Doctor Jekyll was over half an hour late when he finally knocked on the door. I let him in myself and he shuffled in out of the rain, shaking the water from his coat. My butler, Hutchinson, took his hat and the wet coat and I showed him through into the dining room. It had been our custom for many years to meet for dinner once every month or six weeks and tonight was my turn to be the host.

We took our seats and the meal was eaten mostly in silence. I could tell that Jekyll had something on his mind, but I was loathe to intrude until he was ready, and lost myself in the meal instead.