{"id":"01KG6YGMAE9099GENX4FMS42TR","cid":"bafkreiageqfstm57s5zm5ogwtqppx4id57xs5rwp37mxaluckrnta2ktve","type":"chunk","properties":{"end_line":967,"extracted_at":"2026-01-30T07:57:34.136Z","extracted_by":"structure-extraction-lambda","label":"Chunk 3","source_file":"01KG6YDD8YHX9PCQE3NTAG8XF1","start_line":900,"text":"could not say. To all appearance, I thought they did. But when I asked\r\nhim if they did, he vouchsafed no answer. At all events, he would do no\r\ncopying. At last, in reply to my urgings, he informed me that he had\r\npermanently given up copying.\r\n\r\n“What!” exclaimed I; “suppose your eyes should get entirely well—better\r\nthan ever before—would you not copy then?”\r\n\r\n“I have given up copying,” he answered, and slid aside.\r\n\r\nHe remained as ever, a fixture in my chamber. Nay—if that were\r\npossible—he became still more of a fixture than before. What was to be\r\ndone? He would do nothing in the office: why should he stay there? In\r\nplain fact, he had now become a millstone to me, not only useless as a\r\nnecklace, but afflictive to bear. Yet I was sorry for him. I speak less\r\nthan truth when I say that, on his own account, he occasioned me\r\nuneasiness. If he would but have named a single relative or friend, I\r\nwould instantly have written, and urged their taking the poor fellow\r\naway to some convenient retreat. But he seemed alone, absolutely alone\r\nin the universe. A bit of wreck in the mid Atlantic. At length,\r\nnecessities connected with my business tyrannized over all other\r\nconsiderations. Decently as I could, I told Bartleby that in six days’\r\ntime he must unconditionally leave the office. I warned him to take\r\nmeasures, in the interval, for procuring some other abode. I offered to\r\nassist him in this endeavor, if he himself would but take the first\r\nstep towards a removal. “And when you finally quit me, Bartleby,” added\r\nI, “I shall see that you go not away entirely unprovided. Six days from\r\nthis hour, remember.”\r\n\r\nAt the expiration of that period, I peeped behind the screen, and lo!\r\nBartleby was there.\r\n\r\nI buttoned up my coat, balanced myself; advanced slowly towards him,\r\ntouched his shoulder, and said, “The time has come; you must quit this\r\nplace; I am sorry for you; here is money; but you must go.”\r\n\r\n“I would prefer not,” he replied, with his back still towards me.\r\n\r\n“You _must_.”\r\n\r\nHe remained silent.\r\n\r\nNow I had an unbounded confidence in this man’s common honesty. He had\r\nfrequently restored to me sixpences and shillings carelessly dropped\r\nupon the floor, for I am apt to be very reckless in such shirt-button\r\naffairs. The proceeding then which followed will not be deemed\r\nextraordinary.\r\n\r\n“Bartleby,” said I, “I owe you twelve dollars on account; here are\r\nthirty-two; the odd twenty are yours.—Will you take it?” and I handed\r\nthe bills towards him.\r\n\r\nBut he made no motion.\r\n\r\n“I will leave them here then,” putting them under a weight on the\r\ntable. Then taking my hat and cane and going to the door I tranquilly\r\nturned and added—“After you have removed your things from these\r\noffices, Bartleby, you will of course lock the door—since every one is\r\nnow gone for the day but you—and if you please, slip your key\r\nunderneath the mat, so that I may have it in the morning. I shall not\r\nsee you again; so good-bye to you. If hereafter in your new place of\r\nabode I can be of any service to you, do not fail to advise me by\r\nletter. Good-bye, Bartleby, and fare you well.”\r\n\r\nBut he answered not a word; like the last column of some ruined temple,\r\nhe remained standing mute and solitary in the middle of the otherwise\r\ndeserted room.\r\n\r","title":"Chunk 3"},"relationships":[{"peer":"01KG6YGBMBKF8W8RV4TB5ZTA3M","peer_type":"segment","predicate":"in"},{"peer":"01KG6YDD8YHX9PCQE3NTAG8XF1","peer_type":"file","predicate":"extractedFrom"},{"peer":"01KG6YCG626JN4FCG8QK17CQCF","peer_type":"collection","predicate":"collection"},{"peer":"01KG6YGKP9DDD3NY89TP36VNHE","peer_type":"chunk","predicate":"prev"},{"peer":"01KG6YGMAH187K4QDFBVG92FGK","peer_type":"chunk","predicate":"next"}],"ver":2,"created_at":"2026-01-30T07:57:34.926Z","ts":"2026-01-30T07:57:35.920Z","edited_by":{"method":"manual","user_id":"01KFF0H3YRP9ZSM033AM0QJ47H"}}