{"id":"01KG6YH92GED2ZCQ4YZSH62586","cid":"bafkreigekpsrkniouxiwrhlzf7zzzfceeb6nvbdoopu33m7doniahqcdjy","type":"chunk","properties":{"end_line":972,"extracted_at":"2026-01-30T07:57:55.409Z","extracted_by":"structure-extraction-lambda","label":"Chunk 7","source_file":"01KG6YDDF6PTWG4P7JTS5THSTD","start_line":901,"text":"examination, one reading from the copy, the other holding the original.\r\nIt is a very dull, wearisome, and lethargic affair. I can readily\r\nimagine that, to some sanguine temperaments, it would be altogether\r\nintolerable. For example, I cannot credit that the mettlesome poet,\r\nByron, would have contentedly sat down with Bartleby to examine a law\r\ndocument of, say five hundred pages, closely written in a crimpy hand.\r\n\r\nNow and then, in the haste of business, it had been my habit to assist\r\nin comparing some brief document myself, calling Turkey or Nippers for\r\nthis purpose. One object I had, in placing Bartleby so handy to me\r\nbehind the screen, was, to avail myself of his services on such trivial\r\noccasions. It was on the third day, I think, of his being with me, and\r\nbefore any necessity had arisen for having his own writing examined,\r\nthat, being much hurried to complete a small affair I had in hand, I\r\nabruptly called to Bartleby. In my haste and natural expectancy of\r\ninstant compliance, I sat with my head bent over the original on my\r\ndesk, and my right hand sideways, and somewhat nervously extended with\r\nthe copy, so that, immediately upon emerging from his retreat, Bartleby\r\nmight snatch it and proceed to business without the least delay.\r\n\r\nIn this very attitude did I sit when I called to him, rapidly stating\r\nwhat it was I wanted him to do—namely, to examine a small paper with\r\nme. Imagine my surprise, nay, my consternation, when, without moving\r\nfrom his privacy, Bartleby, in a singularly mild, firm voice, replied,\r\n“I would prefer not to.”\r\n\r\nI sat awhile in perfect silence, rallying my stunned faculties.\r\nImmediately it occurred to me that my ears had deceived me, or Bartleby\r\nhad entirely misunderstood my meaning. I repeated my request in the\r\nclearest tone I could assume; but in quite as clear a one came the\r\nprevious reply, “I would prefer not to.”\r\n\r\n“Prefer not to,” echoed I, rising in high excitement, and crossing the\r\nroom with a stride. “What do you mean? Are you moon-struck? I want you\r\nto help me compare this sheet here—take it,” and I thrust it towards\r\nhim.\r\n\r\n“I would prefer not to,” said he.\r\n\r\nI looked at him steadfastly. His face was leanly composed; his gray eye\r\ndimly calm. Not a wrinkle of agitation rippled him. Had there been the\r\nleast uneasiness, anger, impatience or impertinence in his manner; in\r\nother words, had there been any thing ordinarily human about him,\r\ndoubtless I should have violently dismissed him from the premises. But\r\nas it was, I should have as soon thought of turning my pale\r\nplaster-of-paris bust of Cicero out of doors. I stood gazing at him\r\nawhile, as he went on with his own writing, and then reseated myself at\r\nmy desk. This is very strange, thought I. What had one best do? But my\r\nbusiness hurried me. I concluded to forget the matter for the present,\r\nreserving it for my future leisure. So calling Nippers from the other\r\nroom, the paper was speedily examined.\r\n\r\nA few days after this, Bartleby concluded four lengthy documents, being\r\nquadruplicates of a week’s testimony taken before me in my High Court\r\nof Chancery. It became necessary to examine them. It was an important\r\nsuit, and great accuracy was imperative. Having all things arranged, I\r\ncalled Turkey, Nippers and Ginger Nut, from the next room, meaning to\r\nplace the four copies in the hands of my four clerks, while I should\r\nread from the original. Accordingly, Turkey, Nippers, and Ginger Nut\r\nhad taken their seats in a row, each with his document in his hand,\r\nwhen I called to Bartleby to join this interesting group.\r\n\r\n“Bartleby! quick, I am waiting.”\r\n\r\nI heard a slow scrape of his chair legs on the uncarpeted floor, and\r\nsoon he appeared standing at the entrance of his hermitage.\r\n\r\n“What is wanted?” said he, mildly.\r\n\r\n“The copies, the copies,” said I, hurriedly. “We are going to examine\r\nthem. There”—and I held towards him the fourth quadruplicate.\r\n\r","title":"Chunk 7"},"relationships":[{"peer":"01KG6YGB7ZQ9TDECCV6B9DR6PT","peer_type":"chapter","predicate":"in"},{"peer":"01KG6YDDF6PTWG4P7JTS5THSTD","peer_type":"file","predicate":"extractedFrom"},{"peer":"01KG6YCG626JN4FCG8QK17CQCF","peer_type":"collection","predicate":"collection"},{"peer":"01KG6YH92DMAHTHTX7PW800NM8","peer_type":"chunk","predicate":"prev"},{"peer":"01KG6YH92G712Q9KQMKV24GYH2","peer_type":"chunk","predicate":"next"}],"ver":2,"created_at":"2026-01-30T07:57:56.176Z","ts":"2026-01-30T07:58:02.745Z","edited_by":{"method":"manual","user_id":"01KFF0H3YRP9ZSM033AM0QJ47H"}}