Трек 09_01

Chapter Nine

The Face at the Window

It chanced one Sunday, when Mr. Utterson was on his usual walk with Richard Enfield, that their way lay once again through the side street in which stood the house with the door. When they came in front of that door, both stopped to look at it.

«Well,» said Enfield at last, «that story’s at an end. We shall see no more of Mr. Hyde.»

«I hope not,» said Utterson. «Did I ever tell you that I once saw him, and shared your feeling of disgust?»

«It was impossible to do the one without the other,» returned Enfield. «And, by the way, what a fool you must have thought me, not to know that this door was a back way to Dr. Jekyll’s laboratory.»

«So you found it out, did you?» said Utterson. «But, if you do know, we may as well step into the court and take a look at the windows. To tell you the truth, I’m very uneasy about poor Jekyll. It might do him good if he sees a friend, even outside.»

The court was very cool and a little damp. Shut in as it was, it was also rather dark, although the sky, high up overhead, was still bright with sunset. There were three windows in the wall of Jekyll’s laboratory building, and the middle one was half open. Sitting close beside it, his face sad and gloomy-almost like a prisoner, thought Utterson-was Dr. Jekyll himself.

«Hullo, Jekyll!» the lawyer cried. «I trust that you are better.»

Jekyll lifted a hand.

«I am very low, Utterson,» he replied, «very low. It will not last long, thank God.»

«You stay too much indoors,» said the lawyer. «You should be out in the air, like Enfield and me. This is my nephew. Mr. Enfield-Dr. Jekyll. Come on now, get your hat and take a walk with us. It will do you good.»

«It’s very kind of you,» returned Jekyll, «and I should like to very much-but no, it is quite impossible. I dare not! All the same, I am very glad to see you, Utterson; this is really a great pleasure. I would ask you and Mr. Enfield up, but the place is really not fit.»

«Well, then,» said the lawyer, in his good-natured way, «The best thing we can do is to stay down here, and speak with you from where we are.»

«That is just what I was going to suggest,» returned the doctor, with a smile.

The words had hardly left his lips, when the smile was struck from his face. His eyes grew suddenly large with fear. His face took on a look of such terror and despair, as froze the blood of the gentlemen below. And then, before their eyes, the face seemed to blacken, to twist and alter and melt before their eyes, becoming something different, something horrible and frightening . . .

They had only a glimpse, however. Jekyll gave one cry, and started to his feet, his hand at his throat. The window was instantly closed, and the doctor passed from sight . . .

That glimpse had been sufficient. The two turned and left the court without a word. It was not until they had turned into another street, where people were passing to and fro, that Mr. Utterson turned and looked at his companion. They were both pale; and there was an answering horror in their eyes.

«God forgive us!» said Mr. Enfield softly.

But Mr. Utterson only nodded his head very seriously, and they walked on once more in silence.