Dr. Lanyon’s Narrative

           OntheninthofJanuary,nowfourdaysago,Ireceivedbytheeveningdeliveryaregisteredenvelope,addressedinthehandofmycolleagueandoldschool-companion,HenryJekyll. Iwasagooddealsurprisedbythis;forwewerebynomeansinthehabitofcorrespondence;Ihadseentheman,dinedwithhim,indeed,thenightbefore;andIcouldimaginenothinginourintercoursethatshouldjustifyformalityofregistration. Thecontentsincreasedmywonder;forthisishowtheletterran: 

           “10thDecember,18— 

           “DearLanyon,Youareoneofmyoldestfriends;andalthoughwemayhavedifferedattimesonscientificquestions,Icannotremember,atleastonmyside,anybreakinouraffection. Therewasneveradaywhen,ifyouhadsaidtome, ‘Jekyll,mylife,myhonour,myreason,dependuponyou,’Iwouldnothavesacrificedmylefthandtohelpyou. Lanyon,mylife,myhonourmyreason,areallatyourmercy;ifyoufailmeto-nightIamlost. Youmightsuppose,afterthispreface,thatIamgoingtoaskyouforsomethingdishonourabletogrant. Judgeforyourself. 

           “Iwantyoutopostponeallotherengagementsforto-night—ay,evenifyouweresummonedtothebedsideofanemperor; totakeacab,unlessyourcarriageshouldbeactuallyatthedoor;andwiththisletterinyourhandforconsultation,todrivestraighttomyhouse. Poole,mybutler,hashisorders;youwillfindhimwaitingyourarrivalwithalocksmith.