a quarter of a million sterling.
An ivory-faced and silvery-haired old woman opened the door. She had an
evil face, smoothed by hypocrisy: but her manners were excellent. Yes,
she said, this was Mr. Hyde s, but he was not at home; he had been in
that night very late, but he had gone away again in less than an hour;
there was nothing strange in that; his habits were very irregular, and
he was often absent; for instance, it was nearly two months since she
had seen him till yesterday.
Very well, then, we wish to see his rooms, said the lawyer; and when
the woman began to declare it was impossible, I had better tell you
who this person is, he added. This is Inspector Newcomen of Scotland
Yard.
A flash of odious joy appeared upon the woman s face. Ah! said she,
he is in trouble! What has he done?
Mr. Utterson and the inspector exchanged glances. He don t seem a very
popular character, observed the latter. And now, my good woman, just
let me and this gentleman have a look about us.
In the whole extent of the house, which but for the old woman remained
otherwise empty, Mr. Hyde had only used a couple of rooms; but these
were furnished with luxury and good taste. A closet was filled with
wine; the plate was of silver, the napery elegant; a good picture hung
upon the walls, a gift (as Utterson supposed) from Henry Jekyll, who
was much of a connoisseur; and the carpets were of many piles and
agreeable in colour. At this moment, however, the rooms bore every mark
of having been recently and hurriedly ransacked; clothes lay about the
floor, with their pockets inside out; lock-fast drawers stood open; and
on the hearth there lay a pile of grey ashes, as though many papers had
been burned. From these embers the inspector disinterred the butt end
of a green cheque book, which had resisted the action of the fire; the
other half of the stick was found behind the door; and as this clinched
his suspicions, the officer declared himself delighted. A visit to the
bank, where several thousand pounds were found to be lying to the
murderer s credit, completed his gratification.
You may depend upon it, sir, he told Mr. Utterson: I have him in my
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