery.
Notabitofit.
Thechequewasgenuine.”
“Tut-tut!”
saidMr.Utterson.
“IseeyoufeelasIdo,”saidMr.Enfield.
“Yes,it’sabadstory.
Formymanwasafellowthatnobodycouldhavetodowith,areallydamnableman;
andthepersonthatdrewthechequeistheverypinkoftheproprieties,celebratedtoo,and(whatmakesitworse)oneofyourfellowswhodowhattheycallgood.
Blackmail,I
antar
suppose;anhonestmanpayingthroughthe
näsan
noseforsomeofthecapersofhisyouth.BlackMailHouseiswhatIcalltheplacewiththedoor,inconsequence.
Thougheventhat,youknow,isfarfrom
förklara
explainingall,”headded,andwiththewordsfellintoaveinofmusing.FromthishewasrecalledbyMr.Uttersonasking
ganska
rathersuddenly:“Andyoudon’tknowifthedrawerofthechequelivesthere?”
“Alikelyplace,isn’tit?”
returnedMr.Enfield.
“ButIhappentohave
märkt
noticedhisaddress;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
mindre
lessIask.”“Averygood
regel
rule,too,”saidthelawyer.“ButIhave
studerat
studiedtheplaceformyself,”fortsatte
continuedMr.Enfield.“Itseemsscarcelyahouse.
Thereisnootherdoor,andnobodygoesinoroutofthatonebut,onceinagreatwhile,thegentlemanofmyadventure.
Therearethreewindowslookingonthecourtonthefirst
våningen
floor;nonebelow;
thewindowsarealwaysshutbutthey’re
rena
clean.Andthenthereisachimneywhichisgenerally
röker
smoking;sosomebodymustlivethere.
Andyetit’snotsosure;
forthebuildingsaresopackedtogetheraboutthe
hovet
court,thatit’shardtosaywhereoneendsandanotherbegins.”Thepairwalkedonagainforawhileinsilence;
andthen“Enfield,”saidMr.Utterson,“that’sagood
regel
ruleofyours.”“Yes,Ithinkitis,”returnedEnfield.
“Butforallthat,”
fortsatte
continuedthelawyer,“there’sonepointIwanttoask.Iwanttoaskthenameofthatmanwhowalkedoverthechild.”
“Well,”saidMr.Enfield,“Ican’tseewhatharmitwoulddo.
ItwasamanofthenameofHyde.”
“Hm,”saidMr.Utterson.
“Whatsortofamanishetosee?”
“Heisnoteasytodescribe.
Thereissomethingwrongwithhisappearance;
somethingdispleasing,somethingdown-rightdetestable.
IneversawamanIsodisliked,andyetIscarceknowwhy.
Hemustbedeformedsomewhere;
hegivesa
stark
strongfeelingofdeformity,althoughIcouldn’tspecifythepoint.He’sanextraordinarylookingman,andyetIreallycannamenothingoutoftheway.
No,sir;
Icanmakenohandofit;
Ican’tdescribehim.
Andit’snotwantof
minne
memory;forIdeclareIcanseehimthismoment.”
Mr.
Uttersonagainwalkedsomewayinsilenceand
uppenbarligen
obviouslyunderaweightofconsideration.“Youaresureheusedakey?”
heinquiredatlast.
“Mydearsir...”
började
beganEnfield,surprisedoutofhimself.“Yes,Iknow,”saidUtterson;
“Iknowitmust
verka
seemstrange.Thefactis,ifIdonotaskyouthenameoftheotherparty,itisbecauseIknowitalready.
Yousee,Richard,yourtalehasgonehome.
Ifyouhavebeeninexactinanypointyouhadbettercorrectit.”
“Ithinkyoumighthavewarnedme,”returnedtheotherwithatouchofsullenness.
“ButIhavebeenpedanticallyexact,asyoucallit.
Thefellowhada
nyckel
key;andwhat’smore,hehasitstill.
Isawhimuseitnotaweekago.”
Mr.
Uttersonsigheddeeplybutsaidneveraword;
andtheyoungmanpresentlyresumed.
“Hereisanotherlessontosaynothing,”saidhe.
“Iamashamedofmylongtongue.
Letusmakeabargainnevertorefertothisagain.”
“Withallmyheart,”saidthelawyer.
Sök
SEARCHFORMR.HYDEThateveningMr.Uttersoncamehometohisbachelorhouseinsombrespiritsandsatdowntodinnerwithoutrelish.
ItwashiscustomofaSunday,whenthismealwasover,tositclosebythefire,avolumeofsomedrydivinityonhisreadingdesk,untiltheclockoftheneighbouring
kyrkan
churchrangoutthehouroftwelve,whenhewouldgosoberlyandgratefullytobed.Onthisnight
men
however,assoonastheclothwastakenaway,hetookupacandleandwentintohisbusinessroom.Thereheopenedhissafe,tookfromthemostprivatepartofitadocumentendorsedontheenvelopeasDr.Jekyll’sWillandsatdownwithacloudedbrowto
studera
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
skor
shoeswithoutfurtherdelayandfreefromanyburthenorobligationbeyondthepaymentofafewsmallsumstothemembersofthedoctor’shousehold.Thisdocumenthadlongbeenthelawyer’seyesore.
Itoffendedhimbothasa
advokat
lawyerandasaloverofthesaneandcustomarysidesoflife,towhomthefancifulwastheimmodest.AndhithertoitwashisignoranceofMr.Hydethathadswelledhisindignation;
now,byasuddenturn,itwashisknowledge.
Itwasalreadybadenoughwhenthenamewasbutanameofwhichhecould
lära sig
learnnomore.Itwas
värre
worsewhenitbegantobeclotheduponwithdetestableattributes;andoutoftheshifting,insubstantialmiststhathadsolongbaffledhis
öga
eye,thereleapedupthesudden,definitepresentmentofafiend.“Ithoughtitwasmadness,”hesaid,ashereplacedtheobnoxiouspaperinthesafe,“andnowI
börjar
begintofearitisdisgrace.”Withthathe
blåste
blewouthiscandle,putonagreatcoat,andsetforthinthedirectionofCavendishSquare,thatcitadelofmedicine,wherehisfriend,thegreatDr.Lanyon,hadhishouseandreceivedhiscrowdingpatients.“Ifanyoneknows,itwillbeLanyon,”hehadthought.
Thesolemnbutlerknewandwelcomedhim;