A Take on Mister Hyde in puppet format. Interesting. |
THE STRANGE CASE OF DOCTOR JEKYLL AND MISTER HYDE
PART SEVEN
INCIDENT AT THE WINDOW
BY ROBERT LOUIS STEVENSON
It chanced on Sunday, when Mr. Utterson was on his usual walk with
Mr.
Enfield, that their way lay once again through the by-street; and
that
when they came in front of the door, both stopped to gaze on it.
"Well," said Enfield, "that story's at an end at
least. We shall never
see more of Mr. Hyde."
"I hope not," said Utterson. "Did I ever tell you
that I once saw him,
and shared your feeling of repulsion?"
"It was impossible to do the one without the other,"
returned Enfield.
"And by the way, what an ass you must have thought me, not to
know that
this was a back way to Dr. Jekyll's! It was partly your own fault
that I
found it out, even when I did."
"So you found it out, did you?" said Utterson. "But
if that be so, we
may step into the court and take a look at the windows. To tell
you the
truth, I am uneasy about poor Jekyll; and even outside, I feel as
if the
presence of a friend might do him good."
The court was very cool and a little damp, and full of premature
twilight, although the sky, high up overhead, was still bright
with
sunset. The middle one of the three windows was half-way open; and
sitting close beside it, taking the air with an infinite sadness
of
mien, like some disconsolate prisoner, Utterson saw Dr. Jekyll.
"What! Jekyll!" he cried. "I trust you are
better."
"I am very low, Utterson," replied the doctor drearily,
"very low. It
will not last long, thank God."
"You stay too much indoors," said the lawyer. "You
should be out,
whipping up the circulation like Mr. Enfield and me. (This is my
cousin--Mr. Enfield--Dr. Jekyll.) Come now; get your hat and take
a
quick turn with us."
"You are very good," sighed the other. "I should
like to very much; but
no, no, no, it is quite impossible; I dare not. But indeed,
Utterson,
I am very glad to see you; this is really a great pleasure; I
would ask
you and Mr. Enfield up, but the place is really not fit."
"Why, then," said the lawyer, good-naturedly, "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 about to venture to propose,"
returned the
doctor with a smile. But the words were hardly uttered, before the
smile
was struck out of his face and succeeded by an expression of such
abject
terror and despair, as froze the very blood of the two gentlemen
below.
They saw it but for a glimpse for the window was instantly thrust
down;
but that glimpse had been sufficient, and they turned and left the
court
without a word. In silence, too, they traversed the by-street; and
it
was not until they had come into a neighbouring thoroughfare,
where even
upon a Sunday there were still some stirrings of life, that Mr.
Utterson
at last turned and looked at his companion. They were both pale;
and
there was an answering horror in their eyes.
"God forgive us, God forgive us," said Mr. Utterson.
But Mr. Enfield only nodded his head very seriously, and walked on
once
more in silence.
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