On January 9th, I received a letter. It was from my old friend, Dr. Henry Jekyll. I was very surprised. We did not often write letters to each other. I had eaten dinner with him only the night before. I did not know why he wrote to me.
The letter said:
“Dear Lanyon, you are my oldest friend. We sometimes disagree about science, but we are still friends. My life and my mind are in danger. I need your help tonight.
Please stop all your work. Take a carriage and go to my house. My servant Poole is waiting for you with a locksmith. You must break the door of my study. Go inside alone.
Find the fourth drawer from the top. It has some powders, a phial, and a notebook. Take this drawer back to your house.
At midnight, stay alone in your room. A man will come to your house. He will say my name. Give the drawer to him. If you do this, you will save my life. If you do not help me, I will die. Think of me in this dark time. Help me, my friend.
H.J.”
I read the letter. I thought Dr. Jekyll was crazy, but I wanted to help him. I took a carriage and went straight to his house.
Poole was waiting for me. He also had a letter from the doctor. A locksmith and a carpenter were there too. The door to the study was very strong. The locksmith worked for two hours. Finally, the door opened.
I found the drawer. I wrapped the drawer in a sheet and took it to my house. I looked at the things inside. There was white powder in small paper packets. There was a red liquid in a glass bottle. It had a very strong smell.
I looked at the notebook. It had many dates from many years. I saw the word “double” six times. I saw the words “total failure” one time. I did not understand these things.
I was very curious. How could these things save Dr. Jekyll's life? I told my servants to go to bed. I put a gun in my pocket because I was nervous.
At midnight, someone knocked gently on my door. I opened the door. A small man stood there. He looked afraid. He looked at a policeman in the street. Then he came inside quickly.
I looked at the man in the light. I did not know him. He was very small. His face looked terrible. His clothes were much too big for him. The trousers were too long. The coat was too wide. I felt a strange fear. I felt sick when I looked at him.
“Do you have it?” the man cried. He was very impatient. He touched my arm. His touch felt cold like ice.
I told him to sit down. I told him I did not know him. I wanted him to be polite.
“I am sorry, Dr. Lanyon,” he said. “Dr. Henry Jekyll sent me. Do you have the drawer?”
I pointed to the drawer on the floor. The man ran to it. He saw the powders and the bottle. He cried out because he was happy. Then he looked at me.
“Do you have a glass?” he asked.
I gave him a glass. He put some red liquid into it. Then he added the white powder. The liquid began to change. First it was red. Then it was purple. Then it became green.
The man looked at me and smiled. He asked me a question.
“Do you want me to leave now?” the man asked. “Or do you want me to stay and show you something amazing? You will see something that will change your mind about science forever.”
“I have gone too far to stop,” I said. “I want to see the end.”
“Listen, Lanyon,” the man said. “Remember your promise as a doctor to keep secrets. Now, look!”
He drank the liquid in one gulp. He cried out. He moved his body strangely. He held onto the table. His eyes were red. His face became black. His body began to change. I was very afraid. I jumped back against the wall.
“O God!” I screamed.
The man changed. He was not a stranger anymore. He was not small anymore. Dr. Henry Jekyll stood before me!
I cannot write everything he told me. I saw that terrible change with my own eyes. My heart is sick. I cannot sleep. I am full of terror all day and night. I think I will die soon.
I will tell you one thing, Mr. Utterson. The small man who came to my house was Mr. Hyde. He was the murderer of Sir Danvers Carew. Dr. Henry Jekyll and Mr. Hyde are the same person.
HASTIE LANYON.