Enfield's Tale of the Door

Mr. Richard Enfield's account of the trampling incident and the mysterious door, which sets the mystery in motion.

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The Sunday Walk

The Sunday Walk A Regular Excursion Mr. Utterson and his distant kinsman Mr. Richard Enfield take their customary Sunday walk. They are known for their silence, but on this day Enfield points to a door and begins a story. The Door's Appearance The door is on a by-street in a busy quarter of London. It is a sinister block of building, neglected and blistered. Enfield has a personal connection to it. The Story Begins Enfield recounts his encounter with a man who trampled a child, and how that man used the door to get a cheque. The story immediately captures Utterson's attention.

The Trampling Incident

The Trampling Incident A Hellish Scene Enfield describes seeing a small man trample a young girl with deliberate cruelty. The man is calm and defiant, and Enfield feels a loathing for him. The crowd gathers, and the girl's family is furious. The Payment To avoid a scandal, the man offers to pay. He leads them to the door, enters, and returns with a cheque signed by a well-known name. The cheque is genuine. The Man's Appearance Enfield cannot describe the man properly, but he feels a strong sense of deformity. He says that the man is extraordinary-looking, but he cannot name the peculiarity.

The Rule of Silence

The Rule of Silence A Principle of Discretion Enfield explains his rule: the more it looks like Queer Street, the less he asks. He believes that asking questions can start a chain of events that harms innocent people. Utterson's Interest Utterson is deeply affected by the story. He asks the name of the man who trampled the child, and learns it is Hyde. He then reveals that he knows the name of the man who signed the cheque—Jekyll. The Bargain of Secrecy Both men agree never to refer to the matter again, but Utterson is already haunted. The story has planted a seed of suspicion that will grow into a full investigation.

a Sunday, early in the story

a black winter morning, three o'clock

after the story, during the walk