Incident at the Window

by Robert Louis Stevenson

　　IT chanced on Sunday, when Mr. Utterson was on his usual walkwith Mr. Enfield, that their way lay once again through theby-street; and that when they came in front of the door, bothstopped to gaze on it."Well," said Enfield, "that story's at an end at least. We shallnever see more of Mr. Hyde.""I hope not," said Utterson. "Did I ever tell you that I once sawhim, and shared your feeling of repulsion?""It was impossible to do the one without the other," returnedEnfield. "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 waspartly your own fault that I found it out, even when I did.""So you found it out, did you?" said Utterson. "But if that beso, we may step into the court and take a look at the windows. Totell you the truth, I am uneasy about poor Jekyll; and evenoutside, I feel as if the presence of a friend might do himgood."The court was very cool and a little damp, and full of prematuretwilight, although the sky, high up overhead, was still brightwith sunset. The middle one of the three windows was half-wayopen; and sitting close beside it, taking the air with aninfinite 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, "verylow. 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 mycousin -- Mr. Enfield -- Dr. Jekyll.) Come, now; get your hat andtake a quick turn with us.""You are very good," sighed the other. "I should like to verymuch; but no, no, no, it is quite impossible; I dare not. Butindeed, Utterson, I am very glad to see you; this is really agreat pleasure; I would ask you and Mr. Enfield up, but the placeis really not fit.""Why then," said the lawyer, good-naturedly, "the best thing wecan do is to stay down here and speak with you from where weare.""That is just what I was about to venture to propose," returnedthe doctor with a smite. But the words were hardly uttered,before the smile was struck out of his face and succeededby an expression of such abject terror and despair, as froze thevery blood of the two gentlemen below. They saw it but for aglimpse, for the window was instantly thrust down; but thatglimpse had been sufficient, and they turned and left the courtwithout a word. In silence, too, they traversed the by-street;and it was not until they had come into a neighbouringthoroughfare, where even upon a Sunday there were still somestirrings of life, that Mr. Utterson at last turned and looked athis companion. They were both pale; and there was an answeringhorror in their eyes."God forgive us, God forgive us," said Mr. Utterson.But Mr. Enfield only nodded his head very seriously and walked ononce more in silence.