DR. JEKYLL WAS QUITE AT EASE

A fortnight later, by excellent good fortune, the 
doctor gave one of his pleasant dinners to some five
or six old cronies, all intelligent, reputable men 
and all judges of good wine; and Mr. Utterson so 
contrived that he remained behind after the others 
had departed. This was no new arrangement, but a 
thing that had befallen many scores of times. Where 
Utterson was liked, he was liked well. Hosts loved 
to detain the dry lawyer, when the light-hearted 
and loose-tongued had already their foot on the 
threshold; they liked to sit a while in his 
unobtrusive company, practising for solitude, 
sobering their minds in the man's rich silence after 
the expense and strain of gaiety. To this rule, 
Dr. Jekyll was no exception; and as he now sat on 
the opposite side of the fire - a large, well-made, 
smooth-faced man of fifty, with something of a 
stylish cast perhaps, but every mark of capacity 
and kindness - 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 
was distasteful; but the doctor carried it off gaily. 
"My poor Utterson," said he, "you are unfortunate in 
such a client. I never saw a man so distressed as you 
were by my will; unless it were that hide-bound pedant, 
Lanyon, at what he called my scientific heresies. O, I 
know he's a good fellow - you needn't frown - an 
excellent fellow, and I always mean to see more of 
him; but a hide-bound pedant for all that; an ignorant, 
blatant pedant. I was never more disappointed in any 
man than Lanyon." 

"You know I never approved of it," pursued Utterson, 
ruthlessly disregarding the fresh topic. 

"My will? Yes, certainly, I know that," said the doctor, 
a trifle sharply. "You have told me so." 

"Well, I tell you so again," continued the lawyer. "I 
have been learning 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 hear more," 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," returned the doctor, with a 
certain incoherency of manner. "I am painfully 
situated, Utterson; my position is a very strange 
- a very strange one. It is one of those affairs 
that cannot 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 I can 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 you in. 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 what you fancy; it is not as bad as 
that; and just to put your good heart at rest, I will 
tell you one thing: the moment I choose, I can be rid 
of Mr. Hyde. I give you my hand upon that; and I 
thank you again and again; and I will just add one 
little word, Utterson, that I'm sure you'll 
take in good part: this is a private matter, 
and I beg of 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, getting to his feet. "Well, but since we have 
touched upon this business, and for the last time I 
hope," continued the doctor, "there is one point I 
should like you to understand. I have really a very 
great interest in poor Hyde. I know you have seen him; he 
told me so; and I fear he was rude. But I do sincerely 
take a great, a very great interest in that young 
man; and if I am taken away, Utterson, I wish you to 
promise me that you will bear with him and get his 
rights for him. I think you would, if you knew all; 
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 the other's arm; "I only ask for justice; I only 
ask you to help him for my sake, when I am no longer 
here." 

Utterson heaved an irrepressible sigh. "Well," said he, 
"I promise." 