Jekyll and Hyde: Part 3

The Haunted Library

This episode of The Haunted Library follows the escalating dread surrounding Dr. Jekyll's mysterious transformation and seclusion. Following

Key takeaways

• Dr. Lanyon dies shortly after experiencing a profound psychological shock.
• Dr. Jekyll retreats into extreme isolation, communicating only through written notes.
• A mysterious drug from Messrs. Maw is being desperately sought by the inhabitant of the laboratory.
• Poole reports seeing a masked, dwarf-like figure that does not resemble Dr. Jekyll.
• Utterson and Poole prepare to use an axe and a poker to force entry into the cabinet.

Main topics

• The death of Dr. Lanyon
• Dr. Jekyll's physical and mental decay
• The mystery of the laboratory cabinet

Notable quotes

If I am the chief of sinners, I am the chief of sufferers also.

Conclusion

The episode masterfully builds suspense, leaving the listener on the p

Transcript preview

Speaker 3 (0:00) You might drink it every day, but did you know that the history of tea is steeped in skullduggery, colonialism, and industrial espionage? I'm Greg Jenner, host of You're Dead to Me. We're the comedy show that takes history seriously, and in our latest episode, we spill the tea on tea. Join us to unpack the ancient Chinese origins of the drink and find out how it became the national drink of modern Britain. Listen to You're Dead to Me wherever you get your podcasts, or watch us on YouTube. Speaker 1 (0:32) BBC Studios. Speaker 2 (0:38) Welcome to the Haunted Library. This is the strange case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. Part 3. Incident of Dr. Lanyon. Time ran on. Thousands of pounds were offered in reward for the death of Sir Danvers was resented as a public injury. But Mr. Hyde had disappeared out of the ken of the police as though he had never existed. Speaker 2 (1:11) Much of his past was unearthed indeed, and all disreputable. Tales came out of the man's cruelty, at once so callous and violent, of his vile life, of his strange associates, of the hatred that seemed to have surrounded his career. But of his present whereabouts, not a whisper. From the time he had left the house in Soho on the morning of the murder, he was simply blotted out. Gradually, as time drew on, Mr. Utterson began to recover from the hotness of his alarm and to grow more at quiet with himself. The death of Sir Danvers was, to his way of thinking, more than paid for by the disappearance of Mr. Hyde. Now that that evil influence had been withdrawn, a new life began for Dr Jekyll. He came out of his seclusion, renewed relations with his friends, became once more their familiar guest and entertainer. And whilst he had always been known for charities, he was now no less distinguished for religion. He was busy. He was much in the open air. He did good. His face seemed to open and brighten, as if with an inward consciousness of service. And for more than two months, the doctor was at peace. Speaker 2 (2:38) On the 8th of January, Utterson had dined at the doctor's with a small party. Lanyon had been there, and the face of the host had looked from one to the other as in the old days when the trio were inseparable friends. On the 12th, and again on the 14th, the door was shut against the lawyer. Speaker 1 (3:02) The doctor was confined to the house, Poole said, and saw no one. Speaker 2 (3:09) On the 15th, he tried again and was again refused. And having now been used for the last two months to see his friend almost daily, he found this return of solitude to weigh upon his spirits. The fifth night, he had in guest to dine with him, and the sixth, he betook himself to Dr. Lanyon's. Speaker 2 (3:34) There, at least, he was not denied admittance. But when he came in, he was shocked at the change which had taken place in the doctor's appearance. He had his death warrant written legibly upon his face. The rosy man had grown pale. His flesh had fallen away. He was visibly balder and older, and yet it was not so much these tokens of a swift physical decay that arrested the lawyer's notice, as a look in the eye and quality of manner that seemed to testify to some deep-seated terror of the mind. It was unlikely that the doctor should fear death, and yet that was what Utterson was tempted to suspect. Yes, he thought, he is a doctor, he must know his own state, and that his days are counted, and the knowledge is more than he can bear. And yet, when Utterson remarked on his ill looks, it was with an air of great firmness that Lanyon declared himself a doomed man. Speaker 2 (4:40) I have had a shock, he said, and I shall never recover. It is a question of weeks. Well, life has been pleasant. I liked it, yes, sir, I used to like it. I sometimes think if we knew all, we Speaker 1 (4:58) should be more glad to get away. Speaker 2 (5:01) Jekyll is ill too, observed Utterson. Have you seen him? But Lanyon's face changed, and he held up a trembling hand. I wish to see or hear no more of Dr. Jekyll, he said in a loud, unsteady voice. I am quite done with that person, and I beg that you will spare me any allusion to one whom I regard as dead. Tot, tot, said Mr. Utterson, and then, after a considerable pause, Can't I do anything? he inquired. We are three very old friends, Lanyon. We shall not live to make others. Nothing can be done, returned Lanyon. Ask himself. He will not see me, said the lawyer. I am not surprised at that, was the reply. Some day, Utterson, after I am dead, you may perhaps come to learn the right and wrong of this. I cannot tell you. And in the meantime, if you can sit and talk with me of other things, for God's sake, stay and do so. But if you cannot, keep clear of this accursed topic. Then in God's name, go, for I cannot bear it. As soon as he got home, Utterson sat down and wrote to Jekyll, complaining of his exclusion from the house and asking the cause of this unhappy break with Lanyon. And the next day brought him a long answer, often very pathetically worded and sometimes darkly mysterious in drift. The quarrel with Lanyon was incurable. I do not blame our old friend, Jekyll wrote, but I share his view that we must never meet. I mean from henceforth to lead a life of extreme seclusion. You must not be surprised, nor must you doubt my friendship, if my door is often shut even to you. You must suffer me to go my own dark way. I have brought on myself a punishment and a danger that I cannot name. If I am the chief of sinners, I am the chief of sufferers also. I could not think that this earth contained a place for sufferings and terrors so unmanning. And you can do but one thing, Utterson, to lighten this destiny. And that is to respect my silence. Utterson was amazed. The dark influence of Hyde had been withdrawn. The doctor had returned to his old tasks and amities. A week ago, the prospect had smiled with every promise of a cheerful and an honoured age. And now in a moment, friendship and peace of mind and the whole tenor of his life were wrecked. So great an unprepared change pointed to madness. But in view of Lanyon's manner and words, there must lie for it some deeper ground. A week afterwards, Dr. Lanyon took to his bed, and in something less than a fortnight, he was dead. Speaker 2 (8:41) The night after the funeral, at which he had been sadly affected, Utterson locked the door of his business room and, sitting there by the light of a melancholy candle, drew out and set before him an envelope addressed by the hand and sealed with the seal of his dead friend. Private, for the hands of G.J. Utterson alone, and in case of his predecease, to be destroyed unread. so it was emphatically superscribed, and the lawyer dreaded to behold the contents. I have buried one friend today, he thought. What if this should cost me