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化身博士-第3章

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 lying on the ground withthe murder weapon beside him.The stick had broken in themiddle, and one half still lay beside the murdered man. Thepolice decided that the murderer had carried away the otherhalf.A gold watch and a purse were found in the dead man’spockets, but no cards or papers— except a letter addressed toMr Utterson.

A policeman brought this letter to the lawyer the nextmorning.Together they drove to the police station where thebody had been taken.

A police inspector showed him the body.

‘Yes,I recognize him,’said Mr Utterson heavily.‘He isSir Danvers Carew.’

‘Thank you, sir,’said the inspector.‘And do you recognizethis?’ He showed Mr Utterson the broken stick and told himthe servant girl’s story.

Mr Utterson knew the stick at once.‘That’s HenryJekyll’s stick!’he said to himself.‘I gave it to him long ago.’

‘Is this Hyde a short, evil-looking man?’he asked.

‘That’s how the servant girl described him, sir,’agreed theinspector.

‘Come with me,’said Mr Utterson to the inspector.‘Ithink I know where he lives.’

Mr Utterson led him to the address on Mr Hyde’ s visitingcard.It was in a poor part of London,in a dirty street full ofcheap bars and eating-houses. This was the home of HenryJekyll’s favourite friend—the man who would inherit Jekyll’squarter of a million pounds.

An old servant opened the door.Under her silvery hair wasa smooth face with a false smile and evil eyes, but she was polite enough.

‘Yes,’she said,‘Mr Hyde lives here.But he’s not athome. My master came in very late last night.He left againafter only an hour.’

‘Was that unusual?’asked the inspector.

‘Not at all,’replied the servant.‘He’s often away,andfrequently stays away for months at a time.’

‘We would like to see his flat,’said Mr Utterson.

‘Oh,I can't do that,sir—’began the servant.

‘This gentleman is a police inspector,’said Mr Utterson.

‘Ah!’ said the servant,looking unnaturally pleased aboutit,‘ Mr Hyde’s in trouble!What’s he done?’

Mr Utterson and the inspector looked at each other.‘Hedoesn't seem a very popular person,’said the inspector.Heturned to the servant.‘Now please let us in and we'll have alook around.’

Mr Hyde had only two rooms in the house.These were extremely comfortable and in excellent taste,with beautiful pictures on the walls and rich carpets on the floor.Everythingwas wildly untidy,however,and the fireplace was full of halfburnt papers. Among these the detective found part of acheque book.He also found the other half of the murderweapon.

‘Excellent!’he said.‘Now let’s visit the bank and see ifthey recognize this cheque book.’

Sure enough, the bank held several thousand pounds in anaccount in the name of Edward Hyde.

‘We've got him now, sir,’said the inspector.‘We've gotthe murder weapon,and we've got his cheque book. Now weonly need his description on the“Wanted”notices.’

This was not so easy. There were no photographs of thewanted man and no two people could agree about his appearance.They all agreed on one thing, however.‘An evil man,sir,’the servant girl said.‘You could see it in his face.’

  
4  Doctor Jekyll receives a letter

  

Later that same afternoon Mr Utterson found his way toDoctor Jekyll’s house.Jekyll’s servant, Poole, let himin at once and took him through the kitchen and across theback garden to the laboratory behind the house.It was thefirst time that Mr Utterson had seen his friend’s laboratory,and he looked around curiously.

The old servant led Mr Utterson through the laboratory andup some stairs to the doctor’s private study above.This was alarge room with tall, glass-fronted cupboards, a large mirrorand a big,businesslike table.A good fire burned in the fireplace and beside it sat Doctor Jekyll, looking white and ill. Ina thin, tired voice he welcomed his friend.

‘Have you heard the news?’said Mr Utterson after the oldservant had left.

‘The newsboys were shouting about it in the street,’DoctorJekyll said.‘A terrible business.’

‘Let me ask you something,’said the lawyer.‘Sir DanversCarew was my client, but you are my client too,and I want toknow what I'm doing.You haven't tried to hide the murderer, have you?’

‘Utterson,I promise you,’cried the doctor,‘I promise youI'll never see him again. I've finished with him for ever. Andnow, indeed, he no longer needs my help.You don't knowhim like I do. He’s safe, quite safe.Believe me,nobody willever hear of Hyde again.’

The lawyer listened with a serious face. He did not like hisfriend’s feverish, excited look.

‘You seem very sure of him,’he replied.‘I hope you’reright.If he is caught and comes to trial,your name may bementioned.’

‘I'm absolutely sure of him,’ answered Jekyll.‘ I can't tellyou how I know,

but I'm certain. But can you please adviseme about one thing?I've received a letter and I don't knowwhether to show it to the police.May I leave it in your hands,Utterson?’

‘You're afraid,I suppose, that the letter will lead the police to Hyde?’asked the lawyer.

‘No,’said Doctor Jekyll.‘I don't care what happens toHyde.I was thinking of my own reputation… Anyway,here is the letter.’

It was written in a strange,pointed handwriting and signed‘Edward Hyde’.‘I am sorry that I have been so ungrateful inthe past for your many generous acts,’it began.‘Please don't worry about me.I am quite safe and I am certain that I can escape unharmed whenever I wish.’

‘Did this letter come by post?’asked the lawyer.

‘No,’replied Doctor Jekyll.‘There was no postmark on theenvelope.The letter came by hand.’

‘Shall I keep the letter and think about it?’asked Mr Utterson.

‘I want you to decide for me,’answered his client.‘I’ mnot sure of anything any more.’

‘Very well,’said the lawyer.‘Now tell me—the part inyour will about disappearing for three months or more. Wasthat Hyde’s idea?’

‘It was,’whispered Doctor Jekyll.

‘He was planning to murder you,’said the lawyer.‘You've had a lucky escape.’

‘I've had a lesson too,’said his client, in pain and sadness.‘Oh, what a lesson!’ And he covered his face with his hands.

On his way ont of the house, the lawyer stopped and spoketo Poole.

‘By the way,’he said, ‘a letter was handed in today foryour master. Who brought it, and what did he look like?’

‘Nobody came except the postman, sir,’said the servant insurprise.

‘That worries me,’thought Mr Utterson as he walkedhome.‘Clearly the letter arrived by the laboratory door; perhaps it was even written in the study. I must think about thiscarefully.’

In the street the newsboys were still shouting,‘Read allabout it!Terrible murder!’

The lawyer’s thoughts were sad. One of his clients wasdead,and the life and reputation of another were in danger.Mr Utterson did not

usually ask anyone for advice. Today,however,was different.

That evening he sat by his fireside with his chief clerk, 
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