Dr. Jekyll Was Quite at Ease

by Robert Louis Stevenson

　　A FORTNIGHT later, by excellent good fortune, the doctor gave oneof his pleasant dinners to some five or six old cronies, allintelligent, reputable men and all judges of good wine; and Mr.Utterson so contrived that he remained behind after the others haddeparted. This was no new arrangement, but a thing that hadbefallen many scores of times. Where Utterson was liked, he wasliked well. Hosts loved to detain the dry lawyer, when thelight-hearted and the loose-tongued had already their foot on thethreshold; they liked to sit a while in his unobtrusive company,practising for solitude, sobering their minds in the man's richsilence after the expense and strain of gaiety. To this rule, Dr.Jekyll was no exception; and as he now sat on the opposite side ofthe fire -- a large, well-made, smooth-faced man of fifty, withsomething of a slyish cast perhaps, but every mark of capacity andkindness -- you could see by his looks that he cherished for Mr.Utterson a sincere and warm affection."I have been wanting to speak to you, Jekyll," began the latter."You know that will of yours?"A close observer might have gathered that the topic wasdistasteful; but the doctor carried it off gaily. "My poorUtterson," said he, "you are unfortunate in such a client. I neversaw a man so distressed as you were by my will; unless it were thathide-bound pedant, Lanyon, at what he called my scientific heresies.Oh, I know he's a good fellow -- you needn't frown -- an excellentfellow, and I always mean to see more of him; but a hide-boundpedant for all that; an ignorant, blatant pedant. I was never moredisappointed in any man than Lanyon.""You know I never approved of it," pursued Utterson, ruthlesslydisregarding the fresh topic."My will? Yes, certainly, I know that," said the doctor, a triflesharply. "You have told me so.""Well, I tell you so again," continued the lawyer. "I have beenlearning something of young Hyde."The large handsome face of Dr. Jekyll grew pale to the very lips,and there came a blackness about his eyes. "I do not care to hearmore," said he. "This is a matter I thought we had agreed to drop.""What I heard was abominable," said Utterson."It can make no change. You do not understand my position," returnedthe doctor, with a certain incoherencyof manner. "I am painfully situated, Utterson; my position is a verystrange -- a very strange one. It is one of those affairs thatcannot be mended by talking.""Jekyll," said Utterson, "you know me: I am a man to be trusted.Make a clean breast of this in confidence; and I make no doubt Ican get you out of it.""My good Utterson," said the doctor, "this is very good of you,this is downright good of you, and I cannot find words to thank youin. I believe you fully; I would trust you before any man alive, ay,before myself, if I could make the choice; but indeed it isn't whatyou fancy; it is not so bad as that; and just to put your good heartat rest, I will tell you one thing: the moment I choose, I can berid of Mr. Hyde. I give you my hand upon that; and I thank you againand again; and I will just add one little word, Utterson, that I'msure you'll take in good part: this is a private matter, and I begof you to let it sleep." Utterson reflected a little, looking in the fire."I have no doubt you are perfectly right," he said at last, gettingto his feet."Well, but since we have touched upon this business, and for thelast time I hope," continued the doctor, "there is one point Ishould like you to understand. I have really a very great interestin poor Hyde. I know you have seen him; he told me so; and I fear he was rude. But, I do sincerelytake a great, a very great interest in that young man; and if I amtaken away, Utterson, I wish you to promise me that you will bearwith him and get his rights for him. I think you would, if you knewall; and it would be a weight off my mind if you would promise.""I can't pretend that I shall ever like him," said the lawyer."I don't ask that," pleaded Jekyll, laying his hand upon theother's arm; "I only ask for justice; I only ask you to help himfor my sake, when I am no longer here."Utterson heaved an irrepressible sigh. "Well," said he, "Ipromise."