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While riding in the hansom, John Utterson asked Isabel to please call him John and would she like to go out to dinner with him later that day. Isabel accepted graciously; if he would answer a question that she had about his statement to the police.
Isabel asked John Utterson again recount to her the last time he saw Henry that final time after he came to see the doctor that particular day. When he finished in his story, she asked him:
"John, when you saw Henry that day, what was his manner towards you? Was he upset or worried about anything?" She really felt she had to be certain of Henry's attitude to comprehend his actions.
"Henry was very agitated and very tired, I believe." John said thoughtfully. "He said his research had become a great burden on him."
"But there was nothing of any significance?" Isabel asked earnestly. "Anything that seemed...well...odd while you were there?"
"No, I did not see anything out of the ordinary," he said resolutely. "Nothing at all..."
Isabel wondered. The way John spoke aroused the belief in her mind that he was not telling her the whole truth. Instead, he had seen something out of the ordinary. Of course, John was quite firm in his denial. Why, she wondered, had he been so firm? Was it because, whatever he had seen, he was sure that it was insignificant? Perhaps he just wished to protect Henry. At any rate, he was not going to tell her what it was.
There was an uncomfortable silence. Then Isabel said quietly, "This tavern you mentioned sounds like it maybe a clue to where Henry is. You will take me to it, please."
"What are you talking about?"
"You said Henry spoke to this girl he met while he was at this Red Rat. That weeks afterward, he sent her some money asking her to leave town and start over somewhere else. If she has not gone away yet, she might know where Henry is."
"I am sorry, but it is no place for you, Isabel. I cannot take a lady there."
"I do not want to work there, John. All I wish to do is speak to this girl, Lucy Harris, if that is her name."
"The women that live there are not of any good family, friends, or morals. Henry's involvement with Lucy was only in a professional nature, I can swear this."
"I truly do not care what Henry may or may not have thought of her." She said determinedly. "If he loved her or just felt sorry for her, that is not the issue. I have to find out where my cousin is, no matter what he has done."
John Utterson spend the next several minutes trying to convince her that it was unwise for them to go, but Isabel would not change her mind. She seemed to grow more hardened, if anything.
"If I refuse to show you where the 'Red Rat' is, what will you do?"
"Then I will go by myself."
"To a tavern full of drunks and lewd behavior, a place that also serves as a brothel; you would travel to alone?" She looked directly at him.
"Yes, I would."
At this, John gave up. As he reached up, tapped the top of the hansom, and told the driver where to go.
"You are a extremely stubborn women, Isabel," He sighed, resting his back in seat. "It must run in the family."
"Probably." she said with a smile.
John Utterson and Isabel arrived at the Red Rat later in the afternoon. Almost immediately at the front steps, they came face to face with a young woman with dirty blond hair in an ill-fitting dress that promised them full evening entertainment doing whatever they physically desired.
"Which one of ya does watchin' and which one of ya is the doer?" The woman asked. Isabel suddenly found the design on the wooden post very interesting, but John answered her, told her that they were not here as customers and wished to see Guinevere.
"Oh, are you a cop? Guinevere don't answer to the coppers..." She looked at him guardedly. John said they were not with the police and to please do as he requested. "Well, I'll see if she ain't busy." Then she went into the tavern.
She returned with what must have been the matron of the place. She was an older woman who might have been attractive at one time, but now was too hard and gaunt looking. The matron looked at them with suspicious eyes, "The name's Guinevere, I live here and I got nuthin' to 'ide. What da ya want wit' me?"
"Ms. Guinevere, I understand you knew certain woman named Lucy Harris who worked here."
Isabel spoke in a direct tone. "Do you know where she is? I would like to talk to her, if I may."
"Yea, I knew 'er; but ya won't be able ta si 'er."
"Why can I not meet her?" Isabel asked.
" 'Cause s'e dead. Been dead for o'er two months, now."
"What are you talking about?" Utterson was shocked. "She cannot be dead."
"Afraid s'e is. One of 'er luvers killed 'er."
"Who was this person, this murder?"
"I think he called himself Edward Hyde and I ain't sorry he gone." said a voice that stepped out of the door. It was the young woman they met earlier.
" 'Ave you been listenin', Nellie?" Guinevere said to the woman.
"Yeah, I see got ourselves a real lady out here." Nellie declared and then looked back at Isabel, "Believe me, miss, that Hyde was a mean, nasty, evil rabble. That monster wasn't a person, miss. He was a demon sent from hell to torment her!" She gave a slight shutter at the thought of him.
"A rabble?" Isabel was confused.
"In the language they speak, a 'rabble' is tough customer." John answered with a grin.
"Oh...I see," Isabel noticed that John seemed quite familiar with this place, but did not care to speculate on how familiar he might have been.
"Nellie, don't ya got somethin' to do? If ya don't, Spider'll find somethin' quick."
"Spider ain't here. I want ta speak to the lady 'bout Lucy."
"The lady 'ere don't need ta speak ta ya. T'is ain't yer business." Guieneve said in her matter-of-fact voice. "Nellie 'ere's exaggratin'. Lucy 'ould play 'ellcat wit' t'em gents. You'd be surprised 'ow many men'll go for that kind of t'ing."
Nellie stepped forward, speaking gravely to Isabel, "That Hyde fella was different, I know it. One of the worst rabble I ever saw."
"I t'ink ya need ta learn ta keep yar mout' s'ut, Nellie."
"Ya don't scare me, Guinevere. I can-"
"Both of you, please stop the argument." Isabel interrupted in a calm but firm voice. "Nellie, would you please show me the room where Lucy stayed."
"All right, miss," Nellie said, showing Guinevere a proud look, "I stay in it now. Just come with me."
"I will come find you in an hour, will that be sufficient, Isabel?" John called after her.
"That will be fine with me."
Isabel left John and Guinevere to chatter between them and followed Nellie down the back of the alley. The house was one of a several shabby run-down places in the back of the tavern. She climbed up the moldy stairs with Nellie and though a dirty hallway to Lucy's room. It was the last one the far right and upon coming to it Nellie opened the door and they stepped inside.
"I know it ain't much, but it's the only place we got ta live in."
Isabel had not expected much and was not disappointed. It was very small room. She could almost feel the termites in the walls. There was a bed, a second-hand dresser, a table, chair, and a wardrobe. This Spider did not care to give these girls much in the way of nice, comfortable furnishing. It looked as though Lucy had made just enough to survive, and probably not much more.
"Lucy could sing pretty," Nellie was saying. "She's always thinking of moving away and starting over again. Always dreaming of something better. I do miss her, but now she restin' peaceful." She glanced at Isabel, noticing her fine clothes with a hunger that was not for food. "If ya don't mind me askin' ya, why are ya here? We don't see ladies much..."
"I am looking for someone, a friend of mine has disappeared. His name is Dr. Jekyll."
"Ya know Dr. Jekyll, Miss?" Nellie's eyes lit up. Isabel said she did. "He was real kind and friendly-like to Lucy. She'd tell me all about him...She worshiped him, she did. Would ya tell me, what's happened to him?"
"I wish I knew...I had hoped I could find something to give me a clue to where he has gone."
"Lucy only knew that good doctor briefly. From what she'd say, he helped her when Hyde had beaten her up pretty bad. After that, she kinda took a fancy to him, but he wasn't interested, of course. He was too much a real gent for any such thing."
There were several little pamphlets on the table. She picked up a few and flipped thought them. "Those were hers; I saved them. She read only a bit, but mostly she liked to look at the pictures." Nellie said.
She could tell Lucy had dreamed of a better life. There were pictures of fair maidens being rescued by heroic knights, and stories about girls who had sinned, suffered, and been reclaimed by the love of a good man. Poor Lucy Harris.
Isabel sat down on the edge of the bed and though a moment about that miserable girl's life. All day, Lucy would singing her heart out and endure abuse from her boss. Then, at night, she had to sleep with complete strangers, her customers. She must have been hurt by the contrast between the male customers' applause for her performance and their expectation of a quick fling in the sack.
Isabel felt grateful that her parents were wealthy enough to provide her with more than a substantial inheritance and also sent her to school. This destitute creature called Lucy had no one; not a single person cared about her fate, except Nellie. Isabel felt nothing but overwhelming pity for her. At least, Lucy was safe from any further harm.
"Nellie, do you think she was in love with him, this Mr. Hyde?"
"I don't know, miss. I used to wonder that myself. Like I said to you and your friend at the door; here, at the 'Red Rat'...we'll give ya whatever ya desire." Nellie bit her lower lip, "Well, Hyde's greatest pleasure was hearing her beg for mercy; then he'd take her again,-I could hear it though the walls. Yet Lucy seemed to like his dark, moody nature and said he's all right as long as he's not angry."
Isabel thought that sounded more like an affirmation than a denial of love. Then John appeared at the door and asked if she was ready to leave and she said she would be ready to go shortly. She thanked Nellie, gave her some money, and told her she should try to find work elsewhere or she might end up like her friend Lucy.
Nellie gratefully accepted the pounds. "You're a real lady, Miss. Just like that doctor, I do hope you find him soon. In fact, I remember something I saved...Stay here a minute, I'll be right back."
Isabel waited. Nellie returned with a small, white card and handed it to her. "I hid it from everyone. I didn't want anyone thinkin' bad about that good doctor..."
It was a business card engraved with a name. It read like this: "Dr. Henry Jekyll, 10 Harley Street."