'My dear Utterson, how remarkably good to see you. Come in, come in. Sit and have some wine with me.' He accepted a glass, and for some minutes we sat and talked about a little bit of everything. However, I could tell that his mind was not with me, and from his demeanour - always dour and serious, but tonight even more so - and from the hour of his visit, I knew he must have some purpose in mind.

Finally, he came to his subject. I lifted my glass, sipped, and listened.

'I suppose, Lanyon,' said he 'you and I must be the two oldest friends that Henry Jekyll has?' I was a little surprised at this opening, not for a moment having thought that Henry would be the root of his disquiet.

'I wish the friends were younger,' I chuckled. 'But I suppose we are. And what of that? I see little of him now.' I could see that this was no passing topic as our earlier ones had been, and felt my stomach lurch at the thought of where this might be leading.

'Indeed?' said Utterson. 'I thought you had a bond of common interest.'