化身博士-第4章

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‘What's　all　this？’said　the　lawyer．‘What　are　you　all　doinghere？　Your　master　would　not　be　pleased．’

‘They're　frightened，’said　Poole　simply．No　one　elsespoke．A　little　servant　girl　began　to　cry．

‘Quiet！’said　Poole　sharply，trying　to　control　his　own　fear．‘Now…fetch　me　a　light　and　we'll　finish　this　business　at　once．Mr　Utterson，　sir，　please　follow　me．’He　led　the　way　across　theback　garden　towards　the　laboratory．

‘Come　as　quietly　as　you　can，　sir．I　want　you　to　hear，　but　Idon't　want　him　to　hear　you．And　sin－if　he　asks　you　to　go　inside…don't　go！’

Mr　Utterson's　heart　gave　a　little　jump　of　fear，　but　hebravely　followed　the　servant　into　the　laboratory　to　the　bottomof　the　stairs．

‘Wait　here，　sir…and　listen　carefully，whispered　Poole．　Hehimself，again　controlling　his　fear，　climbed　the　stairs　andknocked　on　the　study　door．

‘Mr　Utterson　would　like　to　see　you，　sir，’he　called．

‘Tell　him　I　cannot　see　anyone，’　said　a　voice　from　inside　theStudy．

‘Thank　you，sir，’said　Poole．He　led　Mr　Utterson　backacross　the　garden　and　into　the　house．　‘Sir，’he　said，　‘was　thatmy　master's　voice？’

The　lawyer's　face　was　pale．　‘It　has　changed，’he　said．

‘Changed？　You're　right，’said　Poole．‘I've　worked　forDoctof　Jekyll　for　twenty　years．That　was　not　my　master's　voice．Someone　has　murdered　my　master．　Eight　days　ago　weheard　his　voice　for　the　last　time．“Dear　God！”he　cried…thenno　more．The　voice　you　heard　just　now　was　the　voice　of　hismuderer！’

‘This　is　an　extraordinary　story，　my　good　man，’said　Mr　Utterson．　He　tried　hard　to　appear　calm．‘If　Dr　Jekyll　has　beenmurdered…why　is　his　murderer　still　there？　What　reason　couldhe　possibly　have　for　staying？’

‘Perhaps　you　don't　believe　me，　sir，　but　I　know　what　Iheard．For　a　week　now　the　person…or　thing…in　that　studyhas　been　crying　night　and　day　for　some　special　chemical　powders．My　master　was　in　the　habit，when　he　was　particularlybusy　with　his　scientific　work，of　writing　orders　on　pieces　ofpaper　and　leaving　them　on　the　stairs．‘We've　had　nothing　elsethis　week，　nothing　except　written　orders　and　a　locked　door．I've　been　to　every　chemist　in　town　in　search　of　these　chemicalsof　his，but　they　were　never　right．They　weren't　pure　enough，he　said．　I　had　to　take　them　back　to　the　shop，and　try　anotherchemist．I　don't　know　what　these　chemicals　are，but　the　person　in　that　study　wants　them　terribly　badly．’

‘Did　you　keep　any　of　these　written　orders？’asked　Mr　Utterson．

Poole　reached　in　his　pocket　and　brought　out　a　note．Thelawyer　read　it　carefully．It　said：‘I　am　returning　your　chemicals，as　they　are　impure　and　therefore　useless．In　the　year18…you　made　up　a　mixture　of　chemical　powders　for　DoctorHenry　Jekyll．　Please　search　your　cupboards　for　some　more　ofthe　same　mixture　and　send　it　to　Doctor　Jekyll　AT　ONCE．Thisis　VERY　IMPORTANT．’

‘This　is　a　strange　note，’said　Mr　Utterson．

‘The　chemist　thought　so　too，’　sir，’said　Poole．‘When　I　tookhim　this　note，he　cried，“All　my　chemicals　are　pure，and　youcan　tell　your　master　so！”and　he　threw　the　note　back　at　me．’

‘Are　you　sure　this　is　your　master's　handwriting？’　asked　MrUtterson．

‘Of　course，sir，’said　Poole．‘But　what　does　handwritingmatter？　I've　seen　my　master's　murderer！’

‘Seen　him？’repeated　Mr　Utterson．

‘Yes！It　was　like　this．I　came　suddenly　into　the　laboratoryfrom　the　garden．I　think　he　had　left　the　study　to　look　forsomething．The　study　door　was　open　and　there　he　was　at　thefar　end　of　the　laboratory．He　was　searching　among　some　oldboxes．He　looked　up　when　I　came　in，　gave　a　kind　of　cry　andran　upstairs　and　into　the　study．I　only　saw　him　for　a　moment，but　my　blood　seemed　to　freeze．Sir，if　that　was　my　master，why　was　he　wearing　a　mask　over　his　face？　If　it　was　my　master，　why　did　he　cry　out　like　a　trapped　animal　and　run　awayfrom　me？　I've　been　his　servant　for　twenty　years．And　then　…’Poole　paused，and　covered　his　face　with　his　hands，tooupset　to　speak．

‘This　is　all　very　mysterious，’said　Mr　Utterson，‘　but　I　thinkI　begin　to　understand．Your　master，　Poole，is　ill．And　the　illness　has　changed　his　appearance．Perhaps　that　also　explainsthe　change　in　his　voice．It　certainly　explains　the　mask　and　theway　he　has　been　avoiding　his　friends．And　of　course，he's　searching　for　these　chemicals　he　cause　he　believes　they　willmake　him　well　again．Dear　God，I　hope　he's　right！PoorJekyll…thst　is　my　explanation．It's　sad　enough，Poole，butit's　normal　and　natural，and　there's　nothing　to　be　alarmedabout．’

‘Sir，’said　the　servant，‘that…thing　was　not　my　master．My　master　is　a　tall，fine，well－built　man．The　stranger　wasmuch　shorter…　Sir，I　have　been　with　my　master　for　twentyyears　and　I　know　his　appearance　as　well　as　I　know　my　own．No，sir，that　thing　in　the　mask　was　never　Doctor　Jekyll，　and　Ibelieve　that　he…it…murdered　my　master！’

‘Poole，’said　the　lawyer，if　you　say　that，　I　must　makesure．　We　must　break　down　the　study　door．’

‘You're　right，　Mr　Utterson！’cried　the　old　servant．

‘Very　well．　Will　you　help　me？　If　we　are　wrong，　I'll　makesure　that　you're　not　blamed　for　it．’

‘There's　an　axe　in　the　laboratory，　suggested　Poole．

‘You　realize，　Poole，’said　Mr　Utterson，‘that　this　may　bedangerous　for　us　both？　Let　us　now　be　honest　with　each　other．This　masked　figure　that　you　saw…you're　certain　that　it　wasnot　your　master·’

‘That's　right，　sir．’

‘Did　you　in　fact　recognize　it？’

‘Well，sir，it　was　all　so　quick　that　I'm　not　really　sure．But－well，I　think　it　was　Mr　Hyde．It　was　short，like　MrHyde，　and　it　moved　in　the　same　light，　quick，　active　way．　Andwho　else　could　come　in　by　the　laboratory　door　from　the　street？You　must　remember，sir，that　at　the　time　of　the　Carew　murder　Mr　Hyde　still　had　the　laboratory　key　with　him．　But　that's　not　all．Mr　Utterson，　did　you　ever　meet　Mr　Hyde？’

‘Yes，’replied　the　lawyer．‘I　once　spoke　with　him．’

‘Then　you　will　know，　sir，that　there　is　something　strangeabout　Mr　Hyde，something　evil．’

‘I　agree　with　you，’said　Mr　Utterson．‘I　felt　something　likethst，　too．’

‘Yes，sir．Well，when　that　thing　in　the　mask　jumped　outfrom　behind　the　boxes　and　ran　up　the　stairs，I　had　exactly　thesame　feeling．That　thing　behind　the　mask　was　Mr　Hydee！’

‘I　understand，Poole，and　I　believe　you，’said　the　lawyerslowly．‘And　I　believe　poor　Henry　Jekyll　has　been　murdered．I　believe　too　that　his　murderer　is　still　hiding　in　the　study．Now，　Poole，　let's　go　and　make　an　end　of　it．’

Together　they　went　out　into　the　back　garden．The　cloudshad　covered　the　moon　and　it　was　now　quite　dark．　As　theypassed　silently　by　the　wall　of　the　laboratory，　they　stopped　andlistened．Further　away　they　could　hear　the　everyday　noises　of　aLondon　evening．　From　the　study　above　them，　however，camethe　sound　of　footsteps　moving　backwards　and　forwards　acrossthe　floor．

‘It　walks　like　that　all　day，sir，’whisperedPoole，‘yes，andmost　of　the　night　too．It　only　stops　when　some　more　chemicalsarrive　from　the　chemist．Ah，　sir，listen　to　that…do　you　thinkthose　are　my　master's　footsteps？’

The　short，light　steps　were　indeed　very　different　from　Henry　Jekyll's　long，heavy　ones．

‘Have　you　anything　else　to　tell　me，Poole？’asked　thelawyer　heavily．

‘Once，’said　Poole，‘I　heard　it　weeping．’

‘Weeping？’repeated　Mr　Utterson　in　horror．

‘Weeping　like　a　lost　child，’said　the　old　servant．‘It　tore　myheart．　I　felt　like　weeping　too．’

‘well，’said　the　lawyer，‘we　have　a　job　to　do．’

They　went　into　the　laboratory　and　climbed　the　stairs　to　thestudy．‘Jekyll，’called　the　lawyer　in　a　loud　voice，‘I　must　seeyou．’He　paused　for　a　moment，but　there　was　no　reply．‘Ifyou　refuse　to　let　me　in，　then　I'll　break　dowu　the　door！’

‘Utterson，’said　a　voice　from　inside　the　study，‘I　beg　you　toleave　me　alone！’

‘That's　not　Jekyll's　voice！’　shied　Mr　Utterson．　‘It's　Hyde's！Break　the　door　down，　Poole　！’

The　axe　rose　and　fell．The　door　shook　and　a　scream　of　purefear，like　a　trapped　animal，rang　from　the　study．　Again　theaxe　crashed　against　the　door．But　the　wood　was　strong　and　thelock　was　well　made．At　last，　however，　the　door　fell　inwardsupon　the　carpet．

The　two　men　stared　into　the　study．They　saw　a　warm，comfortable　room　with　a　good　fire　burning　in　the　fireplace　anda　few　papers　on　the　big　table．　A　friendly，　homely　room．　Butface　down　in　the　middle　of　the　floor　there　lay　the　body　of　aman．The　lawyer　turned　it　over　on　its　back　and　saw　the　face　ofEdward　Hyde．　He　was　dressed　in　clothes　that　were　much　toolarge　for　him，　and　in　his　hand　he　held　a　small　bottle．

The　lawyer　shook　his　head．‘He's　taken　poison，　Poole，　hesaid．‘I　fear　we've　come　too　late　to　save　Doctor　Jekyll，　andtoo　late　to　punish　his　murderer　too．　Now　we　must　find　yourmaster's　body．’

They　searched　everywhere，but　there　was　no　sign　of　HenryJekyll，　dead　or　alive．

‘Perhaps　your　master　has　escaped，’said　Mr　Utterson　hopefully．　He　went　to　check　the　door　from　the　laboratory　into　thenarrow　side－street．It　was　locked，and　covered　with　dust．Onthe　floor　nearby　he　found　a　broken　key．

‘It's　a　long　time　since　anyone　opened　this　door！’　said　MrUtterson．

‘Yes，’said　Poole，picking　up　the　broken　key．‘So　how　didHyde　get　in？’

‘This　is　too　difficult　for　me，Pooh，’said　the　lawyer．‘Let'sgo　back　to　the　study．’

They　searched　the　study　again．‘Look，sir，’said　Poole，Pointing　to　a　small　bable　in　the　corner．There　were　bottles　ofliquid　and　some　white　powders　lying　in　saucers．‘He　was　testing　his　chemicals　here．’

One　of　the　doctor's　books　was　lying　on　the　floor．　Its　coverwas　torn　off．The　lawyer　picked　it　up．Doctor　Jekyll　loved　hisbooks　and　always　took　great　care　of　them．　But　he　had　writtenall　over　this　one…the　handwriting　was　unmistakable…beforetearing　it　and　throwing　it　on　the　floor．

Then　the　lawyer　noticed　the　tall　mirror　on　the　wall　betweenthe　glass…fronted　bookshelves．

‘How　strange，’said　Mr　Utterson．‘Why　did　Jekyll　want　amirror　in　his　study？’

Next　they　turned　to　the　desk　and　found　a　large　packet　addressed　to　Mr　Utterson．　The　handwriting　was　DoctorJekyll's．The　lawyer　opened　the　packet　and　three　envelopesfell　out　on　to　the　floor．The　first　contained　a　will．　It　was　likeDoctor　Jekyll's　first　win　in　every　way…　except　one．The　doctor　had　left　all　his　money，not　to　Edward　Hyde，but　to　GabrielJohn　Utterson．

The　lawyer　looked　at　the　will，then　at　Poole，and　finally　atthe　dead　man　on　the　floor．

‘I　just　don't　understand，’he　whispered．‘Hyde　has　beenhere　all　this　time…why　didn't　he　destroy　this　will？’

He　picked　up　the　next　envelope．It　contained　a　short　note　inthe　doctor's　handwriting．Mr　Utterson　saw　the　date．‘Poole！’he　cried，‘this　is　today's　date　on　the　letter．　Jekyllwas　alive　here　today．　He　can't　be　dead…he　has　run　away　or　ishiding　somewhere．And　if　so，　why？If　he's　alive，can　we　besure　that　Hyde　killed　himself？　We　must　be　careful，　Poole，orwe　may　involve　your　master　in　some　terrible　danger．

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

‘Because　I'm　afraid，said　the　lawyer，in　a　worried　voice．Slowly，he　lifted　the　letter，and　read：

My　dear　Utterson，

If　you　are　reading　this，it　means　that　I