The man’s immediate reaction was mainly of shock and horror. The woman in particular, whom Stevenson had described ''as wild as harpies'', had responded in the same furious manner as Hyde's first behavior towards the girl showing that they too can reveal a savage side to their character. The captured man appeared calm yet he inspired loathing and hatred all around him. Enfield, looking around at the angry crowd surrounding Hyde, declared that he ''never saw a circle of such hateful faces''. Even the doctor, an ordinary man ''and about as emotional as bagpipes'' was provoked to murderous intent. United, the crowd threatened to ruin the ugly man's good name unless she did something to make amends. The man, seeing himself trapped, bought them off with one hundred pounds, which he obtained upon entering the neglected building through its only door. Strangely enough, the name on the cheque was that of a very reputable man. Furthermore, and in spite of Enfield's suspicions, it proved not to be a forgery. Enfield summed up that the ugly culprit had somehow blackmailed the man whose name appeared on the cheque. Spurning gossip, however, Enfield refuses to reveal that name.
Utterson asks several questions confirming the details of the incident. Enfield attempts to describe the nature of the mysterious man's ugliness to Utterson but is unable to express it, saying: ''There is something wrong with his appearance, never saw a man I so disliked, and yet I scarce know why. He must be deformed somewhere; he gives a strong feeling of deformity, although I couldn't specify the point.''
Another, easier way of saying this is Hyde's ugliness is not directly physical but he gives the impression of evil, whether it’s through his body language or speech; it’s more to do with his soul and personality than to his body. Enfield, and later Utterson, whose minds are not suited to thinking about this, can sense Hyde's uncanniness but cannot describe it. Their limited imaginations fail them as they approach the eerie and mysterious, as rational clashes with irrational, language breaks down. Enfield then thinks that the culprit's name was Hyde, and at this point, Utterson declares that he knows the man, and notes that he can now guess the name on the cheque. But, as the men had just been discussing the virtue of minding one's own business, they promptly agree never to discuss the matter again. This brief affair to do with Hyde sets the scene for a mystery for us to ponder over, and gives the reader almost an insight of where the story’s leading to.
Also we become aware of the secrecy which existed within this society and the characters feel a reluctance to ‘dig deeper’, pry and enquire into such things. It seems all have some 'dark side' to their character that they wish to hide. Even the houses near them are described as 'huddled together' as if conspiring Doors are also locked and windows shut. Enfield and Utterson decide not to talk or think anymore about Jekyll's affair. This sets Utterson on a personal enquiry, over curiosity really and he goes home to study a will that he drew up for his close friend, Dr. Jekyll from his ‘‘most private part in his safe’’. Jekyll says in the will that in the event of his death or disappearance for three months or more; all of his property should be passed over to a Mr. Edward Hyde. The will had long troubled Utterson, but now that he has heard something of the sinister nature of Hyde, he becomes more upset and feels convinced that Hyde has some peculiar power over Jekyll. Similarly, the will's reference to ‘‘death or disappearance’’ makes Utterson think straight away of the possibility of murder, but he is forced to conclude that his friend is being blackmailed
Wanting to find answers to this, Utterson pays a visit to Dr. Lanyon, friend and colleague who he hopes can talk about this disturbing matter. Lanyon tells him that he has never heard of Hyde and has remained out of touch with Jekyll for ten years as a result of a professional argument. Lanyon refers to Jekyll's most recent line of research as ‘‘unscientific balderdash’’ which hints upon the supernatural twist of Jekyll's experiments. In this, we are given a clue to the real identity of Hyde through the experiments that Jekyll has been performing. The mystery here is what is Jekyll doing? And, who is Hyde?
About two weeks later, we first meet Jekyll who organizes a dinner party. In turn with the secrecy and duality that runs throughout, Jekyll is described as having a ‘‘slyish cast’’. Utterson stays late so that the two men can speak privately. Utterson mentions the will to him, expressing his disapproval. Jekyll begins to make a joke about it, but he turns pale (almost ill) when Utterson tells him that he has been ‘‘learning something of young Hyde.’’ Jekyll tells him that the whole situation with Hyde is exceptional and cannot be solved by talking alone. He also says that ‘‘the moment I choose, I can be rid of Mr. Hyde.’’ But Jekyll emphasizes the great interest he currently takes in Hyde and his desire to continue to provide for him. After he makes Utterson promise that he will carry out his will. . Approximately one year later, a maid sitting at her window early in the morning where she witnesses a murder takes place in the street below, of Sir Danvers Carew. Stevenson makes it clear that it is obviously Hyde and in the account from the maid he doesn’t spare the reader any gruesome details, describing the murder graphically because he wants us to recognize not only that Hyde has regressed over the past year, but to also draw our attention upon the full extent of Hyde's evil. As well as that Utterson discovers the murder weapon was a cane that he bought Dr Jekyll and the splintered remains are found at Hyde’s house. So this gives us yet another clue adding to our already suspicious mind.
In spite of the public uproar following the murder of Sir Danvers Carew, Hyde remarkably disappears from the scene. Utterson is relieved at his disappearance and strangely the same time Jekyll’s general health state and fortune improved dramatically, and he once again was the sociable and charitable person, which he was well recognized for. Utterson sees a letter through Jekyll, who claims it is from Hyde and the writing is almost identical to that of Jekyll’s and so Utterson wrongly concludes that Jekyll had forged the letter for Hyde. This, for the reader, reveals yet another clue into the real identity of as the disappearance of Hyde and what seems with his evil influence has had a tremendous effect on Jekyll. . Jekyll remains like this for approximately two months but then he suddenly and mysteriously returns to seclusion and refuses to see any friends. Alarmed and curious by this sudden change in character, Utterson goes to Lanyon to learn why Jekyll’s refusing to go out and being so anti-social. When he sees Lanyon next, I think he is quite shocked at his appearance as he seems frailer and older with a frightened look in his eyes. Lanyon goes on to explain that he had recently experienced a great shock and wouldn’t be surprised if he were to die in the next few weeks. ‘‘Life has been pleasant,’’ he says. ‘‘I liked it; yes, sir, I used to like it.’’ Then he adds, ‘‘I sometimes think if we knew all, we should be more glad to get away.’’ When Utterson says that Jekyll also seems ill, Lanyon aggressively says that they talk of anything apart from Jekyll. He promises that after his death, Utterson may learn the truth about everything, but that for now he will not discuss it. When he returns home Utterson writes to Jekyll, saying about being turned away from Jekyll's house and inquiring as to what caused the friction between him and Lanyon. Soon Jekyll's written reply arrives; it says that while he still cares for Lanyon, he understands why the doctor said they must not meet. Jekyll pledges his continued affection for Utterson but adds that from now on he will be seeing no one. He says that he is suffering a punishment that he cannot name. Again this contributes to the readers understanding of what’s going on in the book, their own head at this point may be saying to them, ‘yes, we know what’s happening Jekyll is Mr. Hyde and a experiment has gone wrong that’s why he is in seclusion!’ but at the same , the great thing about this story, is the way it makes the reader addicted to following the story from the characters’ eyes and despite pretty much knowing the outcome, they go with the flow ,of the pace of the book.
Lanyon, as he said he would, dies a few weeks later. After the funeral, Utterson takes from his safe a letter that Lanyon meant for him to read after he died. Utterson opens it to find only another envelope, marked ‘‘not to be open till the death or disappearance of Dr. Jekyll.’’ The word ‘’disappears’’ links with disturbing echoes of Jekyll’s will. Utterson maintains his curiosity and puts the envelope away for safekeeping. As time goes by, he calls on Jekyll less and less frequently, and the butler continues to refuse him entry. The next Sunday, as usual, Utterson and Enfield are taking their regular stroll when they enter into Jekyll’s courtyard. Here the weather is used as a metaphor for the evil and good which seem to raging at each other constantly throughout the story, ‘‘the court was very cool and a little damp, and full of premature twilight, although the sky, high up overhead, was still bright with sunset’’. The description of the weather above the court, gives an atmosphere of mystery together with an eerie, icy feeling. This builds up the suspense around the house, and gives off a very bad feeling towards it. Utterson is still, at this point, anxious and eager to see Jekyll and feels that if there was any chance of bringing him out of his self-inflicted imprisonment, it be for the better. As they were stood there, in Jekyll’s courtyard they actually saw him for a brief moment in the window. Utterson then succeeds when attempting to initiate a conversation with his friend and roughly got told that his current state will not last long and suddenly in the middle of the discussion Jekyll slams the window down and disappears.
After seeing Jekyll’s strange yet actions from the window, both Utterson and Enfield said nothing and just carried on walking. When they arrive into an area that has some ‘‘stirrings of life’’ that Utterson cries ‘‘God forgive us, God forgive us’’. There is a breakdown in speech because what both men have just seen was horrific and monstrous. The feel that it’s not real in a sense, it’s supernatural. Again here we are given further clues into the identity of Hyde adding to the atmosphere of mystery. With Jekyll’s face changing to an ‘‘expression of abject terror and despair’’ which ‘‘froze the very blood of the two gentlemen below’’ causing ‘‘silence’’ obviously shows that what both gentlemen had witnessed must have been something that even the more powerful words such as ‘sinister’ couldn’t describe. Readers presume that such evil which left Utterson and Enfield speechless can only be matched to that of Hyde, making the assumption that Jekyll had changed to Hyde and so leaving it all up to their imagination.
Jekyll's butler Poole visits Utterson one of the following nights. The mystery of the story is developed more when Poole exclaims in almost ‘‘terror’’; ‘‘Mr. Utterson sir. I‘m afraid’’. He says that he thinks there has been some ‘‘foul play’’ with Dr. Jekyll yet he’s reluctant to be more broad on the detail. He indicates, that he senses ‘something evil looming’, however, he doesn’t reveal any facts of any knowledge that he may have, and it implies he’s withholding it. He is tries to be logical by reasoning because the evidence he has to suppose this is off the will which states that should Jekyll die or disappear, all his fortunes will pass on to Hyde and therefore, he thinks Hyde has killed Jekyll for that reason.
As Poole and Utterson arrived, a wave swept through the servants, who had gathered fearfully in the main hall, with joy and relief. One of the house maids broke into ‘‘Hysterical whimpering’’ and the Cook cried ‘‘Bless God! It’s Mr. Utterson’’. This gives the impression that they are scared and disturbed at the possible murder of Jekyll and that the suspected murderer being still present in the house. They feel that Utterson is a solution to this problem, strangely enough he is still only a lawyer and really can’t do all that much without jeopardizing the law himself. Poole calls out to Jekyll telling him that Utterson has come for a visit. A strange, almost mutilated, voice responds, sounding nothing like Jekyll; the owner of the voice tells Poole that he will receive no visitors. This once again increases the suspense. We are eager to know who or what is behind the door.
Poole believes that they should break into the laboratory but Utterson is reluctant to do so because he is a respectable man who seems to regard privacy with the utmost care, a example of this is with the letters in his safe, despite all of this he still has not opened them, and so he doesn’t like to interfere in other people business unless completely necessary, for if something were to go wrong and he went out of line, even by accident, it may bring his high reputation under question. By getting involved into Jekyll’s life, he would be invading his own privacy taking the risk of being a hypocrite and insincere. They move back to the kitchen, where Poole insists that the voice they heard coming from the laboratory did not belong to Jekyll. Utterson thinking rationally and wondered why the murderer would remain in the laboratory if he had just killed Jekyll. Poole then describes how that mysterious voice had previously sent him on constant errands to chemists; the man in the laboratory seems desperate for some ingredient that no drugstore in London sells. Utterson being still hopeful asks whether the notes Poole had received are in the doctor's hand writing, but Poole sputters out that he has seen the person insider the laboratory, when he came out briefly to search for something, and that the man looked nothing like Jekyll. Utterson suggests to Poole that Jekyll may have some disease that changes his voice and deforms his features, making them unrecognizable, causes by his constant scientific experiments, but Poole declares that the person he saw was quite a way smaller than his master and looked like none other than Hyde himself.
Hearing this, they decide that he and Poole should break in and so he sends two servants around to seal off the laboratory's other door, the one that Enfield sees Hyde using as a potential exit. Then, armed with a fireplace poker and an axe, Utterson and Poole turn to their door. Utterson shouts inside, demanding admittance. The voice pleas for Utterson to have mercy and to leave him alone. However he recognizes the voice as Hyde's and orders Poole to break down the door.
Once inside, they find Hyde's body sprawled out on the floor, a crushed vial in his hand. He appears to have poisoned himself. Utterson notes that Hyde is wearing a suit that belongs to Jekyll, which is far too big for him. The men search the entire laboratory, including the theater and all other rooms in the building, but they don’t find a trace of Jekyll. Then, on Jekyll's business table, they find a large envelope addressed to Utterson that contains three items, Jekyll’s will, quite a lot like the previous one, except that it replaces Hyde's name with Utterson's. The second is a note to Utterson, with the present day's date on it. Based on this letter, Utterson quickly summarizes that Jekyll is still alive and he wonders if Hyde really died by suicide or if Jekyll killed him. The note instructs Utterson to go home immediately and read the letter that Lanyon gave him earlier. The note adds that if he wants to learn more, he can read the confession of "Your worthy and unhappy friend, Henry Jekyll." Utterson takes the third item from the envelope, a sealed packet, he then promises Poole that he will return that later night and send for the police. With that he heads straight for his office to read Lanyon's letter and the contents of the sealed packet.
I feel that modern readers, reading this novel as an unsuspecting Victorian, would not interpret it as it was read when it was first written because today, Jekyll’s double identity is so well known and its reputation precedes it. It is easy to see though that Stevenson intended to keep his readers in deep mystery and suspense for as long as possible, while creating a challenge for them to discover the truth for themselves. The reader only begins to realize the full of the situation, when our guide Utterson decides to dig deeper into all the unanswered questions he is faced with. Up to this point, he has been not only as a narrator but he is a way of deepening the mystery and therefore heightening the tension and suspense.