|
Mr. Utterson then asks several pointed questions confirming the details of the incident. Enfield tried to describe the nature of the man's ugliness,
but could not express it, stating that he had never seen man who he hated so much, yet he didn’t know the reason why he hated him. He divulges that
the culprit's name was Hyde, and at this point Utterson reveals that he is familiar with the man, and could also give the name that was on the check.
But the men had just been discussing the value of minding one's own business, and they promptly agree to never discuss the matter again.
Utterson, who is a lawyer, goes home to study the will of Dr. Jekyll, which states that in the event of the death or disappearance of Jekyll, all of his
property should be given to Mr. Hyde. This strange will had long troubled Utterson, but now that he has heard of Hyde's crimes, he is further upset. He pays a visit to Dr. Lanyon, a friend of Jekyll's. But Lanyon has never heard of Hyde and is not in touch with Jekyll due to a professional dispute. Lanyon thinks that Jekyll's research is unscientific balderdash.
Later that night, Utterson is haunted by nightmares of a faceless man. Utterson begins to hang around Hyde's house in hopes of catching a glimpse of him. When he finally meets Hyde, Utterson is upset by Hyde's ugliness; he
is also angered by Hyde's eagerness to give Utterson his address in case Jekyll's will must be executed.
Utterson then visits Jekyll, but he is not at home. Utterson heads home, worrying about his friend's unfortunate circumstances. He assumes Hyde is
blackmailing Jekyll.
Two weeks later Jekyll throws a dinner party. Utterson stays late so that the two can speak in private. Jekyll turns pale when he learns that Utterson
has been learning something of young Hyde. Jekyll explains that the relationship he shares with Hyde is exceptional and cannot be solved by
talking. He also insists that he can be rid of Hyde the moment he chooses. At the same time, he emphasizes the great interest he takes in Hyde and
makes Utterson promise that he will carry out his will and testament.
A month later, a maid observes a murder in the street late at night. She sees Mr. Hyde come upon a polite, aged gentleman, beat him with a stick, and
kill him. The police find a letter addressed to Utterson, and Utterson is consequently summoned. He identifies the body as Sir Danvers Carew. Utterson
leads the police to Hyde's door, but he is not at home. Inside the house, the police find the murder weapon and Hyde's checkbook, but are unable to
track down the suspect.
Utterson calls on Jekyll, whom he finds in his laboratory, looking deathly sick. Jekyll feverishly claims that Hyde is gone and that their relationship
is over. He also assures Utterson that Hyde will never be found. Jekyll shows Utterson a letter, asking him what should be done with it, for Jekyll
fears it could damage his reputation if he turns it over to the police. The letter is from Hyde, assuring Jekyll that he has means of escape, that
Jekyll should not worry about him, and that he is sorry for his ungrateful return of Jekyll's generosity. Jekyll entrusts the letter to Utterson.
Utterson takes the letter with him. On his way out he runs into Poole, Jekyll's butler, who claims to have no knowledge of any such letter being
delivered. That night, Utterson consults his trusted clerk, Mr. Guest, who is also an expert on handwriting. Guest compares the letter with some of
Jekyll's own writing, and discovers that the letter from Hyde is in Jekyll's hand, slightly altered. Utterson is deeply alarmed that Jekyll would forge a
letter for a murderer.
As time passes, Jekyll becomes more sociable and healthier. He devotes himself to doing good, and to Utterson it appears that the removal of Hyde’s
evil influence has been good for Jekyll. At the end of two months of peace, Jekyll holds a dinner party, which both Utterson and Lanyon attend. The next day, Utterson calls on Jekyll, but Poole reports that he is receiving no visitors.
This keeps up for about a week, so Utterson goes to visit Lanyon, hoping to learn what is wrong with Jekyll. He finds Lanyon in very poor health. Lanyon
explains that he has had a great shock and expects to die in a few weeks. When Utterson mentions Jekyll, Lanyon violently demands that he not be
discussed. Later, Utterson writes to Jekyll, inquiring what is wrong with him. Jekyll
replies, in a letter, that he will from now on be maintaining a
strict seclusion, and that he is suffering a punishment that he cannot name. Lanyon dies a few weeks later. After the funeral, Utterson takes a letter
from his safe that Lanyon meant for him to read after he died. Inside, Utterson finds another envelope, marked not to be opened until Jekyll has
also died. Out of professional principle, Utterson overcomes his curiosity and puts the envelope away. As weeks pass, he calls on Jekyll less and less
frequently, since he is always rebuffed.
The following Sunday, Utterson and Mr. Enfield take their regular stroll. Passing the house where Enfield once saw Hyde enter to retrieve Jekyll’s
checks, Enfield remarks on the murder case. Since the walk in the first chapter, both have learned that this house is physically connected to
Jekyll's house, and they stop to peer into it. They find Jekyll at the window, enjoying the fresh air. Jekyll complains that he is feeling very
low, and Utterson suggests that he join them for a walk, to help his circulation. Jekyll refuses, and just as they are resuming polite conversation, a look of terror seizes his face and he quickly shuts the
window. Utterson and Enfield depart, maintaining a shocked silence.
Click here for part 2
of the summary of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde |
