It s all right, said Poole. Open the door.
The hall, when they entered it, was brightly lighted up; the fire was
built high; and about the hearth the whole of the servants, men and
women, stood huddled together like a flock of sheep. At the sight of
Mr. Utterson, the housemaid broke into hysterical whimpering; and the
cook, crying out Bless God! it s Mr. Utterson, ran forward as if to
take him in her arms.
What, what? Are you all here? said the lawyer peevishly. Very
irregular, very unseemly; your master would be far from pleased.
They re all afraid, said Poole.
Blank silence followed, no one protesting; only the maid lifted her
voice and now wept loudly.
Hold your tongue! Poole said to her, with a ferocity of accent that
testified to his own jangled nerves; and indeed, when the girl had so
suddenly raised the note of her lamentation, they had all started and
turned towards the inner door with faces of dreadful expectation. And
now, continued the butler, addressing the knife-boy, reach me a
candle, and we ll get this through hands at once. And then he begged
Mr. Utterson to follow him, and led the way to the back garden.
Now, sir, said he, you come as gently as you can. I want you to
hear, and I don t want you to be heard. And see here, sir, if by any
chance he was to ask you in, don t go.
Mr. Utterson s nerves, at this unlooked-for termination, gave a jerk
that nearly threw him from his balance; but he recollected his courage
and followed the butler into the laboratory building through the
surgical theatre, with its lumber of crates and bottles, to the foot of
the stair. Here Poole motioned him to stand on one side and listen;
while he himself, setting down the candle and making a great and
obvious call on his resolution, mounted the steps and knocked with a
somewhat uncertain hand on the red baize of the cabinet door.
Mr. Utterson, sir, asking to see you, he called; and even as he did
so, once more violently signed to the lawyer to give ear.
33