The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde (annotated)

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There is an axe in the theatre," continued Poole; "and you might take the kitchen poker for yourself."

What, what? Are you all here?" said the lawyer peevishly. "Very irregular, very unseemly; your master would be far from pleased ." A close observer might have gathered that the topic was distasteful; but the doctor carried it off gaily. "My poor Utterson," said he, "you are unfortunate in such a client. I never saw a man so distressed as you were by my will; unless it were that hide-bound pedant , Lanyon, at what he called my scientific heresies . Oh, I know he's a good fellow—you needn't frown—an excellent fellow, and I always mean to see more of him; but a hide-bound pedant for all that; an ignorant, blatant pedant. I was never more disappointed in any man than Lanyon." The steps fell lightly and oddly , with a certain swing, for all they went so slowly; it was different indeed from the heavy creaking tread of Henry Jekyll. Utterson sighed. "Is there never anything else?" he asked. You know the doctor's ways, sir," replied Poole , "and how he shuts himself up. Well, he's shut up again in the cabinet ; and I don't like it, sir — I wish I may die if I like it. Mr. Utterson, sir, I'm afraid."

The lawyer took that rude but weighty instrument into his hand, and balanced it. "Do you know, Poole," he said, looking up, "that you and I are about to place ourselves in a position of some peril ?" Stevenson’s deliberate use of animal imagery is used to suggest Hyde’s separateness from human society and his unrestrained nature It can make no change. You do not understand my position," returned the doctor, with a certain incoherency of manner . "I am painfully situated, Utterson; my position is a very strange—a very strange one. It is one of those affairs that cannot be mended by talking."

Mr. Utterson's only answer was to rise and get his hat and great-coat; but he observed with wonder the greatness of the relief that appeared upon the butler's face, and perhaps with no less, that the wine was still untasted when he set it down to follow. Poole stamped on the flags of the corridor. "He must be buried here," he said, hearkening to the sound.

Adam Bede

Jekyll," said Utterson, "you know me: I am a man to be trusted. Make a clean breast of this in confidence; and I make no doubt I can get you out of it."