Search for Mr. Hyde
ThateveningMr.Uttersoncamehometohisbachelorhouseinsombrespiritsandsatdowntodinnerwithoutrelish. ItwashiscustomofaSunday,whenthismealwasover,tositclosebythefire,avolumeofsomedrydivinityonhisreading-desk,untiltheclockoftheneighbouringchurchrangoutthehouroftwelve,whenhewouldgosoberlyandgratefullytobed. Onthisnight,however,assoonastheclothwastakenaway,hetookupacandleandwentintohisbusiness-room. Thereheopenedhissafe,tookfromthemostprivatepartofitadocumentendorsedontheenvelopeasDr.Jekyll’sWill,andsatdownwithacloudedbrowtostudyitscontents. Thewillwasholograph,forMr.Utterson,thoughhetookchargeofitnowthatitwasmade,hadrefusedtolendtheleastassistanceinthemakingofit; itprovidednotonlythat,incaseofthedeceaseofHenryJekyll,M.D.,D.C.L.,LL.D.,F.R.S.,etc. ,allhispossessionsweretopassintothehandsofhis“friendandbenefactorEdwardHyde,”butthatincaseofDr.Jekyll’s“disappearanceorunexplainedabsenceforanyperiodexceedingthreecalendarmonths,” thesaidEdwardHydeshouldstepintothesaidHenryJekyll’sshoeswithoutfurtherdelayandfreefromanyburthenorobligation,beyondthepaymentofafewsmallsumstothemembersofthedoctor’shousehold. Thisdocumenthadlongbeenthelawyer’seyesore. Itoffendedhimbothasalawyerandasaloverofthesaneandcustomarysidesoflife,towhomthefancifulwastheimmodest. AndhithertoitwashisignoranceofMr.Hydethathadswelledhisindignation;now,byasuddenturn,itwashisknowledge.