Студопедия

Главная страница Случайная страница

КАТЕГОРИИ:

АвтомобилиАстрономияБиологияГеографияДом и садДругие языкиДругоеИнформатикаИсторияКультураЛитератураЛогикаМатематикаМедицинаМеталлургияМеханикаОбразованиеОхрана трудаПедагогикаПолитикаПравоПсихологияРелигияРиторикаСоциологияСпортСтроительствоТехнологияТуризмФизикаФилософияФинансыХимияЧерчениеЭкологияЭкономикаЭлектроника






Chapter 9 At the Window






One Sunday, on their usual walk, Mr Utterson and Mr Enfield found themselves in the narrow street where DrJekyll's workroom door was.

They stopped and looked at the door.

'Well, that story's finished, ' said Enfield. 'We won't see Mr Hyde again.'

' I hope not, ' said Utterson. ' Did I ever tell you that I once saw him? And I had the same feelings of fear and hate that you described.'

'Everybody seemed to have the same feelings, ' Enfield replied. ' But at the time of my story, I didn't know that this was a back way to Dr Jekyll's house. It was silly of me.'

'Well, let's step into the courtyard and look at the windows, ' said Utterson. 'I am worried about poor Jekyll. Even if we can't go in, he will be able to hear a friend's voice.'

' That's true, ' said Enfield.

The sun was high in the sky, but it was cold in the courtyard, and a little dark. The middle one of the three windows was half open. Utterson saw Jekyll sitting close to it. He looked very sad, like an unhappy prisoner.

'Hello! ' called Utterson. ' Hello, Jekyll! I hope that you are feeling better.'

' I am not well, Utterson, ' the doctor answered weakly.' I am very ill.'

'You stay inside too much, ' the lawyer said. 'You should be outside, walking like Enfield and me. Get your hat and come for a quick walk with us.You will feel much better.'

The doctor came nearer to the window. 'You are very good, ' he said.' It is kind of you to ask me. I would like that very much. But... no... no, it is not possible. I can't go with you.'

'Are you sure? ' said Utterson.

' I am sure, ' replied the doctor.' But I am very glad to see you, Utterson. I would like to ask you and Mr Enfield to come up, but the place is not tidy.'

' Then we can stay down here, ' Utterson said, 'and talk to you.'

Dr Jekyll smiled. 'That is a kind suggestion, ' he said. But suddenly the smile disappeared from his face and a look of terrible fear took its place. The two men below felt their blood freeze.

They saw it only for a second or two, because Jekyll shut the window immediately. But it was enough. They both turned silently and left the courtyard.

When they reached a busy street again, Mr Utterson at last looked at his friend. Both of their faces were pale, and there was a shocked look in their eyes.

' God forgive us! ' said Mr Utterson. The two men walked again in silence.

' I can't say, sir, ' said Poole. ' But will you come with me — please, sir — please — and see with your own eyes? '

Mr Utterson's only answer was to get his hat and coat. Then the two men left the house.

It was a wild, cold night in March and there were no people in the streets.The two men walked quickly, and in silence.

When they reached Dr Jekyll's front door, Poole knocked in a special way, and a voice from inside asked, ' Is that you, Mr Poole? '

' It's all right, ' answered Poole.' You can open the door. It's me — Poole.'

The door opened, and all Dr Jekyll's servants were waiting inside. When they saw Mr Utterson, one cried, ' Thank God! It's Mr Utterson! '

' Why are you all here? ' Utterson wanted to know.

'They're all afraid, ' said Poole. 'Will you come with me, sir? Come as quietly as you can, Mr Utterson. I want you to hear, but I don't want him to hear you.'

And he walked out to the courtyard at the back of the house. Utterson followed him.

' One other thing, sir, ' Poole said.' If he asks you to go in, don't go, sir, please.'

They went through the workroom to the bottom ofthe stairs. Here Poole spoke quietly to Mr Utterson.

' Stand on one side and listen, ' he said.

Then he went up the stairs and knocked on the door of the room above.

' Mr Utterson is asking to see you, sir! ' Poole called.

An angry voice came from the other side of the door: ' I can't see anyone.'

' Thank you, sir, ' said Poole.
 He took Mr Utterson back to the house.
 'Sir, ' he said, looking into the lawyer's eyes, 'was that the

doctor's voice? '

Chapter 10

The Last Night

Mr Utterson was sitting alone one evening after dinner when Poole arrived at his house. The lawyer was surprised to see him.

' Hello, Poole, ' he said. ' What is this visit about? ' And then when he looked again at Dr Jekyll's servant, he continued, 'What's the matter? Is the doctor ill? '

' Mr Utterson, ' Poole said.' Something is terribly wrong.' ' Sit down and tell me about it, ' said the lawyer.
 ' Thank you, sir, ' said Poole.
 ' Where is the doctor? ' asked Utterson.

'Well, sir, that's the trouble, ' said Poole. 'You know that he shuts himself in the room above the workroom. But something's wrong — terribly wrong. I'm afraid, Mr Utterson. I've been afraid for a week now. I had to come and see you tonight.'

Utterson said, ' What do you mean? What are you afraid of, Poole? '

' It seems to be greatly changed, ' Utterson replied.

Then came the last sentence. The writer ended:

'Changed? ' said Poole.'I have been here in Dr Jekyll's house for twenty years, and I know his voice. That isn't it. No, sir. The doctor is dead. He was killed a week ago, when we heard him cry to God. But who is in there now, Mr Utterson? And why does he stay there? That's what I want to know! '

'This is a strange story, Poole, ' said Utterson.' But if Dr Jekyll was murdered, why does the murderer stay there? There is no good reason for that.'

' No, there's no good reason, ' Poole agreed.' But I must tell you more. All this week, the person or thing in that room has cried day and night for some sort of medicine. And he can't get what he wants. In the past Dr Jekyll sometimes wrote his orders on a piece of paper and threw it on the stairs. For a week we've had only orders and a closed door. Orders for meals, but usually orders for a chemical.

' I took these orders to every chemist in London. And every time I brought the chemical back, there was another paper. It told me to take the chemical back. It wasn't right. It told me to try another chemist. I don't know what the chemical is for, Mr Utterson. But I know that the person in that room wants it very badly'

' Do you have any of those papers, Poole? ' asked Mr Utterson.

' Yes sir, ' said Poole. He put a hand in his pocket and took out a note, then he gave it to Utterson.' The man at Maw and Company was very angry and he threw this one back at me. I kept it.'

Utterson read the note:

Maw and Company: 
 You have sent me a chemical which is useless to me. In the year 1875 I bought a large amount of this chemical from you. Now I must ask you to make a very careful search. If you have any of this old (good) chemical, please send it to me immediately. The cost does not matter. This is very important.

God help me! Please find me some of the old chemical. Henry Jekyll

' It does seem to be Dr Jekyll's writing, ' said Mr Utterson.

' Yes, ' said Poole, ' but it isn't Dr Jekyll up there. I know because I've seen him! '

'You've seen him? ' said the lawyer.
 'Yes, sir, ' said Poole.
 'When? '
 ' I came suddenly into the workroom from the garden, and he

was there in front of me, ' said Poole.' He probably came down secretly into the workroom to look for this chemical. His face was covered, and he was searching in the boxes in the workroom like a madman.'

' Did he see you? ' asked the lawyer.
 'Yes, sir, ' replied Poole.
 'What happened? ' asked Utterson.
 ' When he saw me, he gave a cry. Then he ran up the stairs to

the room above, ' said Poole.' This person's face was covered, but it wasn't the doctor.'

' His face was covered, you say, ' said Utterson.' Perhaps he is hurt. Perhaps he covers it because he does not want to shock his friends.'

' No, sir, ' said Poole.' Dr Jekyll is a tall, strong man. This man was small. And when I saw him I felt sick.'

Mr Utterson looked at the frightened servant. 'We must speak honestly, Poole, ' he said.' This person with the covered face - do you know who it was? '

' You mean, was it Mr Hyde? Yes, sir, I think it was, ' said Poole. ' He gave you the feeling that he was all evil.'

' I know that feeling, ' said the lawyer.' Now listen, Poole. I will have to break down the door of the room above the workroom.'

'Oh, sir, ' Poole cried, 'I'm very glad to hear you say that. I'll come with you. We'll do it together.There's an axe and a piece of metal in the workroom.'

'This will be dangerous, ' said Utterson. ' I know that, sir, ' said Poole.

They sent two men-servants to watch the door into the narrow street.

'Poole and I are going to break into the room above the workroom, ' Utterson told them. 'You must guard the door and stop anybody escaping. Take some big sticks to protect yourselves.'

Then Mr Utterson and Poole went to the door of the room. They listened. Somebody was walking up and down inside.

'Jekyll, ' cried Utterson loudly, ' I must see you.'
 The walking stopped, but there was no answer.
 ' I f you don't open the door, ' called the lawyer, 'we'll break it

down. I must see you.'
 ' Utterson, ' they heard from the other side of the door.' Have

pity on me! '
 ' That's not Jekyll's voice, ' said Utterson.' It's Hyde's! The door

must come down.'
 It was a very well-made door, and very strong. They had to use

the axe many times before they could break the lock. They opened the door.

The two men looked into the room. It looked like other rooms, but there were cupboards full of chemicals and tables for scientific work. There was a good warm fire burning in the fireplace. A desk drawer was open and some papers were lying on the top. But on the floor, right in the middle of the room, was the body of a man.

The two men hurried across to it, and turned it over on to its back.

The face was Edward Hyde's.

The face was Edward Hyde's.

He was dressed in clothes that were too big for him. But the clothes were the right size for Dr Jekyll. There was a broken glass in his hand and a strong smell came from it. He was dead.

' I am afraid that we have arrived too late, ' Mr Utterson said. ' Hyde has killed himself. Now we can only look for the body of Drjekyll.'

They searched the house, but they could not find the body. The door into the narrow street was locked, and the broken key was on the floor inside the door.

'I don't understand this, Poole, ' said Mr Utterson. 'Let's go back upstairs.'

They went back to the room and to the body ofMr Hyde. On one table there were small piles of some sort of white chemical on glass plates.

' That's the chemical which he sent me out for, ' Poole said.
 ' For an experiment? ' said Uttersbn.
 There was a large envelope on the desk.The name 'Mr Utterson'

was written on it in Dr Jekyll's handwriting. The lawyer opened it. Three things fell out.

The first thing was a new will. Like Dr Jekyll's first will, it spoke of his death or disappearance. But it was not Edward Hyde who now received everything. The lawyer was very surprised to read the name 'John Utterson'.

Utterson looked at Poole, then back at the papers, then at the body on the floor.

' I don't understand this, ' he said. ' Hyde has been here all this time. He saw this new will, and he had no reason to like me. My name is on the paper in place of his. I feel sure that he was very angry about that. But he hasn't destroyed the will. It is very strange.'

He picked up the next paper. It was a short note in the doctor's handwriting, and the date was at the top.

'Poole! ' he cried.
 ' What is it? ' said Poole.
 Mr Utterson was excited.' Dr Jekyll was here and alive today! '

he said.' He is still alive, because no murderer could hide a body so quickly. Surely he has escaped! But why? How? And where did he go? There are a lot of questions here without answers. If we tell people about this death, perhaps we will make trouble for the doctor. Oh, we must be very careful, Poole! '

'Why don't you read the note, sir? ' asked Poole.

'Because I'm afraid, ' replied the lawyer.'I hope that I have no reason to be afraid, but— '

' Please, read it, sir, ' said Poole. So Utterson looked at the note:

My dear Utterson, 
 When this is in your hands, my disappearance will be a

fact. I don't know how it will happen. I do know that it will happen soon. So please go. Read the paper that Lanyon gave you. And then, if you want to know more, read my story.

Your unhappy friend, 
 Henry Jekyll

'Where is the third thing? ' asked Utterson.

'Here, sir.' Poole picked up a thick envelope from the floor and gave it to the lawyer.

Utterson put it in his pocket.' Let's say nothing about this yet, ' he said.

A l l right, sir, ' said Poole.

' If the doctor has escaped, we can perhaps save his good name, ' said Mr Utterson. 'It is ten o'clock now. I must go home and read these papers in a quiet place. But I will be back before midnight, and then we will send for the police.'

They went out, locking the door of the workroom behind them. ' Goodbye, Poole, ' said Mr Utterson.

' Goodbye, sir, ' said Poole. 'And thank you.'

Utterson walked home. There he read the two papers which explained the mystery.


Поделиться с друзьями:

mylektsii.su - Мои Лекции - 2015-2024 год. (0.016 сек.)Все материалы представленные на сайте исключительно с целью ознакомления читателями и не преследуют коммерческих целей или нарушение авторских прав Пожаловаться на материал