Странная история доктора Джекила и мистера Хайда
Dr. Lanyon’s Narrative
Hereandthereabriefremarkwasappendedtoadate,usuallynomorethanasingleword: “double”occurringperhapssixtimesinatotalofseveralhundredentries;andonceveryearlyinthelistandfollowedbyseveralmarksofexclamation, “totalfailure!!!” Allthis,thoughitwhettedmycuriosity,toldmelittlethatwasdefinite. Herewereaphialofsometincture,apaperofsomesalt,andtherecordofaseriesofexperimentsthathadled(liketoomanyofJekyll’sinvestigations)tonoendofpracticalusefulness. Howcouldthepresenceofthesearticlesinmyhouseaffecteitherthehonour,thesanity,orthelifeofmyflightycolleague? Ifhismessengercouldgotooneplace,whycouldhenotgotoanother? Andevengrantingsomeimpediment,whywasthisgentlemantobereceivedbymeinsecret? ThemoreIreflectedthemoreconvincedIgrewthatIwasdealingwithacaseofcerebraldisease: andthoughIdismissedmyservantstobed,Iloadedanoldrevolver,thatImightbefoundinsomepostureofself-defence.
Twelveo’clockhadscarcerungoutoverLondon,eretheknockersoundedverygentlyonthedoor. Iwentmyselfatthesummons,andfoundasmallmancrouchingagainstthepillarsoftheportico.
“AreyoucomefromDr.Jekyll?”Iasked.
Hetoldme“yes”byaconstrainedgesture;andwhenIhadbiddenhimenter,hedidnotobeymewithoutasearchingbackwardglanceintothedarknessofthesquare.
