Странная история доктора Джекила и мистера Хайда
Dr. Lanyon’s Narrative
Or,ifyoushallsoprefertochoose,anewprovinceofknowledgeandnewavenuestofameandpowershallbelaidopentoyou,here, inthisroom,upontheinstant;andyoursightshallbeblastedbyaprodigytostaggertheunbeliefofSatan.”
“Willyousuffermetotakethisglassinmyhand”
“Sir,”saidI,affectingacoolnessthatIwasfarfromtrulypossessing,“youspeakenigmas,andyouwillperhapsnotwonderthatIhearyouwithnoverystrongimpressionofbelief. ButIhavegonetoofarinthewayofinexplicableservicestopausebeforeIseetheend.”
“Itiswell,”repliedmyvisitor. “Lanyon,yourememberyourvows: whatfollowsisunderthesealofourprofession. Andnow,youwhohavesolongbeenboundtothemostnarrowandmaterialviews,youwhohavedeniedthevirtueoftranscendentalmedicine,youwhohavederidedyoursuperiors—behold!”
Heputtheglasstohislipsanddrankatonegulp. Acryfollowed;hereeled,staggered,clutchedatthetableandheldon,staringwithinjectedeyes,gaspingwithopenmouth; andasIlookedtherecame,Ithought,achange—heseemedtoswell—hisfacebecamesuddenlyblackandthefeaturesseemedtomeltandalter—andthenextmoment,Ihadsprungtomyfeetandleapedbackagainstthewall,myarmraisedtoshieldmefromthatprodigy,mymindsubmergedinterror.
