Evenatthattime，Ihadnotyetconqueredmyaversiontothedrynessofalifeofstudy。Iwouldstillbemerrilydisposedattimes；andasmypleasureswere（tosaytheleast）undignified，andIwasnotonlywellknownandhighlyconsidered，butgrowingtowardstheelderlyman，thisincoherencyofmylifewasdailygrowingmoreunwelcome。ItwasonthissidethatmynewpowertemptedmeuntilIfellinslavery。Ihadbuttodrinkthecup，todoffatoncethebodyofthenotedprofessor，andtoassume，likeathickcloak，thatofEdwardHyde。Ismiledatthenotion；
itseemedtomeatthetimetobehumorous；andImademypreparationswiththemoststudiouscare。ItookandfurnishedthathouseinSohotowhichHydewastrackedbythepolice；andengagedashousekeeperacreaturewhomIwellknewtobesilentandunscrupulous。Ontheotherside，IannouncedtomyservantsthataMrHyde（whomIdescribed）wastohavefulllibertyandpoweraboutmyhouseinthesquare；and，toparrymishaps，Ievencalledandmademyselfafamiliarobjectinmysecondcharacter。Inextdrewupthatwilltowhichyousomuchobjected；sothatifanythingbefellmeinthepersonofDrJekyll，IcouldenteronthatofEdwardHydewithoutpecuniaryloss。Andthusfortified，asIsupposed，oneveryside，Ibegantoprofitbythestrangeimmunitiesofmyposition。
Menhavebeforehiredbravostotransacttheircrimes，whiletheirownpersonandreputationsatundershelter。Iwasthefirstthateverdidsoforhispleasures。Iwasthefirstthatcouldthusplodinthepubliceyewithaloadofgenialrespectability，andinamoment，likeaschoolboy，stripofftheselendingsandspringheadlongintotheseaofliberty。Butforme，inmyimpenetrablemantle，thesafetywascomplete。Thinkofit-Ididnotevenexist！Letmebutescapeintomylaboratorydoor，givemebutasecondortwotomixandswallowthedraughtthatIhadalwaysstandingready；and，whateverhehaddone，EdwardHydewouldpassawaylikeastainofbreathuponamirror；andthereinhisstead，quietlyathome，trimmingthemidnightlampinhisstudy，amanwhocouldaffordtolaughatsuspicion，wouldbeHenryJekyll。
ThepleasureswhichImadehastetoseekinmydisguisewere，asIhavesaid，undignified；Iwouldscarceuseaharderterm。ButinthehandsofEdwardHydetheysoonbegantoturntowardsthemonstrous。WhenIwouldcomebackfromtheseexcursions，Iwasoftenplungedintoakindofwonderatmyvicariousdepravity。ThisfamiliarthatIcalledoutofmyownsoul，andsentforthalonetodohisgoodpleasure，wasabeinginherentlymalignandvillainous；hiseveryactandthoughtcentredonself；drinkingpleasurewithbestialavidityfromanydegreeoftorturetoanother；relentlesslikeamanofstone。HenryJekyllstoodattimesaghastbeforetheactsofEdwardHyde；butthesituationwasapartfromordinarylaws，andinsidiouslyrelaxedthegraspofconscience。ItwasHyde，afterall，andHydealone，thatwasguilty。Jekyllwasnoworse；hewokeagaintohisgoodqualitiesseeminglyunimpaired；hewouldevenmakehaste，whereitwaspossible，toundotheevildonebyHyde。Andthushisconscienceslumbered。
IntothedetailsoftheinfamyatwhichIthusconnived（forevennowIcanscarcegrantthatIcommittedit）Ihavenodesignofentering。I