Странная история доктора Джекила и мистера Хайда

           Itwassometimeshisway—themaster’s,thatis—towritehisordersonasheetofpaperandthrowitonthestair. We’vehadnothingelsethisweekback;nothingbutpapers,andacloseddoor,andtheverymealslefttheretobesmuggledinwhennobodywaslooking. Well,sir,everyday,ay,andtwiceandthriceinthesameday,therehavebeenordersandcomplaints,andIhavebeensentflyingtoallthewholesalechemistsintown. EverytimeIbroughtthestuffback,therewouldbeanotherpapertellingmetoreturnit,becauseitwasnotpure,andanotherordertoadifferentfirm. Thisdrugiswantedbitterbad,sir,whateverfor.” 

           “Haveyouanyofthesepapers?”askedMr.Utterson. 

           Poolefeltinhispocketandhandedoutacrumplednote,whichthelawyer,bendingnearertothecandle,carefullyexamined. Itscontentsranthus: “Dr.JekyllpresentshiscomplimentstoMessrs.Maw.Heassuresthemthattheirlastsampleisimpureandquiteuselessforhispresentpurpose. Intheyear18——Dr.J.purchasedasomewhatlargequantityfromMessrs.M. Henowbegsthemtosearchwiththemostsedulouscare,andshouldanyofthesamequalitybeleft,toforwardittohimatonce. Expenseisnoconsideration. TheimportanceofthistoDr.J.canhardlybeexaggerated.” Sofartheletterhadruncomposedlyenough,butherewithasuddensplutterofthepen,thewriter’semotionhadbrokenloose. “ForGod’ssake,”hehadadded,“findmesomeoftheold.” 

           “Thisisastrangenote,”saidMr.Utterson;andthensharply, “Howdoyoucometohaveitopen?”