8 The last night

Chapter 8 The last night Wind lashed at Utterson's face as he ran full pelt through the streets. Terrible thoughts raced through his mind. Could Lanyon's tale be true? Could Henry Jekyll and Edward Hyde really be the same person? No! He refused to believe it. Surely Lanyon had lost his mind as well. But he had to find out. He reached Henry's house and hammered on the door.

Poole answered. A candle trembled in the butler's hand. His face was ghostly pale. "Mr. Utterson," he gasped. "I am so glad you're here. I fear that my master has been murdered." Tingling with fear, Utterson followed Poole into the house. He saw Jekyll's other servants cowering together by the fire. Something diabolical had indeed happened here. More than ever, Utterson was determined to get to the bottom of it. Raising his shaky light, Poole led Utterson to Jekyll's laboratory. The door was locked, but Utterson heard someone moving inside. "You saw Dr. Jekyll go into this room?" he asked Poole. "As clear as day sir," the butler replied. "But soon after, I heard a piercing scream and the sound of smashing glass. Ever since, the door has been locked." "Jekyll?" Utterson called, banging on the door. "I demand to see you."

"Go away," came the reply. "Please Utterson, just go away!" Utterson felt a shiver of terror. That wasn't Jekyll's voice. It was Hyde. "Stand back Poole," Utterson demanded. "I'll smash my way in." Poole stepped back as the lawyer launched forward, smashing the laboratory door with his shoulder- once... twice... three times.

With each thunderous blow, the men heard another desperate cry from inside. "Please Utterson! Have mercy!" The door crashed open and Utterson burst inside, his walking cane raised and ready to strike. But there was no need for the weapon.

Lying on the floor in a twisted heap, was the body of Edward Hyde. A bottle of red liquid rolled from the murderer's lifeless hand "Poison," Utterson said. "The fiend took his own life." "Look sir," Poole said, examining a sheet of paper on the desk. "A note from Dr. Jekyll. It is addressed to you." Utterson read the first line. The confession of Henry Jekyll Utterson stared at the corpse on the floor. Was Lanyon telling the truth? Could this man be his friend Henry too? The letter trembled in his hand as he began to read...