Later that same afternoon Mr Utterson found his way toDoctor Jekyll’s house．Jekyll’s servant， Poole， let himin at once and took him through the kitchen and across theback garden to the laboratory behind the house．It was thefirst time that Mr Utterson had seen his friend’s laboratory，and he looked around curiously．

The old servant led Mr Utterson through the laboratory andup some stairs to the doctor’s private study above．This was alarge room with tall， glass－fronted cupboards， a large mirrorand a big，businesslike table．A good fire burned in the fireplace and beside it sat Doctor Jekyll， looking white and ill． Ina thin， tired voice he welcomed his friend．

‘Have you heard the news？’said Mr Utterson after the oldservant had left．

‘The newsboys were shouting about it in the street，’DoctorJekyll said．‘A terrible business．’

‘Let me ask you something，’said the lawyer．‘Sir DanversCarew was my client， but you are my client too，and I want toknow what I'm doing．You haven't tried to hide the murderer， have you？’

‘Utterson，I promise you，’cried the doctor，‘I promise youI'll never see him again． I've finished with him for ever． Andnow， indeed， he no longer needs my help．You don't knowhim like I do． He’s safe， quite safe．Believe me，nobody willever hear of Hyde again．’

The lawyer listened with a serious face． He did not like hisfriend’s feverish， excited look．

‘You seem very sure of him，’he replied．‘I hope you’reright．If he is caught and comes to trial，your name may bementioned．’

‘I'm absolutely sure of him，’ answered Jekyll．‘ I can't tellyou how I know，

but I'm certain． But can you please adviseme about one thing？I've received a letter and I don't knowwhether to show it to the police．May I leave it in your hands，Utterson？’

‘You're afraid，I suppose， that the letter will lead the police to Hyde？’asked the lawyer．

‘No，’said Doctor Jekyll．‘I don't care what happens toHyde．I was thinking of my own reputation… Anyway，here is the letter．’

It was written in a strange，pointed handwriting and signed‘Edward Hyde’．‘I am sorry that I have been so ungrateful inthe past for your many generous acts，’it began．‘Please don't worry about me．I am quite safe and I am certain that I can escape unharmed whenever I wish．’

‘Did this letter come by post？’asked the lawyer．

‘No，’replied Doctor Jekyll．‘There was no postmark on theenvelope．The letter came by hand．’

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