the kitchen poker for yourself.
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?
You may say so, sir, indeed, returned the butler.
It is well, then that we should be frank, said the other. We both
think more than we have said; let us make a clean breast. This masked
figure that you saw, did you recognise it?
Well, sir, it went so quick, and the creature was so doubled up, that
I could hardly swear to that, was the answer. But if you mean, was it
Mr. Hyde? why, yes, I think it was! You see, it was much of the same
bigness; and it had the same quick, light way with it; and then who
else could have got in by the laboratory door? You have not forgot,
sir, that at the time of the murder he had still the key with him? But
that s not all. I don t know, Mr. Utterson, if you ever met this Mr.
Hyde?
Yes, said the lawyer, I once spoke with him.
Then you must know as well as the rest of us that there was something
queer about that gentleman something that gave a man a turn I don t
know rightly how to say it, sir, beyond this: that you felt in your
marrow kind of cold and thin.
I own I felt something of what you describe, said Mr. Utterson.
Quite so, sir, returned Poole. Well, when that masked thing like a
monkey jumped from among the chemicals and whipped into the cabinet, it
went down my spine like ice. O, I know it s not evidence, Mr. Utterson;
I m book-learned enough for that; but a man has his feelings, and I
give you my bible-word it was Mr. Hyde!
Ay, ay, said the lawyer. My fears incline to the same point. Evil, I
fear, founded evil was sure to come of that connection. Ay truly, I
believe you; I believe poor Harry is killed; and I believe his murderer
(for what purpose, God alone can tell) is still lurking in his victim s
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