order to a different firm. This drug is wanted bitter bad, sir,
whatever for.
Have you any of these papers? asked Mr. Utterson.
Poole felt in his pocket and handed out a crumpled note, which the
lawyer, bending nearer to the candle, carefully examined. Its contents
ran thus: Dr. Jekyll presents his compliments to Messrs. Maw. He
assures them that their last sample is impure and quite useless for his
present purpose. In the year 18 , Dr. J. purchased a somewhat large
quantity from Messrs. M. He now begs them to search with most sedulous
care, and should any of the same quality be left, forward it to him at
once. Expense is no consideration. The importance of this to Dr. J. can
hardly be exaggerated. So far the letter had run composedly enough,
but here with a sudden splutter of the pen, the writer s emotion had
broken loose. For God s sake, he added, find me some of the old.
This is a strange note, said Mr. Utterson; and then sharply, How do
you come to have it open?
The man at Maw s was main angry, sir, and he threw it back to me like
so much dirt, returned Poole.
This is unquestionably the doctor s hand, do you know? resumed the
lawyer.
I thought it looked like it, said the servant rather sulkily; and
then, with another voice, But what matters hand of write? he said.
I ve seen him!
Seen him? repeated Mr. Utterson. Well?
That s it! said Poole. It was this way. I came suddenly into the
theatre from the garden. It seems he had slipped out to look for this
drug or whatever it is; for the cabinet door was open, and there he was
at the far end of the room digging among the crates. He looked up when
I came in, gave a kind of cry, and whipped upstairs into the cabinet.
It was but for one minute that I saw him, but the hair stood upon my
head like quills. Sir, if that was my master, why had he a mask upon
his face? If it was my master, why did he cry out like a rat, and run
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