7 Dr. Lanyon's tale

Chapter 7 Dr. Lanyon's tale "Four days ago," Lanyon told Utterson, "I was sitting alone at home when a messenger brought a letter. It was from Henry Jekyll." Dear Hastie, I beg you to help me. Upon receipt of this letter, proceed directly to the laboratory in my house. Remove the top drawer from the desk and carry it back to your home. At midnight, a man will come to collect it. Give it to him and ask no questions. Please Lanyon do as I ask! My life depends upon it. Your friend, Henry.

"A strange request," Utterson said. "Did you carry it out?" "How could I not?" Lanyon replied. "I took a carriage straight to Henry's house, where Poole let me into the laboratory. The room was in a terrible state, Utterson.

There were test tubes smashed across the floor, powders and potions spilled over desks, and notebooks scribbled with the results of failed experiments. More and more I feared that Henry Jekyll had lost his mind."

"But you found the drawer he mentioned in his letter?" Utterson asked. "I did. It contained several jars of powder that looked like salt, but smelled unlike anything I have known. One sniff of the foul chemicals made me dizzy." "Did you bring the drawer back here, as Henry asked?" "I wish I had not Utterson. For what happened next has left me a broken man." "Go on..."

"This was obviously a secret matter," Lanyon said, "so I sent my servants to bed and awaited the arrival of Henry's mysterious visitor. The chimes of midnight had barely struck when there came a fierce knock on my door. A dwarfish figure stood silhouetted in the porch light. He seemed agitated, unable to stand still. 'Have you got it?' the man snarled. 'Won't you come inside first?' I asked."

"The man shuffled into the light. Utterson, he was a repugnant figure. He kept grinding his teeth and muttering furiously to himself." Utterson pulled his chair even closer to Lanyon's bed. "This man," he said, "sounds like Edward Hyde." "That was my fear too," replied Lanyon. "I wished then that I had not invited the ghastly individual into my house." "What did he do next?" Utterson asked. "He grew angry, Utterson. 'Where is it?' he growled. 'Where is the drawer? Tell me!' 'Compose yourself sir,' I told him. 'The drawer is over there.' The man sprang at it with ferocious relish. A hideous grin spread across his face as he opened one of the jars of powder. 'Yes,' he said, hissing the word like a snake. 'Now, give me a glass of water,' he demanded."